Founders

Walter F. Drew, Ed.D., Founder and Executive Director

Walter F. Drew, Ed. D. is a teacher and co-founder of the Institute for Self-Active Education. For more than 40 years he has researched and presented self-active play experiences as a process for awakening creativity, strengthening early childhood professional practice, and generating hope and optimism across the human life span. He is a visual artist and creator of Dr. Drew’s Discovery Blocks chosen “Best Toy of the Year in 1982 by the Parent’s Choice Foundation and co-author of “From Play to Practice: Connecting Teachers Play to Children’s Learning” a book published by NAEYC. He is the 2009 recipient of the Patricia Monighan Nourot Award and the 2018 Peace Educator’s Award.

Kitty Drew, Founder and Director of Operations

Kitty Drew is co-founder and director of operations for the Institute for Self Active Education and Dr. Drew’s Toys, both founded with her husband, Dr. Walter Drew over 40 years ago. She is director of the Reusable Resources Adventure Center in Melbourne, Florida. She is also the author of the children’s book, “The Block Kingdom”, and is a fiber artist who has exhibited her work locally.

 

 

 

 

History

The Hands, Heart, and Mind® Workshops sprang forth as a way of inspiring children, teachers, and parents to experience the benefits of self-constructed knowledge and revitalizing the human spirit across the human life cycle using open ended play materials.

The use of open ended materials as a vital component in tapping the creative process prompted the creation of the Reusable Resource Association (RRA). RRA is an environmental program that promotes business and educational partnerships within a community in order to build environmental awareness issues and attain high quality play materials which promote creativity. RRA provides training and technical assistance for creating Reusable Resource Centers.

The Institute for Self Active Education plays an integral role in helping state affiliates focus on the importance of play (Florida Play Symposium). One key component of sponsoring a Play Symposium is its approach to bring together interdisciplinary community wide play advocacy.

The outgrowth from the Hands, Heart, and Mind® workshops has led to the development of a Play Leadership Training Program. This training is a three tiered program open to those who desire to understand the impact of play on human development at a more in-depth level.

ISAE has now expanded its scope to support creative artistic expression throughout the human life cycle through Discovery Retreats.