Tag Archives: Performing Arts Teachers

Maryland theater teacher Donald Leifert also a sci/fi actor

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High school English and Theater Arts teacher Donald Leifert of Maryland earned some renown as an actor in science fiction and horror films. Photo Credit: who’s.com

It is often said that there is a certain amount of theatrics involved in teaching. This must be true to some degree, because there are many examples of talented educators who are also successful as actors. One of these is Donald Leifert, an English and Theater Arts instructor who also earned some renown as an actor in science fiction and horror films.

Donald was born on February 27, 1951, in Maryland, the son of Dolores J. and Donald L. Leifert, Sr. During the Viet Nam conflict, Donald served as a soldier in the US Army. As soon as he earned his honorable discharge from the army, he spent two years studying at the Douglas-Webber Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.

Donald worked with independent film director Don Dohler in science fiction and horror films. He was cast in the role of the homicidal ghost in The Galaxy Invader, and then the contemptible lout Drago in Nightbeast, and also the good-for-nothing redneck Frank Custer in The Alien Factor.

Once Donald decided to change careers, he accepted a position teaching English and Theater Arts at the Carver School for the Arts in Baltimore County, Maryland. He later taught English and journalism at Dundalk High and Catonsville High and English and Theater Arts at Towson High School in Baltimore. In addition, Donald was a published author. He authored his biography, entitled Riggie: A Journey from 5th Street.

This exceptional educator passed away from a heart attack at the young age of 59 on October 23, 2010, in Parkland, Maryland. At his passing, this Chalkboard Champion was remembered fondly by his former students. “He always pushed his students to be their best, because he knew we were capable of it, even when we didn’t,” remembered former student Jennifer Wallace. “He was kind, funny, and stern when he needed to be,” she said. Other former students agree. “As a senior in high school he would allow me to teach his beginner acting class now and then,” commented former student Jessica Wentling. “He gave to me the love of teaching, a passion that I intend to continue pursuing,” she concluded.

Music teacher Sarah Mae Lagasca garners coveted Milken Award

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High school music educator Sarah Mae Lagasca of Newark, New Jersey, has garnered a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: milkeneducatoraward.org

It is always a pleasure to share stories about talented educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Sarah Mae Lagasca, a high school music teacher from New Jersey, who has garnered a prestigious 2021-2022 Milken Educator Award.

As a music teacher at Arts High School in Newark, Sarah Mae strives to increase her students’ proficiency in music theory, composition, sight reading, vocal technique, music history, recording and production technology, marketing and branding, and personal artistic growth.

Sarah Mae has long been recognized as an innovative instructor. Throughout the pandemic, the honored educator culled and shared a variety of strategies to keep students engaged in her virtual classroom, including breakout rooms, hand signals, recordings, and online programs such as Music First, FlipGrid, and Soundtrap.

As if all that were not enough, Sarah Mae has made significant contributions to music outside of the classroom as well. She has conducted Newark’s All-City Choral Ensemble and organized workshops with professional musicians through the VH1: Save the Music Foundation and GRAMMY Museum. She has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and contributed to various recordings, including Arturo O’Farrill’s “Four Questions,” which won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Sarah Mae attended the Westminster Choir College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2013. Westminster is a residential conservatory of music formerly located in Princeton, New Jersey. In the Fall of 2020, the college relocated to Rider University’s Lawrenceville campus.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. Sarah Mae is one of up to 60 educators to receive the Milken Educator Award for the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Popular theater teacher Jeannie Hutter succumbs to Covid-19

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Jeannie Hutter, a performing arts educator in Independence, Missouri, succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 5, 2022. Photo credit: Tommie Hutter

We are saddened to report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Jeannie Hutter, a performing arts teacher from Independence, Missouri, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 5, 2022. She was 57 years old.

Jeannie was born on July 18, 1964, in San Diego, California. She graduated from high school in 1982 from Goose Creek High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at MidAmerica Nazarene College in 1986. In addition, she completed courses at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, for her certification in speech and theatre.

Jeannie inaugurated her teaching career in 1990 when she accepted a position teaching math at Liberty Middle School in Hutchinson, Kansas. In 1993, she moved to Kansas City where she taught math at the Kansas City Middle School of the Arts.

