john tillman

communication - management - education - entertainment

I have 25+ years of wide-ranging experience in education, communication, and entertainment. I have managed teams of writers, performers, and artists to design curriculum and learning experiences for children and adults within educational, artistic, and religious non-profit spaces.

I have designed and written standards-aligned curricula for out-of-school, afterschool, and classroom use, including designing a new product to help combat Covid-related learning loss.

I led the writing department for Elevate curriculum and was Head Writer for Small Group and online elements. I also wrote for 252 Kids, Incredible Islands, and Standard Publishing.

I am the managing editor of The Park Forum, a non-profit, Bible engagement, devotional ministry. As a part of this ministry I created and run a yearly program to train and coach ministry students in writing and to edit and publish their work.

I also maintain an artistic career as a playwright, theater director, actor, puppeteer, and voice actor. I have written short plays, animated shorts, and performed in a variety of professional settings.

Portfolio

Curriculum Writing and Learning Design

MindWorks Resources: Patently Inventive
2023
After School Curriculum Example: Nikola Tesla - Alternating Current

I was the lead product developer on this kit and this activity was my original concept. I oversaw this kit through brainstorming with the team, wrote the activities, collaborated to source and approve materials, approved final budget, completed the final layout, and delivered the approved PDF for printing.

Incredible Islands published by One Hope
2014
Incredible Islands Curriculum

I wrote the small groups and helped design the curriculum for Incredible Islands. Incredible Islands is a children’s ministry curriculum for growing godly kids in church, at home, and online.

Vacation Bible School

Standard Publishing VBS
2016
VBS Bible Story Monologue

Sample of Bible story monologues written for Deep Sea Discovery VBS for 2016

Devotionals

The Park Forum - Cultivating sustainable faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.
05/24/2024
The Far Country and the Father's Field - The Park Forum

Scripture Focus: Luke 15.17-2017 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

The Park Forum - Cultivating sustainable faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.
04/23/2024
Tortured Prophets Department - The Park Forum

Scripture Focus: Amos 7.10-1110 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: "Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.

Articles/Journalism/Storytelling

Medium
06/19/2024
When is a Good Idea a Bad Idea?

In one sense, it was a joke because there is never a bad time for a good idea. But during the production process there comes a time when the price of a "good idea" is too painful or too costly for it...

Church at the Cross
12/01/2021
Lord, I Give You My Heart - Pt. I | Church at the Cross | Grapevine, TX

Mike and Laurie Heath already had two children when their son, Kevin was born. Their son, Jason, was about six, and their daughter, Bethany, was about four. They thought they knew what to expect. However, a short time after Kevin's birth, they got unexpected news.

Scripts for Animated Short Film

Film/Voice Samples/Trailers/Reels