Dr. Sokal completed her B.Ed., M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She has also completed a Certificate in Higher Education Teaching.
Dr. Sokal has worked in a variety of settings teaching children and adults. Apart from working in schools, Laura has worked as a Child Life Therapist at Children's Hospital, as Director of an inner-city program for children "at risk", and as an Instructor at Red River College and University of Manitoba. Her research interests include risk and resilience in children, and gender development in boys and its implications for school outcomes. Recent projects include a WIRA-funded study that examined whether the sex of the reading teacher affected boys' reading skills. Dr. Sokal's current research is supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Eighteen research assistants and 180 inner-city boys are taking part in a study examining the effects of high-interest books and computer-based texts on boys' reading motivation and performance.
Jane Tallim is Media Awareness Network�s (MNet) Director of Education and an internationally recognized expert in media issues affecting youth. Jane manages for the For Teachers section of the MNet Web site and creates educational resources on a wide range of media-related topics. She promotes MNet to educators through national and international speaking engagements and is MNet's primary professional development trainer.
Scott, a former teacher, is a Family Therapist with Child Welfare, and runs his own private practice. His focus is in planning for and assisting difficult or damaged youth and teens. Recently, he has been working with fetal alcohol affected children. He has experience working with school teams in planning for children with Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
Wes Warren
Wes is a counseling psychologist with over 20 years of experience in working with at risk youth in the elementary, middle and senior years. In addition to his role as Vice-President of the Manitoba Association of Secondary Teachers of At Risk Students, he is also a member of the provincial A.P. Executive. Currently, Wes works at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate in Winnipeg, where he focuses on increasing student success by fostering a sense of achievement and belonging.
Big Daddy Tazz
It was in high school that Big Daddy Tazz realized his natural ability to make people laugh. After falling on his face his teacher asked what he was trying to prove. Tazz quickly answered "Gravity!" Laughter erupted, and thus the saga began.
Having performed a wide variety of shows stretching from a client's 101 birthday to a biker initiation, Tazz is one of the most sought after comedians working today. Tazz is able to do what he loves both on and off stage, which is to, make people laugh! His off the cuff style brings the audience together, making them feel like they are part of his family, sitting around the kitchen table playing crib.
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