Montana Ambassador Extraordinaire Peter Rosten and Montana’s MAPS (Media Arts in the Public Schools)

MAPS has provided services for more than 1,000 students; among all of those students, fewer than 10 failed to graduate from high school. The program boasts a reduction in student dropout rates, as well as increases in GPAs, credits attained, and in graduates going to college. All at no cost to the students themselves.

I happened to be at MAPS on the last day of school, and there were many hugs, many tears. Peter Rosten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsmfooT49a8 inspired great affection from these kids, but they weren’t intimidated by him. They had no problem teasing him. He was a fascinating blend of gentleness and confidence.

The day I visited the MAPS building, some of the staff gestured me toward the production room, away from Rosten, where I watched a video performed and produced by their students to honor Rosten’s accomplishments. It was called "Everybody Needs Love," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTnGuaFPafA and by the time the video was over, there was not a dry eye in the production studio.

By: Russell Rowland

Full Story: http://bigskyjournal.com/feature-article/peter-rosten-media-arts-public-schools