Wsre - Conversations with jeff weeks - Jennifer pena

>> THIS ORIGINAL WSRE PRESENTATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. >> FROM PBS KIDS, MISS ROSA, JENNIFER PENA ON THIS EDITION OF CONVERSATIONS. >> TO MANY PARENTS AND CHILDREN SHE IS THE VIVA SHUTS MISS ROSA ON PBS KIDS O. PAISE SHUTS MISS ROSA ON PBS KIDS. BUT IN REAL LIFE SHE'S A TEACHER THAT MELDED HER BAGS. PENA'S CHARACTER MS. ROSA CAPTIVATE IT IS MINDS OF CHILDREN IN BETWEEN SUCH SHOWS AS CURIOUS GEORGE AND DINOSAUR TRAIN. HER INTERNE TICK AND INFORMATIVE STYLE MAKES LEARNING EASY AND FUN. THE LESSONS FLOW EFFORTLESSLY BETWEEN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. PENA HAS LEGITIMATE TEACHING AND ACTING CREDENTIALS. SHE'S CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH REAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE AND HER ACTING CAREER BEGAN AT AGE 9 WITH ROLE IN THE MOVIE EARNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS. HER DUAL SKILL SET IS A PERFECT FIT FOR MISS ROSA. HERE IS A LOOK. >> SO DO YOU GUESS WHERE WE ARE TODAY? RIGHT. AT A ZOO. YOU CAN SEE ANIMALS ALL OVER THE WORLD. LIKE THE GIRAFFE FROM AFRICA. >> MISS ROSA, WHAT DO GIRAFFES EAT? >> T LET'S TALK TO AMY. SHE WORKS HERE. COME ON. >> HI, GUYS. I'M AMY THE ZOO KEEPER CUTTING UP FOOD FOR GIRAFFES. >> LOOKS LIKE THEY EAT CARROTS AND SWEET POTATOES. >> DID YOU GUYS WANT TO FEET -- FEED THEM? >> YES. >> LET'S GO. >> IT SURE IS A PURPLE TONGUE. >> THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT. THAT VERY SHADE OF PURPLE HELPS PROTECT THEIR TONGUE FROM THE SUN. >> COOL. >> WOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT LEARN WHEN YOU EXPLORE NEW PLACES AND NEW THINGS. >> AND SHE'S RIGHT HERE WITH US. MISS ROSA. JENNIFER PENA. THANKS FOR JOIN US. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >> HOW DID MISS ROSA COME ABOUT? >> SO IN 2007 PBS KIDS WAS LOOKING FOR A HOST THAT WOULD COME ON AND SORT OF BE THE CONTINUOUS FLOW IN BETWEEN ALL THE GREAT PROGRAMMING THAT THEY HAVE. SOMETHING THAT WOULD CAPTIVATE THE KIDS AS THEY TRANSITIONED FROM ONE SHOW TO THE NEXT. AND SO THEY DID HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WAS ON AIR AT THE TIME BUT THEY DECIDED THAT AS MOST PRE-SCHOOLS OR SCHOOLS DO, THEY HAVE MULTIPLE TEACHERS. SO WHY NOT HAVE MULTIPLE TEACHERS ON AIR. THEY HELD A NATIONWIDE SEARCH, THEY HIT THE MAJOR MARKETS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO FILL THE SPOT AND THEY FOUND ME IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. AND I BEGAN AS MISS ROSA FALL OF 2007 WHICH STARTED AIRING IN 2008. >> WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT THE TIME IN ORLANDO? >> AT THE TIME I HAD JUST LEFT MY TEACHING JOB AND WAS TRYING TO FOCUS ON ACTING AND GIVE IT ONE LAST GO AND SEE IF THIS WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I COULD DO AS A CAREER AND GIVE IT ONE MORE SHOT. A YEAR AFTER I LEFT THE CLASSROOM I STARTED FOCUSING ON ACTING FULL TIME. I BECAME MISS ROSA. >> IT'S FUNNY HOW IT COMES BACK THE TIE IN YOUR TEACHING. >> FUNNY SNOT EVEN THE WORD TO BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT. IT'S BEEN A CRAZY AMAZING ADVENTURE. