About the Author

2020 Professional Biography for ROBERT SIMON ROB SIMON is a deeply experienced and credentialed Kansas educator and entertainer who has worked as a speaker/performer and trainer/consultant for school systems and other agencies from coast to coast - including 21 years as a former teacher and teaching specialist for USD 259. In a variety of ways, Rob has consistently worked to promote personal and community empowerment throughout his long career. He has applied his skills and insights with school systems, congregations and various other agencies and organizations - much of it through his own POSITIVE RHYTHM PRODUCTIONS. In addition to a number of other creative enterprises, Rob is currently working as a Restorative Practices Consultant and Advocate for the Wichita Public Schools, based at West High School. In this environment, he and partnering consultant, Jan Fox-Petersen, work with others in a real-world laboratory that allows them to be innovative in promoting universal empowerment strategies based on the Restorative Practices (a.k.a. "restorative justice in education") paradigm. At West High, and from their Center for Restorative Community (CRC), Rob and Jan produce and network to deliver group facilitation, mediations, and workshops; provide classroom, assembly, and other creative presentations; work with students, school staffs, families, businesses, and community groups; and present for trainings, conferences and conventions. Rob also directs music for contemporary worship at College Hill United Methodist Church, provides lead and background vocals and percussion for local band, Blue Eyed Soul, and works as a teaching artist with Arts Partners. He is also a professional storyteller with the Wichita Griots for whom he has written, co-produced and directed fourteen (14) original stage productions Rob has long considered his work the pursuit of a personal mission, which he says is to "ignite within all of us . . . the desire and the power to be the best we can be, and to live a fruitful life." Rob and his wife, Denise, live in Wichita, and are the proud parents of one grown son, Arri Lawton Simon. For more information, see: www.positiverhythm.org.

Reviews

"We are glad that this project has finally seen the light of day. Your commentaries have been such a blessing over the years and now this project will give your body of works new life and wings. It will continue to bring hope, wisdom and reason to those who hunger for them."- Robert Tutt & Vicky Howard, Youth of Unity Sponsors
"Your text is wonderful!! My school counselor ordered it for me and we plan to utilize it inAdvising Classes, and my Lower School and Middle School classes."- Margaret Healy, Wichita Collegiate School
"Rob Simon has put together a set of essays ... that should be a required textbook for a coursetaught in every school system in America. Possibly, the title of the course could be 'LifePerspectives to Ponder.' In time we would see very positive results through a new breed ofcitizens." - Nate Lee, Moorpark, CA
"Rob's prismatic snippets of life's wonders are perfect for late night reading when I can't sleep: a cup of cocoa, a compassionate listener, an equalizer, morale booster ... a grandparent-on-call!Thank you for your creative inspirations which rest upon my nightstand. Lucky, we who readyour words." - Grace Doetsch, Surprise, AZ
"Rob, over the years I've told you that you speak my mind very well. I'm not sure, however, thatyou know just how comforting that is to me. I guess we all need validation sometime. Theattempt at shepherding factual information is blocked all too frequently by a recalcitrantrecipient caught up in self-destructive internal dialogue. If it wasn't for people like you, I think I'dbe working on stifling reflection. It's all about consciousness."- Clarence M. King, Jr., Wichita, KS
"A wonderful read, filled with insight. Rob manages to educate while entertaining. This bookshould be picked up and read often - with a smile!" - P. Thorpe Christiansen, Libby, MT
"One of the greatest joys in life is a genuine sharing of warmth and humanity with another soul -creating bonds of kinship amid the gifts of mankind. In his book, Inciting Reflection, Rob Simonnot only extends his hand to all, but does so in a manner that opens the door and invites us tolook out and around and appreciate what the eye meets. Brave with expressions of love andresponsibility, this book will serve to enrich and delight the lives of those who read it.- Chris (Herpolsheimer) Vogts, Haysville KS
"I'm glad to see you included my favorite commentary - on giving yourself a valentine. I was somoved by it when I first heard it that I remember where I was and what I was doing at themoment (a good JFK moment!) - Greg Coykendall, Wichita, KS
"Refreshing and enlightening, your perspective will inspire me and those I come in contact with."- Karen Koehn
"The 'New Story of Christmas' was so heartwarming. My eyes filled with tears of joy andhelped me remember all the blessings in my life," - Shirley Cox