In 1999, Jeannie established the speech and drama program at Osage Trail Middle School, Independence, Missouri. While there, she earned a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Lesley University. Ten years later she relocated from the middle school to Fort Osage High School, where she taught acting, directing, and stagecraft as the school’s Director of Theatre. During her 25-year tenure there, the popular teacher directed 75 productions.

The fallen educator will be sorely missed. Student Grant McDaniel recalled the personal struggles his teacher guided him through. He remembered she taught her students how to cope with life, which sometimes requires individuals to cope with loss. “She didn’t only teach us to cope, but she also taught us that life does go on, and to keep moving,” recalled student Lillian Templeton. Jeannie will perhaps be missed most by her twin sister, Tommie Hutter, who is also a teacher at the school. “She used to tease the kids and say, ‘I want a thank you when you get your Tony,'” Tommie remembered. “The funny thing is, every one of those kids has ended up in education. So I think that in itself tells you how much she has made a difference as an educator,” continued Tommie.

Jeannie was fully vaccinated, but had a rare auto-immune disease that put her at high risk. She struggled with a condition called granulomatosis with polyangiitis, a disorder causing inflammation of blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs, and kidneys. Formerly called Wegener’s granulomatosis, this condition causes decreased blood flow to various organs.

RI teacher Laura Barlow named TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Laura Barlow, a middle school teacher from Providence, Rhode Island, has been named the TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: PETA

Many talented classroom teachers incorporate their personal interests into their curriculum. One of these is Laura Barlow, a middle school teacher from Providence, Rhode Island. She finds many ways to incorporate her advocacy for animals into her arts courses. For her work leading students to appreciate the needs of animals, Laura has been named the TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Laura teaches a variety of arts classes at Roger Williams Middle School in her school. Among them are visual arts, graphic design, performing arts, and photography. She is certified to teach Special Education and she is experienced at working with multilingual learners, so she is able to inspire students of all abilities and backgrounds to express their creativity to help animals through dynamic instructional activities. For example, in her unit about the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the environment, she asks her students to create a posters that contain compelling images and a clear message to advocate for change that benefits other people, animals, and the environment. With her performing arts students, Laura reads plays that contain compassion as a themes, and then she leads discussions that connect the plays to current issues, including animal rights and social justice struggles. For example, when studying The Lion King, students research issues that affect the animals in the play, and after reading Random Acts of Kindness, the students discuss and write about ways they can show more kindness toward others, animals, and the environment.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Laura donates her time as the leader of Rhode Island Vegan Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating a vegan lifestyle. She writes articles, gives talks about vegan living, hosts vegan cooking demos, distributes vegan meals to those in need, organizes community cleanups, and helps organize outreach events.

As the TeachKind 2021 Teacher of the Year, Laura will receive an animal-friendly gift basket designed especially for teachers, a faux-leather backpack from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and a subscription to vegan meal delivery service.

To learn more about Laura Barlow, see this article about her published by PETA.

Music educator Charles Pisarra leads Oklahoma band in Macy’s Parade

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Director of Bands Charles Pisarra led the Union High School Renegade Regiment from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade earlier this week. Photo credit: Union High School.

One final post about the excitement generated by this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A number of outstanding high school bands appeared in the extravaganza, including the Union High School Renegade Regiment from Tulsa, Oklahoma. This 185-member group was led by Director of Bands Charles Pisarra.

Charles has been a music educator at Union High School for the past 15 years. His school’s marching program is recognized all over the United States as an innovator in costumes, props, music, and show design. The school’s participation marked the second time in eight years that the marching band has earned a coveted invitation to participate in the iconic parade. The Renegade Regiment also earned a spot in the 2013 event.

In addition to directing the marching band, Charles Pisarra directs the Wind Ensemble, oversees a full time staff of eight assistants and nearly 20 part time staff members, and facilitates a nationwide team of clinicians and designers for the pageantry arts programs.

Union High offers an impressive music education program. The program serves more than 1,100 students, including five high school level concert band ensembles, seven ensembles at middle school level, two curricular jazz ensembles, four curricular winter guards, numerous extracurricular chamber music and competitive percussion ensembles, and over ten beginner-level instrument classes.

Charles Pisarra earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and his Master’s degree in Music Education, both from the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, the Northeast Band Directors Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.