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BEING A CHILD ACTOR THAT I WOULD WIND UP IN THE CLASSROOM. THAT HAPPENED ACCIDENTLY BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. SO THEN I BECAME A TEACHER AND THOUGHT ACTING IS NOT A REAL JOB, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT PAYS THE BILLS, DID IT BECAUSE I WAS YOUNG AND I WAS CUTE. AND THEN I SORT OF THOUGHT LET'S GIVE IT ONE MORE SHOT. WHEN PBS CAME AROUND AND I SAW THE BREAK DOWN, BREAK DOWN IS AN ACTUAL SHEET THAT TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, A DEFINITION OR DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE CHARACTER IS OR THE PERSON IS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE BECAUSE IT WAS ME TO A TEE ON A PIECE OF PAPER. AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THIS COULD POSSIBLY WORK. >> TELL ME HOW YOUR ACTING CAREER STARTED. AT AGE NINE YOU STARTED IN DID YOU START ACTING AT AGE NINE OR JUST YOUR FIRST MOVIE ROLE? >> THAT WAS MY FIRST MOVIE ROLE. I STARTED IN DANCE AND I WAS DANCING AND WAS ALWAYS THE PERFORMER IN THE HOUSE. I WAS DEFINITELY ONE TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION, I ALWAYS WANTED EVERYBODY TO BE ENTERTAINED AND HAVE A GOOD TIME SO I WAS ALWAYS DOING SOME SORT OF ENTERTAINMENT SO I STARTED WITH THE DANCING. AND THAT LED ME TO BEAUTY PAGEANTS WHICH WERE NOT WHAT THEY ARE TODAY, IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD BACK THEN. SO I DID THAT AND ONE DAY THERE WAS AN AGENT IN THE AUDIENCE AND SHE TOLD MY MOM THAT I SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL WORK AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER AND EARNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS WAS THE FIRST FILM CREDIT I HAD. >> FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T REMEMBER, EARNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, HE WAS THE HAY VERN GUY. >> YES, YES, YES. SILLY BUT LOVABLE GUY. >> IN A WAY HE WAS A CREATIVE GENIUS. DEVELOPING THAT CHARACTER LIKE THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S SORT OF FUNNY BECAUSE MY FIRST FILM WAS WITH JIM VERN IN EARNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS AND THEN I WORKED WITH LARRY THE CABLE GUY WHICH IS ALMOST THE SAY NEW AGE VERSION OF THE CHARACTER. SO THEY WERE FUN TO WORK WITH. >> WHERE DID YOU WORK WITH LARRY? >> THEY BOTH WANTED -- E EARNEST WAS SHOT IN ORLANDO AS WAS LARRY THE CABLE GUY. >> ON A MOVIE WITH LARRY? >> HE HAD A HEALTH INSPECTOR FILM SHOT ON LOCATION. >> I BET THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE. >> THAT WAS GREAT. THAT WAS HILARIOUS. GOOD STUFF. >> I CAN IMAGINE. TAKE ME BACK. YOU'RE ACTING AND DOING THINGS. WHAT GOT YOU INTO TEACHING? >> WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL I DECIDED THAT AGAIN, ACTING JUST IT WASN'T A REAL JOB SO I WANTED TO GO AND GET MY COLLEGE EDUCATION, I WAS THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO MY UNIVERSITY. I TOLD MY MOTHER THAT I WAS ONLY GOING TO APPLY TO ONE SCHOOL AND IF I DIDN'T GET ACCEPTED I WAS GOING TO NEW YORK TO BECOME A DANCER. AND MY MOTHER NEVER PRAYED SO HARD FOR THAT ACCEPTANCE LETTER. SO I WOUND UP GETTING ACCEPTED TO FLORIDA STATE. I DECIDE I WAS GOING TO BE A NORMAL KID. I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ACTING, I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BALANCING THE SCHEDULE OF BEING ONSET AND CLASS WORK SO I JUST FOCUSED ON STUDIES AND GOT VERY INVOLVED IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS LIFE. WOUND UP DOUBLE MAJORING IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AN POLITICAL SCIENCE, THOUGHT FOR SURE I WAS GOING TO BE A POLITICIAN ONE DAY. AND SO I CAME HOME FOR A YEAR AND THEN WAS GOING TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL. I NEEDED A JOB THE PAY FOR LAW SCHOOL. I STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL I GRADUATED FROM AND MY PRINCIPAL OFFERED ME A JOB. AND I SAID YOU'RE CRAZY. I'M NOT A TEACHER. