George D. Nelson

George D. Nelson knows the tools and techniques that are necessary to teach at-risk learners. He should: For more than 20 years, he has shown thousands of educators how to successfully teach criminal offenders — some of the most difficult learners in society.

As part of this work, he’s developed dozens of innovative behavior-change and skill-building programs that have been used to teach offenders in prisons, jails, brigs, probation and parole departments throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

George has also brought his unique concepts and ideas into the mainstream educational community. Over the past few years, he has traveled across the country teaching his philosophies to hundreds of schools and teacher organizations. He also works as a professor at Brigham Young University where he shows future educators how to rescue at-risk learners before they tune out, drop out and start down a road to ruin. In fact, his college just designated him the Outstanding Professor of the Year.

Because of his creative training programs, George recently earned national recognition from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, who named him the 1995 recipient of the Lin Wright Special Recognition Award, the past recipients of which include the Seattle Repertory Theatre, CBS, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

You’ll enjoy George’s wit, humor and enthusiasm. You’ll applaud his presentation skills. But most of all, you’ll appreciate his real-world focus as he teaches you practical teaching skills and techniques you’ll be able to put to work right away.

Education

• B.A., Brigham Young University, Theatre Arts (1977)
  
• M.F.A., University of Washington. Play writing (1979)
  

Occupational Record

• Trainer, Insight Learning Systems (1996-Present)
  
• President, Clime International. (1993-Present) Responsibilities include operations, research and development of lifeskills curriculum and training resources for at-risk youth and adults in educational, criminal justice and business arenas; Training clients in the use of these materials.
  
• President of Actor’s Repertory Theatre, Provo Utah. (1991)
  
• Vice President/Executive Director, National Corrective Training Institute. (1991) Responsibilities include development and testing educational materials; Supervising national and international rehabilitation programs.
  
• Associate Professor, Secondary Education and Theatre and Film Department, Brigham Young University. (1990-Present)
  
• President/Executive Director, National Corrective Training Institute. (1983-1991) Responsibilities include all operations, development and testing educational materials used in training of employees and management; Supervising national and international rehabilitation programs, training of all personnel, sales and marketing and computer systems development.
  
• In-service Faculty, Minnesota Community Colleges. (1988-Present) Training of College Faculty on teaching techniques.
  
• Board of Directors, SWDPl. (1989) Overseeing an in-prison run company for the State of Minnesota.
  
• Consultant, Lakeville and Burnsvllle, Minnesota public schools in alternative education and theatre. (1989)
  
• Managing Director, Giant Step Theatre, Lakeville, Minnesota. (1987-1990)
  
• Drama Faculty, University of Texas. (1979-1983)
  
• Critic Judge, Texas High School UlL. (1979-1987)
  
• Trainer and consultant, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. (1982)
  
• Distinguished Visiting Faculty and Director, Brigham Young University. (1981)
  
• Board of Directors, Hawaiian Shave Ice, Inc. (1981-Present)
  
• Institute of Religion, Instructor, University of Texas. (1980-1987)
  
• Guest Lecturer, (Play writing) Matteo Riccl College, Seattle, Washington. (1980)
  
• Playwright in Residence, University of Washington. (1980) Lectured and worked with the director and cast for the opening of my play, Outside In.
  
• Researcher, Seattle Public Schools, Handicapped Students. (1977-1979)
  
• Night Foreman, Delta Lines, Seattle Washington. (1977-1979)
  
• Director and Technical Director, Whittlin’ Whistlin’ Brigade, BYU. (1975-1977)
  
• Scenic Artist, Pardoe Theatre, Provo, Utah. (1973-1977)
  

Publications

• How to Deal With Difficult Learners. (1996) An 8-16 hour training program, a three-hour video series, and a 70-page participant workbook that are all used to teach professional educators how to work more effectively with different personality styles, especially at-risk students. Co-developed with Dr. Darryl Townsend and Nathan Bryce.
  
• Understanding Personality Styles: A Key to Effective Teaching. (1995) A 10-episode video series that was produced for a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures and has since been broadcast over public television. Designed to help professional educators learn how to alter their teaching styles to accommodate the learning styles of their students. Co-developed with Dr. Darryl Townsend and Nathan Bryce.
  
• The Cognitive Skills Program. (1995) A collection of 84 lesson plans for teaching life skills to youth and adults involved in a cognitive restructuring program.
  
• Outside In, Contemporary Screen Play. (1985) Handled by McCormick and Associates, Dallas, Texas.
  
