JACKSON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS - Key Persons
Abigail Zotter graduated from Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan in 2022. Her focus while attending college was on children's animation and illustration and studied within those areas the most. While she is passionate about cartoons and drawing, she loves to work with any art form and has explored many different mediums in the past such as ceramics, papermaking, printmaking, painting, sewing, sculpting, jewelry making, and many more.
Abigail has been drawing since the moment she could pick up a pencil in her hand and hasn't stopped since. Art has always been a source of joy and comfort for her, and she knows how important it is for other people to have that as well. She is a strong believer that good art is not measured by how talented the person is, but by how much joy they received while creating it.
While new to teaching, she loves getting to know her students and making sure they are always having fun. She will always make sure that her classroom is a space that allows students to be themselves and feel at home. Her favorite part about teaching is getting to know each of her students. And don't be shy when talking about video games or cartoons with her, because chances are she's a fan of them too!
Aimie Smith began dancing at the age of three. She attributes her love of dance and Al Gilbert to her first dance instructor, Connie Wolin. Aimie danced in college under Heather Vaughn-Southard (Albion College), as well as Martha Petry (Jackson College).
She would go on to work as adjunct faculty for the dance program periodically for Jackson College, as needed. She also taught at Susan Vaughn's School of Dance for seven years.
Most recently, her choreography was seen on the stage with Center Stage Jackson, both with main stage and youth theater productions. Aimie specializes in tap, but has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and ballroom.
Angelina Dickinson graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science in Fine Art and a Minor in Visual Art. Angelina started dancing at age 2, she found a love for Irish Step Dance in middle school and has continued to study ballet, ballroom, folk dance and Irish around the globe for many years. She started teaching at JSA in 2013.
In 2018, she traveled to Dublin, Ireland and received a teaching certificate in Progressing Ballet Technique from renowned teacher Marie Walter-Mahon. Angelina has participated in various dramatic performing groups from a very young age, debuting in a university play at the age of 12. She has performed and provided costumes for numerous plays at Spring Arbor University, where she is currently employed as costumer.
Her studies in theatre included directing, theatre history, stage-combat, costuming, script-writing, lighting and sound design, stage craft, as well as stage hair/make-up & effects (such as prosthetic creation and application.) Angelina began teaching theatre in 2012 and has since branched out to direct her own performing group, Schemata Theatre, as well as consult, direct and perform at several community theatres in the Spring Arbor area. She enjoys guest teaching theatre classes for Ballet 5:8 in Chicago; including cooperative efforts with Pilar Garcia of Gelsey Kirkland Academy. Angelina loves the creative processes wherever it can be found, and continually strives to better herself as both an artist and a teacher.
Ashley began training in multiple dance styles in 2011 at Jackson School of the Arts. She has been training in Aerial and Circus Arts since 2017 and is a founding member of the modern dance company Dance Uprising. In addition to her main disciplines-Aerial Lyra (Hoop) and Modern Dance, she also trains in Aerial Fabric, Trapeze, and Flow Arts.
She has trained and performed throughout the country, being mentored by Rebekah Leach in Colorado and Karri Mae Becker in Ohio. She has Aerial Teaching Certifications from both Cirqfit and Born to Fly Aerial.
Outside of teaching and performing, she is a Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (RHNP), combining her love of movement with her passion for full-body wellness.
Job Titles:
- Operations & Human Resources Manager
Carey Baumgardner studied Art and K-8 education at Adrian College. Her work is best known for her mixed-media portraits which hinge on the juxtaposition of OLD and NEW. Layer by layer she builds up a painting on top of paper relics like maps, magazines advertisements, and even gum wrappers!
She enjoys implementing her art experiences and art history background in all of her lessons and classes. She strives to create a supportive classroom nature, teaching young artists that there are NO mistakes in art. Everyone in her classroom can create an original masterpiece that they can be proud of!
An educator since 2004, Carey's broad scope of teaching opportunities include a 7th grade classroom teacher, Middle School Math instructor, K-8 Art teacher, to the present serving as Jackson School of the Arts Drawing and Painting instructor.
In a variety of capacities, she has helped organize innovative art programs for young artists. Programs including Mural Clubs, Saturday Art Camps, Community Service Art, and Chalk Mural Competitions. Carey's artwork has been on display in gallery space, Art634 and she was selected for the artists line-up in Bright Walls 2019. View Carey's artwork at modernrelic.weebly.com
Chloe Gonzales has been training in modern and ballet for over 20 years and attended the University of Michigan to pursue a BFA in dance (2017). She is currently a Soloist and Arts Management/Human Resources Coordinator at Suttle Dance (Novi) and a company member of Happendance Velocity and the Education Exchange (Okemos). In addition, she is the competition coach at Jackson School of the Arts, a co-director for Happendance Impulse and is currently teaching Contemporary, Pointe, and Jazz/Lyrical at JSA and Contemporary and Dance Composition at Happendance. She is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with notable artists such as Meredith Monk (Quarry, restaged 2017), Richard Alston (Brisk Singing, restaged 2015), Peter Sparling (Vox Femina (Girl Talk), 2014) among others. Chloe enjoys mentoring her students and helping them grow as people while encouraging their self expression as emerging young artists.
