There’s a new sound in my teaching universe that has become my new happy sound at work. It’s not a song. It’s literally just a sound.
Category: Teaching
First week, new studio
Sometimes, you need a little jump start in your career. This year, I received a huge one. Read on to see why after 30 years, I'm still excited to go back to work.
New Beginnings: a Dance Studio Transformed
Sometimes, life throws you something unexpected. While it may be uncomfortable at first, the unexpected can turn into something beautiful. This is a story of another evolution in my career as a dance teacher.
Empowering English Language Learners through Performing Arts: An Educator’s Experience
High school musical season presents both challenges and victories for all involved. For the second year in a row, English language learners performed a musical show for an audience in a foreign language. And they did it syllable by syllable. This success story transcends the show itself. When you direct high school play productions, it… Continue reading Empowering English Language Learners through Performing Arts: An Educator’s Experience
A Teaching Toolkit for Student Success
In the weeks before starting school, I had a lot of anticipatory anxiety. Three weeks in, things have gotten off to a smooth start. What helps is having a well-developed teaching toolkit. This article shares my simple and consistent protocols that create a long-lasting flow for the entire school year. After all of the end-of-summer… Continue reading A Teaching Toolkit for Student Success
Navigating Anticipatory Anxiety: Tips for Educators to Protect Their Peace
This is my summer wrap up post as I look forward to another school year. The priority moving forward: protect my peace. Read on to learn some of my strategies to do just that. In this last week of August, I'm staring down the start of the school year. It's my 29th year of teaching… Continue reading Navigating Anticipatory Anxiety: Tips for Educators to Protect Their Peace
Transitioning to Summer Relaxation: A Teacher’s Journey
Now that summer break has officially begun, so too has my annual practice of hammocking whilst staring at the green, leafy trees dancing in the gentle breeze. On the first few days of summer break, I make myself sit on my hammock, especially when the sky is completely blue and clear, with just the faintest… Continue reading Transitioning to Summer Relaxation: A Teacher’s Journey
The Power of Yet
This article is the convergence of all areas of my life experience: teaching, parenting, singing, and being a Geriatric Gymnast. No matter what the effort is, I have found myself feeling like I am lacking in more ways than one. I've mused a lot about impostor syndrome. I published a meditation about it, talked about… Continue reading The Power of Yet
Translanguaging in Arts Education
I am an arts educator. My charge is not only inspiring the creative spark in adolescents, but making sure our English Language Learners have equal access and opportunity to participating in the creative spirit. When you are in charge of a school theater organization, you shoulder the weight of so many things, artistic decisions being… Continue reading Translanguaging in Arts Education
You have to go through it.
This phrase is something I found myself saying since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. It was one of those wise things I’d say to the kids when things looked tough, like during the last two weeks of our fall show PUFFS when the Monday tech rehearsal was over three-and-a-half hours long and it… Continue reading You have to go through it.
Passing the torch
As I write this post, I have three and a half years to go before I step away from teaching at Spring Valley High School. Now is the time that I am starting to think about succession; who will take over for me when I retire? What will happen to Thespians, which was handed to… Continue reading Passing the torch
Sometimes you break yourself, part 6
I've been back to work for a week now, and I have to say in the middle of week four, I am exhausted. The boot saga continues.
Sometimes you break yourself, part 5
Healing a broken bone takes a long time. Intellectually, I know this. Emotionally, it's a whole other story.
First day jitters
After 27 years in education, I still get anticipatory anxiety on the last night of summer vacation. It's even worse with a broken right foot. Here's the play by play how I worked through it.
Taking the shoes off the shelf
In a previous life, I was a tap teacher for over two decades. I put my tap shoes on the shelf just before the pandemic. This August, I put them on again and it felt good.
My beautiful summer experience
This summer, I had a transformative experience that I will never forget. The beautiful people at YAI are the best!
Theatrefolk Podcast
In spring of 2015, Thespians got a lot of good attention in what felt like a sea of bad press. This is about our story about beating the odds.
American Theatre Profile
In June, 2015, "Dancing on the Edge with Spring Valley High’s Thespian Troupe 721" was published in American Theatre, written by former Thespian Jamie Green.
Sometimes, it’s nice to win
On June 21, I had the honor of attending the Arts Council of Rockland 2023 Arts Awards as a nominee for the arts educator category. After four nominations, I finally heard my name.
Sometimes, it’s nice to be nominated: part 2
I'm so proud to be acknowledged as a finalist for ACOR's Arts Educator award. I'm in great company!
Inspiration is a two-way street
On the final weekend of our spring musical season, I was reflecting on what it takes to create, to develop and to thrive. It's all about the people with whom you surround yourself.
Back to School
This is the teacher’s burden: starting from square one every September. We are the alchemists that blend old and new, learning and knowledge, excitement and neuroses, and doing it all equitably with limited resources, so that the recipients of our magic leave transmuted in ten months time. This is why summer vacation is so highly coveted by educators. It is exhausting work.
The Inaugural (Post-Covid) Dance Concert
The first Friday of June is dance concert day, and that week was all about making the transition from the classroom to the stage. What was once a foreign, faraway concept for my students was now hitting closer to home for everyone. This week, they will all be forever changed (for the better).
Changed for the Better: the value of arts in education
We hear the cries all the time - budgets are getting squeezed, cuts have to be made, and things wind up on the chopping block. What is often the first to be sacrificed? The arts. This is one arts educator's perspective as to why that should never, ever happen.
Like a kid in a candy store
On Monday, when I returned to my classroom from a great spring break week, I received a gift. It could only have been better if it was wrapped in a bow. Read on to share in my excitement!
Anticipation
Some pre-spring break thoughts from a tired teacher.
Triumphant return
Thespian Troupe 721 rises like the phoenix. I love my kids.
I’m tired
A snapshot of a moment in the life of a teacher. Maybe it’s the overcast, rainy day. Maybe it’s the work schedule that is revving up as I move into the last 2 weeks of production in our school’s spring musical. Or the fact that we are mid-March with nary a day off in sight.… Continue reading I’m tired
Developing a new idea
I've decided to start a new creative project. Simply put, I'm calling it "10 Questions for my Beloved Students." The idea is to interview former students of mine, those who spent significant time in my dance studio at school, and find out the most salient lessons they learned and carry with them to this day.
Back in business
After a long hiatus away from our home stage, Thespians is finally back in business. Here's a little overview of our first few weeks in prime theater-geek season.
Stacey's Headspace 