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TEACHING. HE SAID WELL YOU'RE GREAT WITH THE KIDS, YOU HAVE THE -- THEY TAKE TO YOU BEAUTIFULLY. YOU'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL WITH THEM AND HERE IS WHAT YOU'LL MAKE. I SAID WHERE DO I SIGN? BECAUSE THAT WAS A NICE CHUNK TO PUT AWAY FOR LAW SCHOOL. ONE YEAR OF TEACHING BECAME TWO, TWO BECAME THREE, FOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER I WAS STILL IN THE CLASSROOM LOVING EVERY MOMENT BUT THOUGHT I'M A TEACHER I CAN ALWAYS GO BACK, LET'S GIVE THIS ACTING ONE MORE CHANCE. >> WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY THAT MY STUDENTS TAUGHT ME HOW TO TEACH. THEY SHOWED ME THAT I HAD THE ABILITY AND SKILL TO TEACH, THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THEM. I THINK WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER IS SOMEONE THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT JUST LEARNING. I THINK ALL OF US ARE TEACHERS TO SOME CAPACITY. LEARNING SOMETHING ON A DAILY BASIS OR JUST WANTING TO IMPROVE YOURSELF FOR JUST -- OR BE MORE INQUISITIVE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND YOU, SETS YOU UP TO BE A GREAT STUDENT. BUT THEN IT'S PASSING THAT KNOWLEDGE ON AND WANTING TO THEN INSPIRE AND NOTE INVESTIGATE OTHERS AROUND YOU TO BE -- MOTIVATE OTHERS TO BE AS INQUISITIVE, I THINK THAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER. >> INTERESTING. I WON'T SAY ALWAYS BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE TO WANT TO BLAME TEACHERS STUDENTS ARE DOING WELL, IT'S THE TEACHERS FAULT OR TEST SCORES ARE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, IT'S THE TEACHERS' FAULT. I'M SURE THAT MAY BE THE CASE IN SOME INSTANCES BUT WHAT WILL YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT? HOW WOULD YOU COUNTER THAT? I WOULD HONESTLY SAY MY PHILOSOPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT IT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL, IT'S UP TO THE PERSON. THE SCHOOL THAT I WENT TO, THE HIGH SCHOOL I WENT TO WAS A TITLE ONE SCHOOL. IT HAD A HIGH ETHNIC DIVERSITY. WE HAD A LOT OF LOWER INCOME FAMILIES AND STUDENTS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE POPULATION, IT WAS A VERY TRANSIENT AREA. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF COMINGS AND GOINGS. YOU WERE ALWAYS MEETING NEW PEOPLE WHICH WAS GOOD BUT THERE WAS NO REAL FOUNDATION OR NOT HISTORY BUT TRADITION I GUESS YOU COULD SAY. SO THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENT BODY WAS PRETTY AVERAGE. YET I STILL WAS ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND NOT ONLY DID I GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE BUT I HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE. DID THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL GIVE ME THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE? IS IT WORLD RENOWNED? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT I MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT BECAUSE OF THE TEACHINGS THAT MY PARENTS GAVE ME TO MAKE THAT DECISION THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT SO I GOT OUT WHAT I PUT IN. I THINK THAT'S THE CASE WITH ANYTHING. SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS I THINK IT FALLS, IT DOES FALL BACK ON THE PARENTS, IF YOU GIVE YOUR KIDS THAT DESIRE TO WANT TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE AND TO JUST GIVE ANYTHING THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THEIR BEST EFFORT THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET EFFORT OUT OF IT. >> PARTIAL -- PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS SO