ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS
and our TEACHING PHILOSOPHY AND STANDARDS.
Our mission is to promote and provide fine arts opportunities for youth and families in the community as well as oversee the Fine Arts Center and its World of Puppetry Museum. Our ultimate goal is to add to quality of life and sense of community by offering a variety of arts experiences that offer inspiration, teach skills, promote leadership, and allow artists a voice. Giving local artists a chance to teach and share their knowledge and interests with those around them, has been an awesome experience and community builder for us. Whenever possible we also look for ways for young artists to enlighten the lives of those around them.
Last but not least we want to always encourage respect, leadership, and positive interaction for our participants within the community, especially for our youth.
Classes are chosen according to input from the community, but instructors are chosen according to their experience, educational background, and success in teaching.
1. Instructors are interviewed for their educational background and the knowledge of the discipline they are being asked to teach. Teaching or arts degrees and successful arts experience are a priority.
2. Communities that Care guide lines are used. Instructors are asked to:
a. Assess the starting level of students, and review goals ( yours and theirs),
b. State the related arts concepts they are covering (to help students understand the concepts and skills being taught),
c. Point out important skills and concepts being learned.
d. Help provide a fun and non threatening, learning environment.
e. Give every student a voice, and encourage leadership attributes.
d. Find ways to help students utilize and celebrate their new skills with a final show or presentation.
3. We work on positive ways to mix entry level students with more advanced students, especially in our youth classes. Experienced students need a challenge, while beginners need to feel they can accomplish a new technique or idea. When appropriate, students are encouraged to share with or teach their peers to re-inforce learning.
Current Instructors 2011:
Ann Bailey: ( Summer Theater Camp teacher )
Education: Associates Degree in Theatre Arts, Ricks College
B. A. degree in Theatre Arts – Utah State University
Experiences: Ann taught for two years in the public schools - first middle school then high school. Classes included English Drama and
Music.
She was a member of an “Academy Players “ Troupe at Ricks College, acting, directing, doing set assembly, costumes and make- up. She has directed plays at Duchesne High school, and Lyman College
Ann has remained active in theater by performing in numerous community theatre productions and helping to direct
at Heritage Theater in Perry , Utah .
She has been successfully offering youth theater classes for us since the summer of 2006.
Other Qualifications: Ann has been good at inspiring confidence in almost any student.
Chris Baron: ( Art Camp Music teacher)
Education: One year of Elementary education classes at Weber State University
Beautician school and licensed for 11 plus years
Piano studies for over 4 years
Experiences: After school program assistant for 4 years
Teacher in computer keyboard and later music for BESD for over 9 years
4 years as successful music teacher at Discovery School.
Other Qualifications: Chris is enthusiastic, loves a variety of music and working with children.
Barbara Dawson ( High school improv and theater instructor,)
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Development at BYU
Additional college level theater classes in Acting.
Experiences: Over 7 years of teaching youth theater programs for us
Five years directing our high school age Improv troupe: “Improv Faction.”
Other Qualifications: Barbara is an instructor that is always prepared and promotes good acting skills as well as the respect of her
students. She is always coming up with unusual and fun productions to do.
Jennifer Delaney ( Wasatch youth Choir, our older youth choir program)
Education: BA degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Language Arts
Experience; Worked for Box Elder School District’s early learning Center helping to develop and implement small group activities for 2
years
Offered state recognized day care services for 5 years.
Started a preschool based on music and literature.
Has been youth choir instructor at the Fine Arts Center for over a year.
Other Qualifications: Jennifer has a great philosophy of helping youth to take responsibility for their learning, wants to see quality
programs offered to youth, and works very well with children.
Amber Hansen: ( Summer Nature and Art Camps, in drawing and wildlife studies)
Education: Associates degree in Science from Weber State University
3 plus years of classes toward a BFA in Fine Arts with an emphasis on a variety of media.
Art studies under Steve Songer and Donna Kearney.
