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.
Tag: 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
Why Educators Matter in Challenging Times
In my thorough disappointment in this political cycle, one of my greatest concerns is how my students will be impacted. This discusses how I do my part to educate kids in a diverse public school despite the impending political storm. For the past 29 or so years, I have been an arts educator in a… Continue reading Why Educators Matter in Challenging Times
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
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
My beautiful summer experience
This summer, I had a transformative experience that I will never forget. The beautiful people at YAI are the best!
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 power of arts in education, episode 11
Growing a leader requires an infusion of trust in a young person and giving them the support it takes to help them trust themselves. Becoming a leader requires taking that trust and further developing it yourself. This week's discussion with Hilary Becker-Jarusinsky shows how this can be accomplished through arts education.
Changed for the Better: the power of arts in education, episode 8
There's a lot to say about this budding superstar. I knew her as a teenager - smart, observant, swimming in talent. She melted the paint off of the auditorium walls of and now she is releasing simmering Neo-Soul singles to the world. Someday soon, everybody will have Brianna Knight's name on their lips.
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.
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
Changed for the Better: the power of arts in education, episode 1
I've always felt that teaching is much more than the content in which you specialize. Arts educators have the superpower of connecting to kids in ways that they will remember forever. Take a look at my new video podcast, Changed for the Better: the power of arts in education, to see how my connections have thrived from their experience in my classroom.
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.
My Evolution as a Gymnastics Coach
A perspective on my evolution as a Geriatric Gymnast coach. My goal is to offer a safe space where grownups get to explore their inner child. Celebrating their successes fills me with joy.
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.
My Latin heart
Sometimes, when you are teaching, you have lovely little moments that happen. Random surprises that come your way that make your heart smile. Read on to know why I smiled big on this day.
Education’s worst nightmare
Once again, we are back to remote education. This time, it's not COVID.
Shifting back to remote
As I left the school building on Tuesday afternoon, I noticed an ambulance and several first responders milling about the entrance. They didn't seem particularly "activated" so I figured they were responding to something routine. I got in my car, went home, and didn't think too much about it. When I got home, messages started… Continue reading Shifting back to remote
I’m a teacher. I have to do better.
I know I can’t be everything to everyone, but I work in a school. The students, whether enrolled in my class or not, drama kid, gamer or jock, are my kids. When kids are in need - confused, misinformed, lost, sad, out of sorts or otherwise require assistance - it is my duty to be… Continue reading I’m a teacher. I have to do better.
Stacey's Headspace 