IMPORTANT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> DO YOU THINK WE'RE SOMEWHAT CHALLENGED WITH ALL THE BROKEN HOMES THAT SOME OF US ARE MORE FORTUNATE THAN OTHERS TO HAVE PARENT WHOSE WILL GET INVOLVED SO HOW DO WE AS A SOCIETY HELP THOSE CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE AS TO HAVE PARENTS WHO ARE ACTIVE WITH THEM? >> SURE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S ANY ONE OTHER PERSON'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FILL IN THAT VOID BUT U THINK THERE'S A GREAT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE. AND I LOVE SAYING IT BUT PBS KIDS IS ONE OF THOSE RESOURCES. THEY ARE GREAT AT PROVIDING REALLY SOUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT PARENTS CAN TRUST. SO IF FOR SOME REASON THERE IS AS YOU SAY A BROKEN HOME WHERE THE PART DOESN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE ABILITY TO SIT DOWN AND DEDICATE THE TIME TO THAT ONE ON ONE ATTENTION WITH THE CHILD, AT LEAST THEY KNOW THEY CAN -- THEY HAVE THAT RESOURCE OF THE TELEVISION OR OF THE INTERNET BASED PROGRAMMING THAT PBS KIDS OFFERS P AND KNOW THEY'RE TRUSTED, THAT THEY OTHER NOT JUST LEAVING THEIR CHILD SORT OF BLANKLESS LIMES RISED BY THIS OR -- HORRIBLE ENTERTAINMENT, THEY GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT, SO IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TAKING WHAT THAT CHILD HAPPENED TO SEER OVERHEARING IT WHILE YOU'RE IN THE KITCHEN COOKING ABOUT BRINGING IT UP AT THE DINNER TABLE OR IN YOUR CAR ON YOUR WAY THE DROP YOUR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL OR AS YOU'RE SAYING GOODBYE TO THEM KISSING THEM GOODBYE OR SAYING HELLO, I WAS LATCH KEY KID SO I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO GET HOME BEFORE MY PARTS AND TRY TO GET MY IM-- PARENTS DONE AND MAKE SURE THE HOUSE WAS CLEAN BEFORE MY PARENTS GET HOME. SO IT TAKES THE FEW TWO OR THREE MINUTES OF INTERACTION, I LOVE YOU, HOW WAS YOUR DAY, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAW THIS MORNING ON CURIOUS GEORGE? OR INCORPORATING IT SOMEHOW INTO THEIR WORLD AND THAT CAN MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE. >> WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO KIDS LEARN FROM VARIOUS SHOWS ON PBS KIDS? >> EVERYTHING FROM READING TO SCIENCE TO MATH SKILLS THEY HAVE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB OF REALLY EXPANDING THE CURRICULUM KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO ON PBS KIDS. SO OF OURS COURSE YOU HAVE GOT CURIOUS GEORGE THAT REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY NOT ONLY IS IT A CLASSIC BUT ENCOURAGES KIDS TO EXPLORE THEIR WORLD AND BE CURIOUS AND ASK QUESTIONS. THAT'S A PART OF LEARNING. WE HAVE A NEW SHOW, PEG PLUS CAT, THAT'S ABOUT MATH AND PROBLEM SOLVING. I WILL TELL YOU A SMALL LITTLE EXAMPLE SO I HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD SON. MY SON MISPLACED SOMETHING. IT WAS IN A DRAWER IN AN END TABLE TURNED ONE WAY. WELL I IN THE MIDDLE OF CLEANING THE HOUSE TURNED IT THE RIGHT WAY. SO HE GOES IN THE ROOM AND COMES RUNNING OUT OF THE ROOM, MAMA, IT'S GONE. IT'S A CATASTROPHE. