Shine a light onto mental wellness at your school system with a school visit from author Cara Bean! Her engaging, educational, and empathetic approach makes her an excellent choice for inspiring students and enriching your school community. These visits are designed to inspire creativity, promote mental health awareness, and foster a love for drawing and storytelling among participants of all ages.

In her presentations, Cara Bean is happy to speak to a classroom or large assembly of students about her life as a cartoonist and her book, Here I Am, I Am Me.

Cara also loves leading doodling workshops with 25-50 students at a time.

SPEAKING FEES: (travel costs not included)
Single session: $500 (Either a presentation or a doodle workshop.)
Half Day (2 events): $800
Full Day (3-5 events): $1,500
Keynote Speaker Fee: $2,500
Full School Event (two days, auditorium presentation, 8-10 events/workshops): $5,000

A discounted rate may be available for Title 1 schools. Please contact Cara for more information.

Schools in Massachusetts can apply for a Creative Projects for Schools grant from the Mass Cultural Council to cover two full days of events. Grants of $5,000 are available for school-based projects that foster creative learning experiences in the arts, sciences, and humanities for K-12 students. If you are interested in applying for funding for a school-based project in the 2025-2026 school year, that application will open in Spring 2025 (FYI, the project used to open in Fall of every year; this timeframe has changed!).

TESTIMIONIALS:

Author, Cara Bean gave an outstanding presentation to our 6th and 7th grade students on her book, Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health. Our students appreciated hearing and learning from Cara as she taught about mental health through illustrative characters. Cara’s discussion on the varied aspects of mental health, enabled students to start considering what is happening with their feelings and emotions daily.  By interacting with Cara, students were able to see that actual people create the books they read, and our staff trusts this connection has made literature more relatable and engaging, encouraging even reluctant readers to explore different genres. What was equally impressive was Cara's transparency in her responses to student inquiries, which clearly impacted some of the students’ aspirations. As one student shared while leaving the presentation, “I feel like my ideas are now worth sharing with my family, classmates and teachers.” 
----------
André Morgan, Ph.D., Ed.L.D.
Chief Opportunity, Access and Equity Officer
Beverly Public Schools

We had the honor and privilege of collaborating with Cara Bean in several impactful ways, including an artist-in-residence program that emphasized creativity and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in relation to the brain, an after-school workshop for students eager to explore the connection between their creativity and brain function, and as the keynote speaker at our Dendrites Conference, which was attended by all students and staff.

Cara’s presentations are clear, meaningful, and engaging, making complex concepts about the brain and learning both valuable and actionable. Students quickly connected with Cara’s empathetic and approachable nature, feeling comfortable asking questions and actively participating in the learning process.

We’ve added copies of Here I Am, I Am Me to our school library, and they have become popular among students. Many have commented that the book is “just right” for them, appreciating how the images and complex ideas are presented in a way that is easy to understand. Students have noted that this is one of the first books that has helped them gain a better understanding of how their brains work.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with Cara Bean as we strive to support our learners in strengthening their metacognitive skills.
-----------
Tobey Eugenio
Learning Experience Designer & 
Art and  STEAM Educator
Our Sisters’School

It was wonderful to have Cara speak with our students about the importance of seeking support for adolescent mental health. This is a topic that is critical particularly during this time and her book makes these topics accessible for students to learn about. The support team and I enjoyed partnering with Cara on preparing her presentation. She took our feedback and created a developmentally age-appropriate presentation. We enjoyed learning about her creative process and students loved having a chance to speak with her and get an autographed book. Every parent and educator should get the book. It's a must-read! 
-----------
Dr. Rochelle C. Reodica (she/her/siya)
Head of School 
The Independent Day School