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Meet the New Teaching Artists

Young Audiences is proud to announce the newest members of our artists roster. Our teaching artists are dedicated professionals selected through a rigorous application process that assesses both their artistic abilities and skills as teachers of young people. After acceptance onto Young Audiences’ roster, they receive professional development in best practices and regular formal evaluation.

Please join us in welcoming:

David Ciminello
Teresa Drilling
Ed Edmo
Daniel Granias
Chloe Hight
Jamie Houghton
KCPuppetree
NW Children’s Theater
Iris Taboh
Taylor Morrison Studios
Karida Griffith Walker
Edna Vazquez
Mike Yager

David Ciminello

 

 

CiminelloAbout the Artist

David is an accomplished fiction, poetry and screenplay writer and brings these talents to his teaching of slam poetry.

Teaching Philosophy

Poetry and Performance Poetry gives students the tools to actively engage with their imaginations, creativity, and critical thinking. Students learn to express themselves, practice public speaking, and learn to make a difference in the world.

 

 

 

“David is not only an artist, he is in essence an innate educator as well. David uses his talent and love of poetry and theater to open gateways of creativity, critical thinking, voice, and overall confidence in our children.” Jessica, 5th Grade Teacher


Teresa Drilling

DrillingAbout the Artist

An Emmy Award-winning animator, Teresa has worked on many stop motion shows & films, including Sesame Street & Chicken Run. One of her favorite jobs was animating Gromit. She lives in Portland, where she teaches stop motion & celebrates the rain.

Teaching Philosophy

Animation is an amazing teaching tool that can be applied to almost any subject. It connects math with music, science with art, and planning with performance. It’s accessible to all learning modalities, forges new brain connections, and is fun!

“She is deeply knowledgeable and passionate about the art and craft of stop motion animation and brings a wealth and breadth of knowledge that enables her to see both the small details and the broader goal.”


Ed Edmo

Edmo

About the Artist

Ed tells legends from Celilo Falls where Ed was raised, using puppets and will have audience repeat phrases and gesture to add to the enjoyment to the storytelling experience.

Photographs by Anne Morin

“Ed Edmo has much medicine and magic.” Ken Kesey


Daniel Granias

About the Artist

Daniel is a Midwest transplant focusing on teaching clay and creative processes. He has taught across a wide range of age levels and social backgrounds, which has helped him see how making art unifies people’s experiences with themselves and each other.

Teaching Philosophy

Daniel believes learning art comes from a combination of exploring materials and self, critical thinking and problem solving, challenging concepts from concrete to abstract, and discovery through play.

“He encouraged kids to be true to themselves… Daniel emphasized that the kids should use their imagination as much as possible even if it didn’t make logical sense.” -Shani Johnson, 4/5 Grade Teacher, Riverside Elementary School


Chloe Hight

About the Artist

ChloĂ«’s teaching artistry and artwork are driven by local landscapes and investigation of place. Understanding and connecting to her environment, she explores a variety of techniques such as, weaving, natural dyeing, papermaking, printmaking, and more.

Teaching Philosophy

Chloë strives to engage children in collaborative forms of art making with a focus on process, material exploration, inquiry, and hands on learning. She enjoys seeing students discover their own creative voice through curiosity and discovery.

 


Jamie Houghton

About the Artist

Jamie Houghton is a spoken word performer and poet. She performs her writing through many mediums, including performance poetry, playing bass, songwriting, and storytelling. She is passionate about inspiring students through written and spoken word.

Teaching Philosophy

As an instructor my passions are poetry, interdisciplinary curriculum, and special needs classrooms. I’m inspired when listening to the needs of classrooms and communities, and adjusting my approach to create the best experience possible for each student.

“Jamie is a conscientious and eager educator. She was open to assimilating the ideas of other teachers into the planning. As difficult as it can be coming in as a guest teacher, Jamie had no trouble connecting with our students.”


KCPuppetree

About the Artist

KCPuppetree provides puppet theatre performances and workshops that focus on environmental education through puppets made out of re-used objects.

Teaching Philosophy

KCPuppetree engages students to think about their garbage and look for the creative potential of ordinary objects.


NW Children’s Theater

About the Artist

Northwest Children’s Theater and School’s mission is to educate, entertain, and enrich the lives of young audiences. As theatre educators their number one goal is to allow each student to reach his or her level of success.

Teaching Philosophy

We know that a “theatre” can be created out of any space. We use 21st Century Learning Skills to engage students to not only create art together but also become a team in the process.


Iris Taboh

About the Artist

Iris has followed her passion for creating & teaching photography for over 20 years. She teaches digital photography as well as Photoshop, IPad photo apps & mixed media. She brings imaginative & creative projects into every classroom.

Teaching Philosophy

At no time in history has photography had such an impact on our lives. Iris teaches students to create images that have meaning, communicate ideas & help show the world in exciting new ways that are relevant today.

“Iris is a remarkable teacher that students remember fondly 20 years after leaving her class. Her knowledge of traditional & contemporary photography—from darkroom to digital—is amazing, & she never stops adding skills to her impressive collection.”


Taylor Morrison Studios

About the Artist

Author Illustrator and Teaching artist since 1994. Recipient of awards from the Boston Globe/Horn Book The Society of Illustrators, NOAA, Smithsonian Magazine and others. Conducted joint Lewis and Clark workshop with PSU and Young Audiences.

Teaching Philosophy

Taylor uses unique perspectives on illustrating STEM topics. Through collaborative participation students create their own books, pamphlets, and posters.

“Thank you for what a great job you are doing. The energy level and enthusiasm you share with people of all ages is an inspiration for what seems to be a lost art.”


Karida Griffith Walker

About the Artist

Portland native Karida Griffith has traveled the world as a professional dancer. Career highlights include: Radio City Rockettes, Cirque du Soleil, “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO), and world-renowned tap dance company Dorrance Dance.

Teaching Philosophy

Karida integrates history, character ed, etc. in each dance performance/residency. With improvisation & joy, Karida encourages each student find their unique voice!

 


Edna Vazquez

About the Artist

Edna is a singer/songwriter who shares original songs that pay homage to her international influences. With passion in every note, her songs in English and Spanish are rooted in universal human emotion with a message of light, love and healing.


Mike Yager

About the Artist

Mike Yager is a mad scientist and educator who integrates the arts and sciences. His art combines electrical engineering and mixed media sculpture. Mike currently coordinates the MakerSpace for the Portland Children’s Museum and teaches integrated arts.

Teaching Philosophy

Mike’s workshops combine science and engineering concepts with artistic techniques to foster creative, self-directed problem solving skills. Students see the extraordinary potential of everyday materials as they tinker, experiment, and invent together.

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