Certified as a wild life rehab worker
Experience: Art has been important to Amber since Junior high. She was a State Sterling scholar in Visual Arts in high school and has
won many art competitions since then. This is her third year teaching for us.
Other Qualifications: Amber appreciates the individuality of her students and likes to make art a multi-facetted learning
experience. She is also a real asset in helping youth appreciate the large birds at the Nature camp Bird Refuge site.
Verlyn King: ( Arts and Crafts teacher)
Education: Associates degree in Commercial Art from Salt Lake Community College.
Arts Classes from Utah State University in fabric design, needle work, fabric arts, and printmaking.
Experience: Verlyn has been teaching community arts classes for over 16 years first in West Valley and then Box Elder County. She has
taught classes in her home and for several community programs. She has been teaching classes for us since 2004.
Other Qualifications: Verlyn works hard to help students successfully complete a project. She like to use a variety of media and loves to
mix unique materials with traditional media.
Whitney McCormick: ( Art Camp Theater Instructor)
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Drama and theatre Arts with a stage craft minor
Also a degree in secondary education with a teaching minor
Experience: High school Drama teacher for Weber School District for 3 years.
Over 200 hours volunteer service to community theater, experience with stage and lighting crews, costume coordination. Has
organized and offers Princess parties.
Susan Neidert: ( Puppetry workshops Instructor)
Educations: BSN from Kent State University and advanced certification in Nursing from Ohio State University
15 years of weeklong festivals/workshops with Puppeteers of America
Numerous workshops on small group education and children’s learning abilities.
Numerous classes in the visual arts.
Experiences: Over 15 years as clinic director, 11 years as director of the Fine Arts Center
Over 18 years of experience teaching various puppetry workshops.
Other Qualifications: Susan loves to experiment with all types of puppets and loves to see students motivated to be creative.
Karen Nelson: (Children’s book making and Arts and Crafts)
Education: Associate Degree in American Studies from the University of Maryland with an emphasis in Art, History and Literature.
Many private lessons in pen and ink, oil painting, watercolor, acrylics, and pencil.
Experiences: Taught Jr High art in Schevrly Maryland
Elementary art teacher for Box Elder Schools for over 4 years.
Scenery designer and painter for Heritage Theater
Past member of Society of Children’s Picture Book Writers and Illustrators
Numerous awards for essays and poetry, published in the Golden Spike Anthology.
Other Qualifications: Karen is a quick and astute learner who knows how to share art ideas and inspire youth.
Janni Richards: ( Wasatch youth choir director and instructor)
Education: Cypress College School of Performing Arts fir 2 years
Training and performing with Young Americans for 2 ½ years
Has almost completed her Bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in music
Experience: Young Americans performances
Served as a private lesson voice teacher for several years
Director of the Fine Arts Center children’s choir for 5 years
Other Qualifications: Janni is very familiar with the Communities that Care philosophy and knows how to inspire students while keeping
them organized and focused.
Bonnie Richardson: ( Theater teacher and Puppets in the Park instructor)
Education: Associates Degree in Business at LDS Business college
Experience: Over 30 years of on stage theatre experience- participating in plays, and helping back stage.
Over 7 years directing youth theater
A successful theater teacher for the Fine Arts Center for over 4 years.
Other qualifications: As a fun loving mother of 6, Bonnie knows how to keep students motivated and help even shy students enjoy getting
on stage.
Christine Roybal: ( Drawing and Art Camp Science teacher)
Education: Masters degree in Aesthetics from the University of Utah in Dance, Theater and Visual Arts.
Experience: Has taught in public schools for over 40 years- 25 years for the Box Elder School district.
Has served as a school district art teacher for grades K-6 for four years in the past.
Other Qualifications: Loves to challenge students to do their best and discover art as they go. Recent “Teacher of the Year” recognition
from her school.
Gary Warren: (Basic Photography)
Educations: Art major at Weber State with an emphasis in photography. Then earned his veteran's degrtee.
Expereince: Owned and operated Heirloom Photography in Brigham City for several years, Also worked as a commercial photographer for Thiokol for 10 years.
