Changed for the Better: the power of arts in education

Back in high school, Bianca Pierre was a bright, personable, happy young woman with a smile as wide as Texas, full of positivity and light. Despite some significant, unresolved childhood traumas, Bianca found a home with Thespians, where she was surrounded by a community who embraced her energy and helped her channel the difficult emotions she was experiencing behind that smile. Find out how she d...

IT’S EPISODE 20!!  I can’t believe how this seedling of an idea back in February has blossomed into such a satisfying creative outlet. Reconnecting with these wonderful humans, with whom I shared time and space in such an important way, is nothing less than sublime. This week’s guest is one that is particularly close to my heart and has been since he crossed the threshold of the dance studio....

This episode of  Changed for the Better  focuses heavily on mental health, specifically the experiences of someone with the diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder. I want to be clear that this is one person’s story, and is meant to be shared as an example of his personal journey. If you or a loved one are experiencing emotional trauma or issues that you don’t understand or cannot process on you...

The third of the Alexandre legacy at Spring Valley, Kinsley talks about learning to enjoy the journey every day, and how maturing has taught him to work smarter, not harder. Don't let his status as the third kid in the family fool you - he figured out early on how to forge his own path and enjoy the journey every step of the way. Music: "Hey" Bensound Read the blog and watch the full interview on...

We have a tendency to stay comfortable. Part of growing up is learning to sit in a space where you don't have control, that pushes your buttons and still tolerating feelings of awkwardness and instability. Sofia Poe tells us how she did just that by learning to fail, losing her ego and honoring what she can do. Music: "Hey" Bensound Read the blog and watch the episode on YouTube

In this episode, I’m chatting with Kenney Alexandre, the second eldest of my favorite Alexandre clan. Though known as the quiet observer of the family, Kenney had lots to say about his high school Thespian experience. Following closely behind his dynamic powerhouse of a sister, Tendrina (from episode TEN !!), he learned how to make his own impression and became his own person in the process. Music...

One of the goals that most teachers have in their career is to offer valuable lessons to kids that are lasting and will inform the rest of their lives. One of the goals of this podcast is to see what those foundational experiences are and how they have impacted my students as they transitioned into their adulthood. Victorious Collymore-Bey (class of 2015) went from the "new kid in town" to the shi...

In today’s episode, we travel back to the class of 2003 and get an inside look at the life of a first responder/law enforcement professional. The epitome of “protect and serve,” Jean-Guerdy Saint-Louis has had a long and varied career. He has worked in a multitude of areas: EMS, fire, law enforcement, emergency dispatch. Even back in high school, he started his commitment to serving his community,...

Graig Kriendler is all about nostalgia. It seems to be the driving force behind his life’s work, which is why this interview feels so special.  If you've never heard of him, let me introduce you. A Google search of his name will come up with the title of “American painter.” Simply put, he is a baseball painter, but there's so much more to it. From his website , "His goal is to portray the nat...

Special college edition! For this episode, I reconnected with Tom Dheere, a fellow Montclair State alum (class of 1993!).  We chatted about our college experience as acting majors, his prolific career as a voiceover professional (aka The VO Strategist ), and how taking care of your mental health is paramount to any measure of success. For Tom, it was a bumpy road, but he candidly shares his s...

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 leadership is fostered in a vibrant arts-in-education community. We talk about being an introverted extrovert, rising...

Episode TEN of Changed for the Better features budding fashionista and influencer Tendrina Alexandre, a superstar person from a superstar family. The eldest sister of the bunch, she broke ground for her younger brothers to join the Thespian family at Spring Valley High School. Once an over-eager people pleaser, she talks about how she developed her self-confidence in the safe space of the studio a...

Hopefully, there are people in your life who, when you think about them, spark a sensation of pure joy, love, and light. While I have many people who fit in that category, Kayla Tavares is at the top of the list.  Once upon a time, Kayla has aspirations to become a speech pathologist. However, after finishing her college degree, she realized that she had other passions that better fit her nee...

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 and now she is releasing simmering Neo-Soul singles to the world. Someday soon, everybody will have the name Brianna Knight on their lips. In Episode 8, Brianna talks about her decision to dedicate herself to her artistry, how she brin...

From dance diva to marketing tech maven, Kristen Santos-Latrenta's confidence, talent and eternal optimism has always served her well; success has been par for the course from an early age.  In episode 7 of Changed for the Better , Kristen talks to me about how she learned in the high school dance studio to check her ego at the door and allow herself to be more vulnerable in order to understa...

This episode of Changed for the Better features one of my all-time favorite people: Hernz Laguerre, Jr.  This Syracuse grad has worn many hats: linebacker, dancing cowboy, storyteller and multimedia journalist to name a few. In our chat, we talk about how he has taken the lessons learned from his Spring Valley dance and Thespian days and infused them in his transition to become the best versi...

Stephanie Lauredent-Diasio, owner of SLD Wellness is building her personal healing empire in Denver, CO. In coming to terms with her own mental health struggles due to toxic work environments, she was able to elucidate a new path for herself and a new set of clientele. Today, Stephanie is a doula who incorporates her passion for practicing Reiki, yoga and meditation into her services, putting her...

Teachers have the special task of getting kids to try new things, hopefully inspiring them to develop interests and talents that they might otherwise never be exposed to. Sometimes, you get a student who walks into your classroom and immediately feels at home, taking her space in the atmosphere and making her impression for everyone in the room to witness. My guest on episode 4 is Denishah De...

Humble yourself and listen to your mother. Sage advice from my guest from episode 3, Elijah Fremont. This class of 2015 graduate talks about the character we present to the world when we interact with others, mindfully receiving criticism and of course, honoring the woman who raised him. Tune in to be inspired and benefit from some of the lessons Elijah learned in this performing arts teacher's st...

Once upon a time, Emily Dowd didn't say very much, but she really knew how to express herself - on the dance floor. Tune in to hear how this dance diva/anxious people pleaser leaned into her strengths and set her boundaries to help her grow into the confident, chatty adult she is today. Music: "Hey" Bensound Read the blog/watch our chat at staceytirro.com --> Changed for the Better Podcast

Today’s guest is from Spring Valley High School’s class of 2015, Manuel Piedra, Jr., now an up-and-coming urban artist in NYC. He’s part of the SYNCHRONOUS creative collective that exploded on the urban art scene in early 2020, providing immersive art experiences to his viewers. We talked about how he learned to blend his rebellious, artist’s heart with a focused determination to take ownership of...

Welcome to Changed for the Better: the power of arts in education   Here's a little background: I'm a high school performing arts educator. In my 25+ years of teaching adolescents, I've shared creative space with a LOT of people. This podcast features interviews with my marvelous alumni, who have made their transition to adulthood. We chat about what they learned in my classroom, how their pe...