Jason is an accomplished author and the founder of Jr. Storytellers, a company dedicated to helping children explore their imagination and creativity through engaging storytelling experiences. With over two decades of experience in the field of children's education, Jason has honed his skills in capturing the imagination of young minds and creating opportunities for learning and growth. In addition to his work as an author and storyteller, Jason is also a highly sought-after trainer and speaker, traveling across North America to share his expertise with educators, coaches, parents, and caregivers. He is deeply committed to helping people understand the best ways to communicate and interact with children in a safe, meaningful manner.

LinkedIn Profile: Jason D'Rocha

Derek Morrison is an author, storyteller, and entrepreneur. He co-founded B.A.M. Kids TV and the nonprofit Think Tomorrow Today. His journey into youth education began in 2009, when mentor Jason D’Rocha introduced him to the magic of teaching kids in fun, animated, unforgettable ways. That experience sparked three successful youth franchises and a lifelong mission to help kids unlock their full potential. Now, Derek and Jason have teamed up again to re-launch Jr. Storytellers—a system that empowers kids, parents, and educators to grow, connect, and level up through the power of storytelling. For Derek, storytelling isn’t just fun—it’s foundational. It’s how we share ideas, shape the future, and discover our voice. It’s a timeless tool with limitless possibilities. And they’re just getting started.

LinkedIn Profile: Derek Morrison

Paul is an emerging voice in children's literature, unveils his debut masterpiece, "The Backpack," a compelling exploration of mental health and well-being within the context of the parent-child relationship. Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Paul's basketball background includes representing Nova Scotia and leading the CIAU National Basketball Champions. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from St. Mary's University, he seamlessly transitioned from his accomplished 23-year career as a Sports Broadcast Media Professional to an executive role as Senior Producer at Sportsnet Central. As a dedicated College Professor at Centennial College and the Lead Coach of New Horizon Basketball, Paul's commitment to guiding and empowering future generations shines through.

Graham is an award-winning kindergarten teacher in Toronto, Ontario where he tries a range of voices in his storytelling, and thankfully the four year-olds don’t seem to judge. He has written for children’s television and web series, including tween shows Life With Derek and My Babysitter’s A Vampire and the preschool math show Monster Math. He is the founder of the Junior Author Project, turning young writers into published authors, and in 2017 he published his first book, Would You Be My Tree?

Meet Tayson, the cartoonist and storyteller extraordinaire hailing from Edmonton, Alberta! This creative mastermind has published his very own graphic novel, BOX BOY, with 215 Ink, and has even self-published a few comics of his own, including Parker Purr: Cat Adventurer, The Legendary: Winter, and Bedtime Tails. Tayson also lends his artistic talents to Thunder Frog Comics' series, Thunder Frog, and even designs the cards for the wildly popular game ACTIVE ANIMALS: THE GAME. When he's not busy bringing his imaginative ideas to life, Tayson loves nothing more than sharing his passion for comics and storytelling with the next generation of creative minds.

Emma Zhang is an avid reader, the author of nine books, an alumna of Kenyon Review’s YWW program, and an occasional blogger. In addition to writing, she has interests in history (particularly military history), entrepreneurship, philosophy, and politics. Emma Zhang is the new Operations Manager at Jr. Storytellers. A brilliant young talent, she oversees all stages of publishing our children's books and plays a key role in creating our teachers' guides and curriculum. We’re thrilled to have her on our team!  To learn more about Emma and her work, visit www.emmavictoriawrites.com

Brad was born and raised in Vancouver, BC.  A strong interest in all sports, combined with a passion for writing and storytelling led him to pursue a career in journalism and media.  In 1998 he was hired as an original on-air personality at Sportsnet and has lived and worked in Toronto ever since.  Assignments have taken him all over North America to the biggest sporting events in the world. Along the way he and his wife Julie started a family, which allowed Brad to constantly sample his ever-evolving silly poems for his two young sons.  In many ways, his first book “Underwear is Fun to Wear” has been a labour of love for over a decade.

