Arts Education & Youth Development
Youth Voices Project Manager: The Pittsburgh Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA December 2016-present
Research and design an RFP initiative to serve youth and organizations currently engaged in youth led-social justice work across the region. Organize, facilitate, and host information gathering sessions with adults and youth to gather data about current work, priorities, and considerations that will inform and shape the creation of a youth friendly RFP process.
Teaching Artist, City Theatre Company
Pittsburgh, PA September 2017- present
Design and implement exploratory playmaking theatre curriculum for neurodiverse middle and high school students attending Pittsburgh Pioneer Special Education Center.
Teaching Artist, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Pittsburgh, PA September 2017- present
Design and implement Wolf Trap early childhood arts integration curriculum and teacher professional development for Pre-K classrooms across Pittsburgh Public Schools, as well as facilitate mini-residencies in collaboration with downtown childcare centers to introduce stories connected to the Cultural Trust Children’s Theater Series matinee performances.
Ensemble Director: Hope Academy of Music and the Arts
Pittsburgh, PA September 2010-Present
Lead and coordinate a teaching team in the design, facilitation, and implementation of performance curriculum. Collect, analyze and report data. Assist in creating evaluation plan to track program effectiveness.
Program Director, MGR Youth Empowerment
Pittsburgh, PA October 2010-February 2015
Supervise, plan, and execute multi-site program implementation, curriculum design, infrastructure, and strategic planning; site coordination, personnel management and training, data collection and evaluation; local and national representation, advisory board coordination, grant reporting, payroll, budget management, and intern supervision.
Simple Interactions Trainer & Video Coder: University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development
Pittsburgh, PA August 2015- Present
Facilitated Simple Interactions professional development workshops for SI in OST program settings. Filmed programs, surveyed sites using Qualtrics, coordinated video edits with research assistants and coded videos for research and archival purposes.
Communications Coordinator: APOST (Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time)
Pittsburgh, PA March 2015-present
Responsible for communications including writing and developing content for five e-newsletters, all social media platforms, and website content writing and management for Pittsburgh’s partnership of funders, intermediaries and providers dedicated to building a quality Out-of-School Time System. Special projects include: annual conference branding and writing content for promotion, event assistance, and re-design of APOST’s website and extensive overhaul of APOST Program Finder database.
Digital U Coordinator, UCF Center for Research, Education in the Arts, Technology, and Entertainment (CREATE)
Orlando, FL August 2009-January 2010
Administered outreach programs for the University of Central Florida: Fostered relationships with community and university partners; planned, coordinated, and marketed events. Managed and facilitated after school media and technology programming for under resourced youth.
Education Coordinator and Handmade Puppet Dreams Film Manager, IBEX Puppetry, Inc.
Orlando, FL June 2008-October 2009
Managed education programming for Heather Henson’s entertainment company that produces a nationally touring collection of puppet films, environmental puppet spectacles, and the annual Orlando Puppet Festival. Responsible for re-structuring and promoting the Handmade Puppet Dreams series to national venues and festivals, as well as the creation of supplemental programming: workshops, artist talkbacks, and educational materials.
Arts Integration Coach, Drama: Mary Palmer & Assoc., LLC
Orlando, FL November 2008-March 2009
Administered grant reports under US-DOE Grant that documented the process of arts integration programs for PK-5th grades in Orange County Public Schools. Created and taught demo lessons for classroom teachers.
Drama Director: Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts Magnet School
Fort Myers, FL August 2005-May 2007
Responsible for design and facilitation of rigorous theatre arts curriculum for grades K-5. In charge of all aspects, including grading, performances, and parent volunteer coordination.
University
Guest Lecturer: West Liberty University
September 2015 - present
Facilitated sessions on cultural relevance, social media as community outreach, creative drama, digital storytelling, and puppetry in the classroom for Elementary Education and Community Arts majors in Arts Integration and Program Design and Implementation courses.
Guest Lecturer: University of Pittsburgh
September 2012 & 2013
Facilitated sessions focused on devising and physical theatre for two consecutive years as a guest artist
presenter for Theatre for Non-Majors course.
Guest Lecturer: Chatham University
April 2012
Facilitated a workshop on devising using physical theatre for arts administration majors learning to design program sessions in an Arts Administration course.
Education and Training
Master of Fine Arts, Theatre
University of Central Florida, 2010
Theatre For Young Audiences track
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre
Shenandoah University, 2003
Graduated with High Honors
Special Skills
Viewpoints (Ingrid DeSanctis), Devising (Michael Rohd), Digital Storytelling (Megan Alrutz), Puppetry (Heather Henson), Parade Arts (Nana Projects), Wolf Trap Early Childhood, Mac/PC proficient, Microsoft Office/Exchange, Agile & Insightly CRMs, TeamWork PM, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Photoshop, iWork, iMovie, Garageband, Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures (Certified), Marzano 9 Instructional Strategies, PA State Clearances.
Honors and awards
S.O.U.L. (School of Unity and Liberation) Youth Empowerment Train the Trainer, Fall 2015
Heinz Endowments Youth Organizing Project, 2015
Heinz Endowments Out-of-School-Time Arts Project, 2011-2012
TYA USA Marquee Editorial Board Member, 2009-2010
Jim Rye Scholar, IPAY International Showcase, 2008
1st place Winner/Scholarship Recipient, UCF Service Learning Fair, 2007
Professional Affiliations
APOST-Allegheny Partners for Out of School Time
PAEYC - Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children
MLN-Mentor Leadership Network of SWPA
PEAL-Pittsburgh Emerging Arts Leadership Network
*CV and Portfolio Available Upon Request