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Gary Paul

Gary Paul, Board Member
A Harvard-trained architect and decorator, Gary has designed beautiful homes in the Chicago area and New York. A former faculty member at Parsons School of Design and New York Institute of Technology, he has been a guest critic at the Altos de Chavon Design School, Harvard, and Yale.

Happy-Go-Lucky DVD Contest

Happy-Go-Lucky DVD Contest.  Happy-Go-Lucky, the latest product of award-winning writer / director Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Secrets & Lies, Naked), is a film which tells the story of the defiantly optimistic elementary primary school teacher named Poppy. That she is a teacher may be circumstantial (it is not central to the film), but it is most definitely not incidental. Poppy tries to see things through the eyes of those she engages. Her classroom is colorful, rich with information and fun, as are her lesson plans.

Contest Question:
In 100 words or less, how do you use your students' interest in movies to engage them by relating a movie to a particular lesson?

And the winner was...Ellen Clancy!!! Here is Ellen's winning entry which we think Poppy would be very impressed by:

“What makes an effective leader? This question is explored in great literature, but I have found that a ten minute scene in Peter Brook's 1963 film of Golding's LORD OF THE FLIES illustrates leadership theory better than any grad school administration textbook. When the boys first gather, we see the contrast of Jack's autocratic, bullying approach with Ralph's democratic, collegial leadership style that includes voting and discussion. Ralph's decision to delegate and the look on Piggy's face when he is given a job by someone he admires--teach students the importance of inclusiveness better than a two hour lecture.”

Ellen is a teacher at Mother Cabrini High School in New York City where she teaches English Literature, Art History and Speech/Public Speaking, and she uses films in all of them.