From a very young age, Lyndia has been cultivating her passion for art through drawing and painting. Although her career took her down a different path, she never lost her love for creating. Lyndia's portfolio includes several captivating children's murals and illustrated works created for family and friends. Her illustrative capabilities breathe life into characters by capturing memorable moments filled with vibrant colors, textures, and special details. Lyndia's true passion lies in the creative process of designing and developing storyboards that transport characters into engaging backdrops. She takes pride in helping others bring their stories to life and witnessing the joy that families experience through the works she helps create.

Jana Navales is a writer-entrepreneur from Lipa City, Philippines. Her first novel, The Somerset Showdown, which she co-authored and self-published with Emma Victoria, is a dual POV middle-grade contemporary with themes of friendship and family set in a prestigious boarding school. She is currently working on adult fantasy fiction about gods, magic, and war.

Hiro is a seasoned operations leader with over a decade of experience driving growth and efficiency across global teams and startups. He has a proven track record of building operations from the ground up, scaling businesses from a single location to dozens, implementing CRM platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot, launching automation systems that streamline customer experiences, and even building websites to support business growth.

His background spans BPO, retail, and tech-driven startups, giving him a versatile edge in solving complex operational challenges. At JR Storytellers, Hiro oversees strategy, performance, and process optimization, ensuring the team has the tools and structure to bring powerful stories to life.

Outside of work, he enjoys working on cars, cooking, and exploring new places on long drives.

Based in Cebu City, Gifty is the team’s Swiss Army knife—versatile, resourceful, and always ready to take on new challenges. A lifelong book lover who devoured classics before the age of 10 (and even finished 1001 Nights in just four days at 12), she brings the same passion and creativity to her work in marketing and storytelling. Beyond leading JR Storytellers’ marketing efforts, Gifty channels her love for children’s stories, fantasy, and cultural themes to inspire kids, teens, and young adults through the power of imagination.

Based in Manila, Philippines, Dea is Jr. Storytellers’ Social Media Manager. A proud mom of two, she oversees content creation, scheduling, and engagement across platforms, collaborating closely with the creative team to bring stories to life online. Passionate about Jr. Storytellers’ mission, she finds the work both magical and deeply fulfilling

Irish is a video editor with a background in journalism. She primarily works on BAM’s content, where her main role is to create videos that help kids stay active, engaged, and having fun. She also puts a sprinkle of her magic into other M42 projects, bringing the same focus on clear storytelling and lively, engaging edits. By combining clear storytelling with energetic visuals, she makes sure each project encourages kids to enjoy learning and moving, both in mind and body.

Coco is a dedicated video editor from Palawan, Philippines, who has been in the creative field since 2019. With years of experience and a true passion for storytelling, he now brings his skills to Junior Story Teller as one of the video editors, helping transform ideas into meaningful and engaging visuals.

Meet Uno: A Visual Storyteller from the Philippine Islands.

Uno is an illustrator who doesn't just draw stories, they bring them to life! A self-taught artist based in Antipolo, Uno specializes in the magic of visual storytelling. From captivating book illustrations and gripping comics to characters that leap off the page, Uno's work is infused with a passionate attention to detail. Each piece captures a spark of whimsy and wonder in every brushstroke, inviting you into a world crafted with dynamic imagination.

Shantal is one of JR Storyteller’s illustrators and Graphic designers based in Cebu, Philippines. She has worked on a wide variety of projects, including character design and storyboarding for storybooks, toy illustrations, board game designs, and animation assets. Her art style is bright, playful, and colorful, but can be flexible when needed.

Claudio dove into the world of technology over 20 years ago, and since 2021, he’s found a vibrant new playground in artificial intelligence. At JR Storytellers, he blends the precision of AI with the warmth of children’s imagination, turning automation into something human, lighthearted, and whimsical. Passionate about learning and experimenting with new tools, Claudio believes everything flows more naturally when driven by dedication and love. Born to German ancestors, he lives in the tranquil European Valley of southern Brazil, from there, he bridges innovation and storytelling in ways that spark smiles.