Tim Hannig brought his Pro-Kids show to Collinsville for the first time Wednesday, much to the delight of Dorris Intermediate School students and staff.

DIS 6th grade teacher Brad Snow shares a laugh with Tim Hannig during the Pro-Kids show / Photo by Roger Starkey

Tim Hannig tells DIS students to believe in themselves / Photo by Roger Starky

DIS students share a laugh during the Pro-Kids show / Photo by Roger Starkey

DIS staff and students enjoying the Pro-Kids show / Photo by Roger Starkey

Hannig described his show as a bit magic, music, skits, acting and ventriloquism. More than just entertainment, the Pro-Kids show incorporates messages about respect, kindness, believing in one’s self and other character messages.

DIS Principal Matt Noyes had seen Hannig perform before and thought his show would be a great fit for the character education initiative at the school this year. “His show is a perfect combination of a message the kids need to have and entertaining at the same time,” Noyes said.

Character education is something in which Noyes firmly believes. “We, as educators, can’t underestimate our responsibility to make the students good people first and good students second,” Noyes said.

Before Hannig performs, he meets with school staff to ensure he reinforces the messages they are communicating to students. Noyes said the DIS staff is teaching that it is more important what a person is like on the inside than on the outside. The same message was delivered by Hannig to start his show.

The Pro-Kids show began in 1981. Hannig took it over 19 years ago and now does about 300 shows per year. He has twice performed at the White House.

Hannig began doing the show because the message is something in which he believes. “I didn’t want to just do magic shows, I wanted to make a difference,” Hannig said.

As Noyes predicted, the students laughed throughout the show, even as Hannig was helping the staff reinforce their character education message.