David Levine
Director & Executive Producer

David Levine is an educator, writer, and musician with more than thirty- five years of experience working in a multitude of educational settings as a teacher, community builder, and social and emotional learning specialist. David has worked with school districts throughout the United States and beyond, focusing on creating caring and compassionate school cultures where social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence are foundational belonging and relationship-building practices.

As a musician, songwriter, producer, and podcast host, David uses his songs and digital materials as learning tools, including the Music Dialogue Process, which inspires both children and adults to look within to make a positive difference with others. As a writer, he has authored six books and numerous journal articles and curricula materials that focus on empathy and emotional intelligence practices as community building and leadership tools.

Teaching Empathy Institute and School of Belonging

James Fossett
Producer

James Fossett is a visual artist who primarily works as a photographer and videographer, in addition to performance, public art and installation. He has participated in artist residencies, led workshops and lectured at; Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, MA (USA), The Academy for Untamed Creativity in Copenhagen, Denmark, The Academy for Modern Circus in Copenhagen, Denmark, The Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle, Ireland, The State University of New York in New Paltz, NY, The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, NY, Alfred University in Alfred, NY, Lawrence School in Brookline, MA, The Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA. He was awarded a Pro Arts Public Service Award from the City of Boston. Both the cities of Cambridge, MA and Belmont, MA commissioned Fossett to create public murals. He is a creative consultant to the Teaching Empathy Institute. Fossett received his MFA from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His work is shown both nationally and internationally. Fossett currently lives and works in New York’s Hudson Valley.

jamesfossett.com, cavedogs.org and instagram.com/fossettphoto

Paul Brown
Scriptwriter & Interviewer

Paul Brown is a former NPR news reporter, producer, editor, and world newscaster. During his career at NPR’s Washington, DC headquarters, he reported in-depth stories, interviewed sources on evolving issues worldwide, and wrote and delivered NPR’s signature hourly morning newscasts. Paul is deeply interested in encouraging civil discourse, empathy and compassion in an open society.  He brings this interest to bear in his work for TEI.  He’s also a well-known music documenter and old-time banjo picker, fiddler and singer. He performs and teaches occasionally at festivals, camps and other venues.

Jodi Palinkas
Production Manager

Jodi Palinkas worked in a K-8 school as an administrative assistant for many years where she built and maintained after school enrichment programs for children. As a visual and textile artist, she has been a long time supporter of the arts as a pathway for children and adults to discover more about themselves. The hundreds of  letters from children to Howard and Lee have been a long-time source of inspiration for producing Finding Howard.