Jan Christiansen Smith
Storyteller- Educator-Workshop Presenter
Bio | Credentials | Applause | Venues
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Jan honed her storytelling skills during her years in the trenches as an army wife, entertaining her five children during long car trips and while moving from state to state. With a degree in Speech and Drama, Jan has appeared in many productions and was a member of the Old Lyric Repertory company.
Jan is also a graduate in Theatre and Education and a former drama teacher. Jan currently is a reading teacher in a Title I school. She uses the power of stories to entice reluctant readers. As a workshop presenter with innovation and insight and a storyteller who strikes a chord with humor, Jan believes stories make us laugh, connect us to our past, and keep us sane in a crazy world.
Jan is a teacher, an actress and a storyteller - often all three at the same time and currently works as an elementary school literary specialist. A member of the Olympus Chapter of the Utah Storytelling Guild, Jan invites listeners into her stories and sends them off with a new look at life that provides some sanity in a crazy world. With a dash of laughter and a twinkle in her eye, Jan’s gifts of tall tales, folk tales and personal stories will keep you smiling and hopeful when the clouds roll in, and appreciative when the sun shines.
Credentials:
- B.F.A. in Speech and Drama
- Elementary and Secondary Teaching Certification
- Drama Endorsement
- Member National Storytelling Network
- Utah Storytelling Guild
- International Reading Association
Applause:
- Selected Performer for National Storytelling Network Board
- "Blending Voices Concert" - Orem Library July 2009
- Timpanogos Storytelling Festival featured
- Regional Storyteller 2007
- Vernal Storytelling Festival 2007
- Winner "Best in the West
- Presenter at Brigham Young University
- A.R.T.S. Express conference for Elementary Educators - June 2009
Performance Venues:
- Featured Regional Teller at Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
- Weber State Storytelling Festival
- Juan Diego Words of Enlightenment Celebration
- First Annual Kanab Storytelling Festival
- Vernal Storytelling Festival
- KIPP: Shine Prep - Houston, Texas
Workshop Venues:
- Community Outreach Storytelling Workshops at Murray City Library 2015
- Weber State Educator’s Workshops 2014
- Roots Technology, Salt Lake City, Utah 2013
- Location, Location, Location – Finding and telling your family stories
- Storytelling Spotlights Writing Finding and telling personal stories empowers students to write.
- Brigham Young University and Jordan School District Partnership Summer Conference
- Granite School District International Reading Association
- Timpanogos Storytelling Festival Midwinter Event
- Historical Re-enactors event at This Is The Place State Park
- Brigham Young University A.R.T.S. Express conference for Elementary Educators
- Salt Lake County Library System