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH PEGS PLUS CATS, PUG PLUS CAT IS AN ANIMATED SERIES ABOUT THIS LITTLE GIRL WHO SOLVES PROBLEMS. MOST ARE MATH BASED. ONE THING SHE SAYS THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE EPISODES IS WHEN A PROBLEM COMES UP OR THERE'S SOMETHING OUT OF PLACE, IT'S A CATASTROPHE. SO HERE MY TWO-YEAR-OLD SON IS TELLING ME IT'S A CATASTROPHE THAT THIS ITEM IS MISSING. SO I GO IN THERE AND SHOW HIM WHERE IT IS. TO MAKE IT FULL CIRCLE AND SORT OF BRING IT HOME TO HIM, I SANG THE SONG SHE SINGS AT THE END WHICH IS PROBLEM SOLVED. WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM. YOU HAD A PROBLEM, WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, WE FIGURED IT OUT AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. THAT IS A SMALL EXAMPLE, THAT EPISODE HE HAPPENED TO SEE BRING FULL CIRCLE AND BEYOND THAT BROADCAST INTO HIS OWN WORLD AND BRIDGE THAT CONNECTION. >> SOMETHING TO RELATE TO. >> WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU DO THAT I LIKE IS YOU WEAVE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT. >> WELL, I AM HISPANIC SO I SPEAK SPANISH FLUENTLY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS PBS KIDS IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT IS INTRODUCING KIDS TO THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT BUT PREVALENT TO THEIR WORLD. AND LEARNING SECOND LANGUAGES IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON, PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT FOR CENTURIES, BUT IT'S BECOMING MORE COMMON AND POPULAR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES. SO GETTING A CHANCE TO TAP INTO THE HISPANIC MARKET THAT IS EXTREMELY QUICKLY GROWING, IS IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY DOES IT GIVE THOSE KIDS THAT SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME THE CHANCE TO HEAR THEIR OWN LANGUAGE ON A TELEVISION PROGRAM THEY WOULD SEE, BUT IT'S ALSO HELPING THEIR PEER WHOSE ARE NOT SPANISH SPEAKERS BE EXPOSED TO SOMETHING NEW SO WHEN THE CHILD COMES IN WITH A ACCENT OR SPEAKS A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IT'S NOT A TURN OFF, IT'S NOT A FLAG. THERE'S NOT A FEAR FACTOR. NOW, I'M MORE COMFORTABLE DEALING WITH IT SO NOW I'M CURIOUS AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. SO THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB NOT GOING -- NOT DOING TOO MUCH BUT ENOUGH TO KEEP KIDS CURIOUS AND GETS THEM TO REALIZE THAT LEARNING SOMETHING NEW IS FUN. >> DO YOU THINK, JUST AS AN OVERALL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE SHOULD PUT MORE FOCUS ON CHILDREN LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE? WE GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES, IT'S RELATIVELY COMMON. >> DEFINITELY MORE MAINSTREAM OVERSEAS. IT'S SECOND NATURE, NOT EVEN A QUESTION OR THOUGHT ABOUT IT. PUTTING MORE A FOCUS ON IT, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SAY PUT MORE FOCUS ON IT, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT AND MAYBE WE GIVE IT MORE OF A VALUE. AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE BEHIND IT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I OBVIOUSLY HAM NOT A SCIENTIST AND I'M NOT CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED RESEARCH PERSON BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS, STUDIES SHOW INDIVIDUALS THAT NOT ONLY ARE INVOLVED IN MUSIC BUT THAT LEARN SECOND LANGUAGES, IT DOES HELP THEM LEARN ANOTHER ASPECT OF THEIR EDUCATION. SO HAVING THAT EXPOSURE AND EXPERIENCE IS GOOD. IT'S ONE OTHER NOTCH TO GIVE THE KIDS ON THEIR TOOL BELT SO WHY NOT GIVE THEM AS MANY TOOLS AS POSSIBLE TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT AND DISCOVER WHO THEY WANT TO BE. HOW MANY 5-YEAR-OLDS REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE? BY THAT POINT HOW MANY 21-YEAR-OLD NOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE. SO HAD I PERSONALLY FOR EXAMPLE NOT TAKEN A POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASS AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, I WOULD HAVE NEVER REALIZED THAT I LOVED POLITICS. HAD I NOT TAKEN AN ECONOMICS CLASS, I WOULD HAVE NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH I COULD NOT STAND THE WORLD OF ECONOMICS. SO IT GOES BOTH WAYS. IT GOES BOTH WAYS. >> YOU STILL LOVE POLITICS? >> I DO. