Hello There! I am Jen, and I’m the Arts Education Coordinator for Shea’s. Which works out well, because I’ve worked in both the arts (…mostly theatre) and education for many years. Well, many, MANY years, but let’s not get too specific, LOL.
Along my journey – and as the arts and education have become ever more intertwined for me – I have been lucky enough to meet some of the most amazing, inspirational, caring, smart, creative, innovative, open-minded, motivated people. You know the ones I’m talking about… THOSE people.
Well, THOSE people are YOU! And THOSE people are also my colleagues at Shea’s. And ALL of us are passionate about theatre arts, and what it can do for people, for our schools, for our communities.
THEATRE EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE:
• Theatre creates educational transformations for students both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Theatre arts can ignite positive change within schools and communities.
So, we got to thinking… wouldn’t it be great to bring some of these amazing people (…again, by that, I mean YOU…) together with the fine folks here at Shea’s to have a chat, throw some ideas around, and see where it goes? I mean, really… Who DOESN’T want to be in a room with those people?
At Shea’s, we know the benefits of having educators in the room. And as educators, you know the value of a strong community. Communities play a leading role in every aspect of our lives. We have communities of different sizes with our neighbors, friends, families, students, and in so many other places. We find community in the sports teams we cheer for, or the artists we applaud, even the food that we like. Having a sense of community unites us. Being part of a community makes us a part of something greater than ourselves. It gives us opportunities to connect with people, to reach for our goals, and makes us feel safe and secure.
Shea’s is committed to enriching the lives of everyone in our community. This is what motivated us to create our own little community – “Teachers in the Round.”
What is that, you ask? Well… we’ll see. This initiative is a seed we are planting… and this is just the START of the conversation.
Like I said, we want to chat, throw some ideas around, and see where it goes. We appreciate and value the relationships we build with educators, and we want to create a place where we can share ideas, talk about the things that are important to us as both artists and educators. We want to build the “Teachers in the Round” circle with you in it.
Some of the topics for conversation might include:
• Transitioning to teaching online and providing support
• Encouraging students to respond to social injustice through art
• Advocating for programs and funding
• Preventing burn out and celebrating success
• Adding theatre arts tools to your teaching toolbox
• Collaborating and sharing of resources
• Creating compassionate and accepting environments
• Staying in touch with our own creativity as teachers
If this idea is one that intrigues you, then please – get in touch!
There is no fee to be a part of this amazing community. All we are asking is for you to take part in the conversation with us and take part in at least one activity per calendar year. We’re planning a wide range of things – including guest speakers, conversations, and correspondence, of course, but also celebrations, socials, and – when we can – performances and theatrical events.
We all know the current state of the world… and so, some events will happen online (yay, Zoom!), but when it is safe to gather, we can do so at the beautiful Wonder Theatre at Shea’s Performing Arts Center (…and, oh how I miss seeing that beautiful theatre every day!).
We’re excited to hear from you… THOSE people. Artists. Educators. Wonderful, creative souls. We miss you. So – let’s talk.
Click here to join our circle!
