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EDUCATION

ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY, Chicago, Illinois

May 1998 – May 2001

M.A. in Directing; The Theatre conservatory at Roosevelt University’s Fast Track Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Directing stressed practical training in tandem with special workshops and lectures with professionals in the field.

 

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

August 1989 – May 1994

26 credits in Graduate coursework in Speech Communication

 

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

August 1983 – May 1987

B.S. in Education, May 1987

Major: Speech (Interpersonal and Public Communication, Broadcasting, Theatre)

Minor: English

Michigan Secondary Provisional Certificate

(renewed June 2019)

All Subjects 7-8, Speech 9-12, English 9-12

 

HENRY FORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Dearborn, Michigan

August 1982 – May 1983

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Jenison Public Schools, Theatre Arts/Language Arts Instructor and Director of the Theatre Arts Program August 1994 – present

Jenison High School, 2140 Bauer Road Jenison, Michigan 49428 (616-457-3400)

Principal: Dr. Brandon Graham 

Courses include forensics, several levels of theatre classes, speech communication, English 9, Writing I, Play Writing, Science Fiction and Debate.  Responsible for the extracurricular drama program (2 main stage productions per year plus other projects) and advisor for the drama club and International Thespian Society Troupe #5421 (an organization affiliated with the Educational Theatre Association).  Experience working with students with special needs, team teaching, cooperative learning, and reading comprehension. 

 

Farwell Area High School, Theatre Arts/Language Arts Instructor and Director of the Theatre Arts Program   August 1989 - May 1994

Farwell Area High School, Farwell, Michigan (989-588-9913) 

Principal: Brad Mellor 

Taught forensics, several levels of theatre classes, speech communication, general English, and Advanced English. Also responsible for the extra-curricular drama program (2 main stage productions per year plus other projects) and advisor for the drama club. Awarded “Teacher of the Year” in May 1994)

 

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, January 1987 - May 1987 

Taught in area schools at both elementary and secondary levels.

 

STUDENT TEACHER, Mt. Pleasant High School, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, August 1986 - December 1986

Taught two interpersonal communication courses, two public speaking courses, one developmental reading course, and one television production course.  Rick Bowen - Supervising Teacher

 

EDUCATOR/DIRECTOR/ACTOR MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE, Missoula, Montana, August 1987 - May 1989 (406)728-1911

Educator:  Taught in excess of 200 workshops to children and adults on Creative Dramatics, Improvisation, Stage Combat, Mime, Oral Interpretation, and Principles of Acting; Director:  Toured 64 communities across the United States and Canada, producing a full scale musical culminating from a week of intensive rehearsals, featuring 50 local children and adults;  Actor:  Performed key roles in the touring productions of Snow White and the Seven and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella. 

 

CO-CURRICULAR experience

DRAMA PROGRAM DIRECTOR, Jenison High School, Jenison, Michigan.

(August 1994 - present)

Responsible for producing and directing a fall play and spring musical.  Originated the student directed program, “The Festival of Plays” and several murder mystery productions.  Participated in MIFA one act play competitions, making it to the Regional finals in 1999 and 2000.  Also participated in several noncompetitive theatre festivals in the Lansing, Greenville and Bay City areas.  Originated and serve as sponsor for the International Thespian Society troupe #5421 (affiliated with the Educational Theatre Association).  Attended 14 state conferences (directed 7 productions chosen to perform at the conference) and 8 international conferences (directed 4 main stage productions chosen to perform at the conference). 

 

SHADBLOW COMMUNITY THEATRE, Jenison, Michigan.  Board Member (2017 – present)

 

DRAMA PROGRAM DIRECTOR, Farwell High School, Farwell, Michigan.

(August 1989 - May 1994) 

Responsible for producing and directing a fall play and spring musical.  Served as sponsor for the International Thespian Society troupe #2429.  Attended two state conferences and directed one main stage production at the state conference that was recommended for the international conference.

 

DIRECTOR, Seat Belts: For Dummies or People?  Isabella County Intermediate School District.  Farwell, Michigan. 

(February 1994 - April 1994)

A play designed to teach children about seat belt safety.  Performed for third and fourth grade classes at Farwell Elementary. 

 

DIRECTOR/ACTOR, Bubbylonian Encounter, Isabella County Child Protection Council, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  A play designed to teach children about sexual abuse.  Toured throughout county schools.  (January 1987 - May 1987 and June 1986 - August 1986)

 

FINE ARTS PROGRAM SPONSOR, Jenison High School, Jenison, Michigan. 

(August 2001 - 2010)

Assisted in development and supervision of the program under the “School to Career” office. 

 

FINE ARTS PROGRAM COORDINATOR, Farwell Area High School, Farwell, Michigan.  Shared coordination responsibilities for two district- wide fine arts festivals (1993, 1994) and fine arts trips to Toronto (1992), Chicago (1993), and Stratford, Ontario (1993).