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT -- IT'S INTERESTING, IT'S YEAH BUT FUN. >> IT'S A PLACE THAT PARTICULARLY IN TODAY'S WORLD THAT WE NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP AN FRESH NEW IDEAS. WOULDN'T YOU AGREE? >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. I TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND I TAUGHT POLITICAL SCIENCE. AND OF COURSE ONE TOPIC YOU GO OVER IS OFFICE OFPS SAY AND WHAT THAT ENTAILS WHAT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND ONE OF THE PROJECTS I HAD MY KIDS DO IS AN ACTUAL CAMPAIGN. THEY HAD TO NOMINATE THREE STUDENTS IN CLASS AND HAD TO CAMPAIGN, HAD TO RESPOND, HAD TO CREATE AN AD AND THE STUDENTS WOULD VOTE FOR THEIR PRESIDENT. I WOULD ALWAYS JOKE ONE DAY I WOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT. ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS FOUND ME ON FACEBOOK AND STILL SAID I'M WAITING TO SEE YOUR NAME ON THAT BALLOT. I THOUGHT WELL, MAYBE NOT SUCH A REALITY ANY MORE, BUT IT'S A FUN THOUGHT. YOU NEVER KNOW. I'M MISS ROSA ON PBS KIDS, WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THUNK, REALLY, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. [LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS TRUE. >> CERTAINLY YOU CAN DO THAT. WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER THE SEGMENTS THAT YOU DO, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU COME UP WITH? YOU WORK WITH A TEAM? HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE MISS ROSA SEGMENTS? >> THE WAY IT'S WORKED IN THE PAST IS TYPICALLY THERE ARE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, MOST PRODUCERS IN HOUSE AT PBS. THEY COME UP WITH THE CONCEPT, THE IDEAS. THEY'RE VERY, VERY THOROUGH ABOUT RESEARCHING TESTING THEM MAKING SURE THEIR TOPICS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE INTERESTED IN, MAKING SURE THE INFORMATION CONVEYED IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY. I WAS ABLE TO CHIME IN AND HELP PARTICULARLY WITH SPANISH, THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH DOING THAT, MAKING SURE IT'S DONE CORRECTLY. AND EFFECTIVELY. BECAUSE TO THROW OUT A WORD FOR THE SAKE OF THROWING IT OUT IN THE WORLD OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD ISN'T GOING TO CONVEY WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW TO HELP THEM LEARN IT LATER ON AND USE IT CORRECTLY LATER ON. THAT WAS SORT OF HOW I WAS ABLE TO HELP. >> IS THERE ONE PARTICULAR AREA YOU PERSONALLIEN JOY? ONE PARTICULAR THING THAT YOU DO? I SEE YOU ON THE FIELD TRIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. DO YOU HAVE AN AREA OF FOCUS THAT YOU LIKE? >> I LOVE IT ALL. I DO LOVE IT ALL. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SEEN OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON AIR IS THAT I ALSO GET THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL AROUND AND VISIT LOCAL PBS STATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND WITH THE LIVE SHOWS WHAT WE DO IS ACTUALLY LIVE SHOWS WHETHER EVENT OR FAMILY EXPOE, SOMETIMES I GET A CHANCE TO VISIT EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS, OR DIFFERENT EDUCATION -- DAY CARE CENTERS OR THAT SORT OF THING. WE ALSO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH. I HAVE GOTTEN A FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH SOME DAY CARE PROVIDERS OR CARETAKERS OR PARENTS AND GIVE THEM IDEAS AND RESOURCES ON BEHALF OF PBS KIDS HOW THEY CAN HELP DO WHAT WE DO IN THEIR OWN HOME. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY FUN, I LOVE WORKING WITH THE KIDS. THAT'S THE TEACHER IN ME. BUT LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER IN OUR CONVERSATION THERE DOES SEEM TO BE GROWING AMOUNT, THERE'S BEEN A MISSING FACTOR IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOME AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASS ROOM. AND HOW THAT VOID CAN BE FILLED. THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT. IF WE CAN GIVE PARENTS AND OTHER CARE PROVIDERS THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP KIDS WILL BE BETTER OFF FOR IT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE FUN THINGS THAT I ENJOY GETTING A CHANCE TO DO. >> SPEAKING OF RESOURCES HOW IS TECHNOLOGY HELPING OR FOR THAT MATTER CHANGING THE WAY WE EDUCATE OUR KIDS? >> TECHNOLOGY IS HUGE, VERY MUCH SO. PARTICULARLY BECAUSE NOW AS A SOCIETY AND NOW THE KIDS ARE LEARNING WE WANT EVERYTHING NOW. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THURSDAY 8 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT TO WATCH OUR SHOW. WE WANT IT NOW. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT NEXT WEEK TO WATCH THE SECOND EPISODE, WE WANT ALL 15 BACK TO BACK. SO TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN HELPFUL BECAUSE OF THE CONVENIENCE OF ON DEMAND. AND JUST BEING ABLE TO OFFER THAT TOOL WHEN YOU NEED AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO WAIT. IT ALSO HELPS TO BRING THAT IDEA OF BEYOND THE BROADCAST BRINGING WHAT THE KIDS ARE WATCHING INSIDE THAT BOX, THAT TELEVISION INTO THEIR WORLD BECAUSE NOW IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE WATCHING NOW IT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE PHYSICALLY ENTERACTING WITH WHETHER ON SMART PHONE OR ON A TABLET OR ON A COMPUTER. THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT IT IS THEY'RE LEARNING. THEY'RE DIRECTLY INTERACTING WITH. I THINK TECHNOLOGY IS HUGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPACT THAT ALL THESE RESOURCES HAVE ON EDUCATION. >> ARE YOU GUYS USING APPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE? THAT'S KIND OF THE THING EVERYONE IS GOING TO THIS DAY AND AGE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING FROM THAT STANDPOINT? WHAT IS A KID GOING TO LEARN IF THEY GET VARIOUS APP? >> PBS KIDS HAS -- THEY HAVE THEIR APPS AGAIN FOR TABLETS AND SMART PHONES. THEY ALSO HAVE AN ENTIRE ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY THAT IS THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE PBSKIDS.ORG. KIDS AND PARENTS CAN HOP TO THEIR COMPUTERS AND PICK A PARTICULAR SHOW THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AND WITHIN THAT SHOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT GAMES THEY CAN PLAY THAT ARE OF COURSE EDUCATION-BASED, BASED ON THE CURRICULUM OF THAT PARTICULAR SHOW. SO CAT IN THE HAT IS SCIENCE BASED. SO THEY'RE DOING -- PLAYING WITH GAMES THAT ARE MORE ABOUT ANIMALS OR THAT SORT OF SCIENCE-BASED CONCEPT. THE NEW PEG PLUS CAT WEBSITE IS ABOUT PROBLEM SOLVING, THERE'S ACTUALLY'S IT'S COUNTING AND IT'S ABOUT ADDING AND SUBTRACTING AND THE IDEA OF THE MATH THEORIES THAT YOUNG KIDS WOULD NEED TO KNOW. IN TERMS OF THE APPS, THERE'S PRETTY FUN ONES, DINOSAUR TRAIN HAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC APP THEY DO. WHERE IT SHOWS YOU THE DINOSAUR THEY WANT TO CAPTURE AND THERE'S DIFFERENT DINOSAURS