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Our
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OpenHeartOpenMind
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Sherri and Beth met in high school. They were neighbors, living on the same street in a small town in Central Pennsylvania. Their friendship faded, as many do, after graduating high school. Beth stayed close to home, attending The Pennsylvania State University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling and later moved to the Philadelphia area where she got her Master’s Degree in Education from Cabrini University. Sherri left her hometown to pursue her passion for art, eventually returning home and ironically also earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Cabrini University.
Three decades later, Sherri and Beth were living on different coasts, when they got reacquainted through a mutual childhood friend on Facebook. Having a shared history brought the two together, but it was the thirty years of living parallel lives that ignited their re-connection. They both were divorced parents raising two adolescent children. They both had established a career in education. They shared a similar energy and enthusiasm for their craft. They also shared the belief that all children could succeed if given the time, space and encouragement to express their strengths and develop their talents. In addition to sharing the same educational philosophy, they also shared a daily practice of mindfulness, meditation and yoga, Beth as a devoted student and Sherri as a certified instructor.
Sherri and Beth began their collaboration on The Cardboard Castle, a children’s book inspiring readers to embrace their creativity and celebrate their differences by “thinking outside the box,” in 2018. When the book went to publication in 2020, Sherri and Beth knew that their partnership had just begun. Through their combined experiences and passion, they built a platform for educators, parents and their children, to develop mindfulness and compassion through literacy. Sherri and Beth knew the only way to do this was by offering opportunities to have children open their hearts and minds. And thus, Open Heart, Open Mind, was born. The initials, OHOM, look and sound like “Om.” “Om” is a chant that often marks the beginning and end of a yoga practice. When practicing yoga with others, the vibrations of the sound brings the energy in the room together. The result is a feeling of connection, harmony and balance. Open Heart, Open Mind is a site where parents and educators can find programs and inspiration to bring that same sense of connection, harmony and balance into their homes and classrooms.
Beth Schulman
Beth Schulman has devoted her life’s work to creating supportive, literacy rich learning environments for her young students. She teaches from the heart and believes every classroom should be a place where students feel respected and celebrated. She lives and teaches in the Philadelphia area. Schulman has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She has worked with professional teachers through The Penn Literacy Network at The University of Pennsylvania as a literacy coach and instructor since 1997. In addition, Schulman has been an adjunct professor of Child Development and Language Arts Instruction in the Master’s of Education Department at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.
Schulman is the author of the children’s book Rosie, The Practically Perfect Puppy (2017) inspired by her dog and two sons and The Gold Mailbox, a memoir (2016). Her own personal story is reflected in The Cardboard Castle. In her memoir, Schulman writes, “We’re all shaped by our experiences. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having lived through the trauma of my childhood. It wasn’t easy and there have
been many hurdles along the way. But my past has brought me to the place I am today, a place of compassion, love and deep gratitude.”
Schulman hopes The Cardboard Castle inspires that same compassion, love and deep gratitude in her young readers.
Sherri Bausch
A Pennsylvania native, Sherri Bausch now lives, teaches and creates in Los Angeles, California, and has supported and inspired thousands of students, teaching in both public, private and collegiate settings. Currently, she teaches classical drawing and painting, and educates individuals about approaching and integrating the practice of art through energy, mindfulness and meditation techniques.
With a Bachelor’s in Integrative Arts, and a Master’s in Elementary Education, throughout her 25 year teaching career her focus on the arts as a vehicle for learning has supported and encouraged students, in both the academic and art classrooms in which she serves.
This is her first book illustration project, which she has approached as a labor of love and a dedication to the many children who feel they have something incredible to express to the world. Sherri reflects, "This story is so relatable for me, especially as a creative who really struggled to enjoy school in many ways. My best memories of the classroom are when we engaged in art projects---that’s when I could really be myself and did well. My hope is that readers will engage with the book on many different levels and find the courage and inspiration to pursue whatever it is that brings them joy."