 

MID MICHIGAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY THEATRE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER, Harrison, Michigan.  (1992 - 1994).

 

FORENSICS COACH AND JUDGE, Farwell Area High School, Farwell, Michigan.  (1991 and 1992 seasons) Mt. Pleasant High School, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  (January 1985 - May 1985)

 

ACTING AND DIRECTING EXPERIENCE

DIRECTOR, Jenison High School Thespians.  2-3 productions per year (always at least one musical); Total of over 60 productions (over a 26-year career).

DIRECTOR, Farwell Area High School Thespians.  2- 3 productions per year (one musical); Total of over 14 productions (over a 5-year career).

DIRECTOR, Grand Rapids Circle Theatre.

               Androcles and the Lion (1996)

               Oliver! (2006)

               Bingo, The Musical (2008)

               Cabaret (2012)

               One Man, Two Guvnors (2014)

               Cats (2016)

               Into the Woods (2018)

ACTOR, Grand Rapids Circle Theatre

               Ramona Quimby (1996)

               The Laramie Project (2002)

               Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2005)

               Little Shop of Horrors (2010)

               The Addams Family (2017)

ACTOR, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

               The 25th Annual Putnam Co. Spelling Bee (2009)

               Hairspray (2011)

ACTOR, Isabella County Child Protection Council (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan)

               Bubbylonian Encounter (1985-1986)

ACTOR, Bay Musical Arts, Inc. (Bay City, Michigan)

               The Big Bang (2006)

ACTOR, Grand Valley University Opera Theatre

               The Secret Garden (2006)

ACTOR, Jenison High School Theatre (Jenison, Michigan)

               Mary Poppins (2019)

ACTOR, Shadblow Theatre (Jenison, Michigan)

               Bye Bye, Birdie (2019)

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

LISTENING FOR LEADERS workshop for Goshen Health System managers and directors through Venture International.  Worked with Dr. Penny Avery. (June, 2017)

CONFLICT FACILITATION TRAINING for the managers and director of Goshen Health System through Venture International.  Worked with Dr. Penny Avery & Curt Bechler.  (July 2006 & November 2006)

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION, Cincinnati, Ohio. (1992 - present)

 

DRAMA TEACHER ACADEMY, New York, New York. (August 2014 – present)

An online community that provides classroom materials, educational resources, and professional development just for drama teachers.

 

ALPHA PSI OMEGA, Central Michigan University.  Honorary theatre fraternity.  (April 1985 - present)

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

DRAMA TEACHER ACADEMY VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.  8 hours of virtual instruction covering Empathy and Classroom management, Act Warm up exercises, Cultivating Student Leaders, Creative Staging, Inclusion, a “Viewpoints” technique workshop, Devising material, and Building your Community

(July 15, 2019)

 

BOOK LOVE WITH PENNY KITTLE.  Ottawa County ISD. April 20, 2018

 

EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT. Nashville, Tennessee. July 17-21, 2018

 

INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTENSIVE: Perfecting your Pedagogy.  Lincoln, Nebraska.  June 22, 2017

 

EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT. Washington, D.C. July 18-22, 2017

 

EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Turning STEM into STEAM. Washington, D.C.  September 14-16, 2017

 

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE INSTITUTE.  Lansing, Michigan.  August 18, 2016

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT INSERVICES, Jenison High School.  (1994 - present)

 

COOPERATIVE LEARNING SEMINAR, Pat Wilson-O’Leary - Presenter.  Jenison Public Schools, Jenison, Michigan. (August 1994 - May 1995 and August 2000 - May 2000).

 

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT INSERVICES, Farwell Area High School. (1992 - 1994)

 

COOPERATIVE LEARNING SEMINAR, Joyce Fouts - Presenter.  Farwell Area High School  (August 1993)

 

HONORS

MICHIGAN YOUTH ARTS TOUCHSTONE AWARD, 2013 ARTS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.  Sponsored by MEEMIC. (May 2013)

 

Inducted into the MICHIGAN EDUCATIONAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME. (December 2012)

 

GRAND AWARD, OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere).  Grand Rapids Circle Theatre, Grand Rapids, Michigan. (October 2005)

 

GRAND AWARD, OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL, Hairspray (Edna Turnblad).  Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids, Michigan. (October 2011)

 

JENISON HIGH SCHOOL, TEACHER OF THE MONTH, Jenison High School, Jenison, Michigan.

(April 1996)

 

OPTIMIST CLUB TEACHER OF THE YEAR, Farwell Area Schools, Farwell, Michigan. (June 1994)

 

OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARD, Central Michigan University.  Sponsored by the Michigan Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities.  (April 1987)

 

OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADER AWARD, Central Michigan 

University.  Selected by the Office of Student Affairs.  (April 1986)