• Show time, Contemporary Musical. (1990)
  
• Trusty John, Children’s Play. (1983)
  

Curriculum and Training Consultancies

• Michigan Department of Corrections (1994)
  
• Altadena School District, CA. (1993-Present)
  
• Sandy School District, UT. (1991-Present)
  
• Provo Schools District, UT. (1991-Present)
  
• Alpine School District, UT. (1991-Present)
  
• Georgia Department of Corrections. (1991-Present)
  
• Harris County D.O.C., Houston, Texas. (1991-Present)
  
• North Dakota Court System. (1990-Present)
  
• Hennepin County Home School. (1988-Present)
  
• Minnesota Community Colleges. (1988-Present)
  
• Iowa Community College Board of Trustees. (1986-Present)
  

Presentations

• Stage Combat. American Alliance of Theatre Educators Convention, Phoenix, AZ. (1994)
  
• How People Learn. International Schools of Theatre Association Conference, Stratford, England. (1994)
  
• Two Brain Teaching. American Alliance of Theatre Educators Convention, Boston, MA. (1993)
  
• Creative Lesson Plans. American Alliance of Theatre Educators Convention, Seattle, WA. (1992)
  
• Call It what It Is. American Alliance of Theatre Educators Convention, Washington, D.C. (1991)
  
• Creative Use Of Drama. Utah Education Association Arts Workshop, Provo, Utah. (1990)
  
• Keep Them Honest. Texas Tire Dealers Association, Austin, Texas. (1987)
  
• It Can Work. Texas Probation Association, Austin, Texas. (1985)
  
• Alternative Education. With Darryl R. Townsend, Lorton Federal Penitentiary, Washington, D.C. (1985)
  
• They Do Their Best. Texas Hospital Association, San Antonio, Texas. (1984)
  
• The Only Alternative. Capital Area Security Council, Austin, Texas. (1983)
  
• Successful Employees. Texas Retail Grocer's Association Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana. (1982)
  
• Unique Tools. Texas District Attorneys Association, Corpus Christi, Texas. (1981)
  

Theatre and Film Experience

• Playwright, Director, Soft Shoe, a musical, BYU. (2002)
  
• Director, Understanding Personality Styles, 10-episode video series, Paramount. (1995)
  
• Director, Lowe Family, Music Video Asian Tour. (1994)
  
• Director, La Paloma, BYU. (1994)
  
• Director, Day with Dave, Video American Harvest. (1994)
  
• Director, TLC, Infomercial American Harvest. (1994)
  
• Director, T4000 Infomercial, American Harvest. (1993)
  
• Director, Harvey, BYU. (1993)
  
• Director, An Enemy of the People, BYU. (1993)
  
• Director, Lowe Family Music Video. (1993)
  
• Director, In The Burning Darkness, BYU. (1991)
  
• Director, Wiley and The Hairy Man, Giant Step Theatre. (1989)
  
• Harold Hill, Music Man, Lakeville Community Theatre. (1989)
  
• Director, Music Man, Giant Step Theatre. (1988-1989)
  
• Play writing Consultant, Lakeville Children's Theatre. (1988-1989)
  
• Technical Director, Lakeville Children's Theatre. (1988-1989)
  
• Happy, Death of a Salesman, University of Texas, Professional Production. (1984)
  
• Director Supervisor, Working, University of Texas. (1983)
  
• Director Supervisor, Outside In, University of Texas. (1982)
  
• Director, Wiley and the Hairy Man, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. (1981)
  
• Playwright, Outside In, University of Washington. (1980)
  
• Lion, The Lion That Roared, University of Washington. (1979)
  

Awards and Honors

• Curriculum Committee, American Association of Theatre Educators. (1991-Present)
  
• High School Committee, American Association of Theatre Educators. (1991)
  
• Critic Judge, American College Theatre Festival. (1991)
  
• Adj. Board Member, American College Theatre Festival. (1991)
  
• Critic Judge, Utah State One Act Play Festival. (1990-1991)
  
• Critic Judge, Sterling Scholar Competition. (1990-1991)
  
• Governors Blue Ribbon Committee in California for special projects to reduce Criminal Behavior. (1989)
  
• Who’s Who In Corporate America. (1989)
  
• Publishing Editor, National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE). (1988)
  
• Board Member, Children’s Theatre Association of America. (1981-1984)
  
• Governor, Region VI, Children’s Theatre Association of America. (1981-1984)
  
• Board member, Southwest Theatre Conference. (1981-1984)
  
• Outstanding Young Man of America. (1981)
  
• Program Chairman, Southwest Theatre Conference. (1980-1981)
  
• Lieutenant Governor, Region Vi, Children’s Theatre Association of America. (1979-1981)
  
• Play writing Award, Best New Script, OTAA. (1979)
  

Research

• Reaching Competency Levels Through Creative Teaching Techniques, Region 9, JTPA. (1991) Development of a competency based program for Iowa’s JTFA program.
  
• Techniques to Change Behavior, George D. Nelson and Darryl R. Townsend, Ph.D. (1990) Development of education techniques for changing behavior in juvenile and adult offenders.
  
• Developing Learning Potential in Mentally Retarded Children Through Creative Dramatic Techniques, Seattle Public School, Department of Special Education. (1977-1979)
  
• Motivation Techniques for Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders. (1979)