WALKING THE GROUND OR IN THE AIR AND YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR APP OR iPHONE AND MOVE IT AROUND AS IF IT WAS AN ACTUAL CAMERA, FIND P THAT PARTICULAR DINOSAUR, PHOTOGRAPH AND MATCH IT WITH THE ONE THEY HAVE CHOSEN SO IT'S A FUN WAY TO GET KIDS TO RECOGNIZE PERHAPS COLORS. THIS IS A GREEN DINOSAUR. FIND ANOTHER GREEN DINOSAUR. OR THIS IS A BRONT SAW US. CAN YOU FIND ANOTHER ONE? SO IT GETS THEM TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IT IS THEY'RE BEING ASKED AND TRY TO MATCH IT UP WITH THAT ITEM. >> FASCINATING. AS YOU LOOK INTO THE FUTURE IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE, WHAT DO YOU SEE? WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND WHAT DO YOU SEE WITH YOUR CURRENT PBS ROLE? >> WHAT DO I SEE? THE SKY IS THE LIMB. PARTICULARLY PBS BUT THE CHARACTER OF MISS ROSA, THE KYE IS THE LIMIT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING IS ANIMATED. THERE REALLY ISN'T VERY MUCH LIVE ACTION, PARTICULARLY IN ADULT -- AN ADULT THAT IS SEEN AS THE WAY PBS PRESENTED AS A TRUSTED GUIDE, SOMEBODY THAT KIDS CAN ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH WHEN THEY GET A CHANCE TO SEE ME IN PERSON. SOMEONE THAT PARENTS CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE SITTING THEIR KID IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION TO WATCH. AND SO IT'S -- WHO KNOWS. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. MISS ROSA WILL HAVE HER OWN MOVIE ONE DAY, I DON'T KNOW. IT COULD BE ANYTHING. IT COULD BE A TELEVISION SHOW, IT COULD BE ANYTHING. BUT JUST -- BUT FOR NOW, THE FUN ADVENTURE OF AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND INTERACT WITH THE KIDS ONE ON ONE AND HEAR THEIR CRAZY QUESTIONS LIKE HOW DID THEY MAKE YOU REAL BECAUSE THEY'RE SO USED TO SEEING YOU ON THE TV. THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I GET A CHANCE TO ANSWER, THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GET ANSWERS FROM THE COSTUME CHARACTERS SO ET GETS TO BE MORE FULFILLING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM WHICH IS NICE. >> IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE, FOR JENNIFER PENA, MORE MOVIE? IS THAT A GOAL? >> MORE MOVIES. I LIKE HOSTING. YOU LOOKING FOR A CO-HOST? JUST KIDDING. [LAUGHTER] I -- WHO KNOWS? TELEVISION, FILMS HAVE A TOUGH SCHEDULE AND LIKE I SAID, I HAVE TWO LITTLE ONES SO MAYBE NOT RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE CONTINUOUS, MORE LAID BACK. TELEVISION IS FOR ME, HOSTING IS FOR ME, PBS KIDS IS DEFINITELY FOR ME. OUT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD SET. >> YOU'RE A NATURAL. >> THANKS. >> WHAT A PLEASURE SPENDING TIME WITH YOU. >> WOW, ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS FAST. >> WASN'T TOO BAD WAS IT? >> NOT AT ALL. >> VERY NICE TO MEET YOU. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. >> THANKS. >> JENNIFER PENA IS HER NAME, MISS ROSA ON PBS KIDS. YOU CAN WATCH HER MORNINGS ON PBS AND ALSO ON THE WEB, THE PLACE TO GO FOR ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IS PBSKIDS.ORG. FOR MORE CONVERSATIONS ONLINE, PROBABLY NOWHERE NEAR AS FUN OR FASCINATING AS MISS ROSA BUT NONETHELESS YOU CAN FIND US AT WSRE.ORG/CONVERSATIONS. I'M JEFF WEEKS. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE BROADCAST. TAKE GREAT CARE OF YOURSELF. WE'LL L SEE YOU SOON. ♪♪ >> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED IN PART BY THESE CORPORATE SPONSORS. AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. [CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WSRE-TV AND COASTAL CAPTIONING]