Chris is born and raised in Jackson, MI. He took his first clogging class while in 3rd grade and has been hooked ever since. Chris grew up performing with a local clogging group at different events in and around Jackson county. He's traveled all around the States and Canada teaching and participating in workshops. Currently, Chris leads a group of amazing dancers that love to show perform and dance together.
Dustin was born in Jackson, Michigan and began performing in theatre productions with Center Stage of Jackson at 13. In these productions he found a love for dance, so he started attending the Academy of the Arts at 15, under the direction of Lori Ladwig and then Kate Price.
At the Academy he was trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Broadway and was fortunate enough to compete in competitions such as Tremaine and Nuvo, winning a Breakout Artist scholarship. Also guest performing for Wendi Dubois with Ballet Chelsea in productions of the Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
Dustin continued his passion by going to Grand Valley State University and graduating with a B.A in Dance. While in college, he trained under incredible Ballet teachers such as Samantha Shelton (American Ballet Theatre), Brian McSween (Joffrey Ballet & Ballet Memphis), and Calin Radulescu (Opera Națională București) as Ballet professors. At GVSU he discovered his love of Modern dance, being inspired by Martha Graham, Twyla Tharp, and Pina Bausch.
Emily Scott a dancer, instructor, and choreographer who also dabbles in acting and singing. She was born in Dayton, OH, but moved with her family to Mid-Michigan when she was a toddler. Emily danced competitively throughout elementary school & junior high, and has performed in the Nutcracker with the Children's Ballet Theater at the Wharton Center, with the Cincinnati Ballet Company at the Detroit Opera House, & the with the Moscow Ballet at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.
While majoring in performance dance at Eastern Michigan University, Emily also had the opportunity to perform at Pease Auditorium and Quirk Theater. She has taught at the Foster Community Center in Lansing, and at Gardner International Magnet School via Zoom. She also works at her alma mater Happendance, in Okemos, where she is an instructor, an assistant director Impulse, their children's dance company, and DANCE Lansing, their summer community dance program, is a company member of Velocity, their professional company, and was featured in their local commercial. Over her career, Emily has had the opportunity to work with a multitude of dance professionals including Kristi Faulkner, Joori Jung, Joanna McNamara, Sherry Wilkinson, Phil Simmons, Jeremy Blair, & Haleem Rasul.
Dance has always been Emily's "escape from reality" and the one constant in her life. She knows she can always turn to dance when life gets crazy. Emily's main focus in regards to teaching dance is to try to break the cycle of mental trauma that some young dancers have had to endure growing up in the art form. Emily had heard many horror stories about what dancers go through as kids, and she wanted to change that. She focuses on having a very body positive atmosphere, not playing favorites, and trying to catch the warning signs of perfectionism, burnout, and anxiety as early as she can, and give her students ways to work through it. Emily loves the opportunity to pass her passion for dance on to aspiring dancers for generations to come.
Grand Master Skinner is an 8th Dan Black belt at United Tae Kwon Do. She has taught and trained at United Tae Kwon Do for 45 years. GM Skinner first studied Tang Soo Do and then Tae Kwon Do from Grand Master Sang Kyu Shim. She has run United Tae Kwon Do since 1992 and has inspired many students to train in martial arts and seek higher education. She received her BS in Business from Madonna University and her JD from Cooley Law School. GM Skinner has been a driving force of keeping Traditional Tae Kwon Do that has been passed down for generations through the training of 1000's of students over the years. She has trained multiple generations of families in the Art of Tae Kwon Do.
Master Isabelle Lelli a 4th Dan at United Tae Kwon Do who has been training and teaching for over 18 years. She has trained under Grand Master Skinner and Grand Master Shankin at United Tae Kwon Do. She is completing her Junior year at Northern Michigan University studying Neuroscience: Behavior and Cognition and looking to go on to Graduate School and a Doctoral Program in her field. Master Lelli is a high energy instructor who loves teaching forms to students and the Toddler Program of United Tae Kwon Do.
Job Titles:
- Certified Yoga Instructor
Jamee Greer is an RYT 200-certified Yoga instructor and has been studying and practicing yoga for about 5 years.
Yoga is so much more than just exercise, it is an integration between body, mind and soul- comparable to martial arts. She honors the 8 Limbs of Yoga and believes that the history and culture of yoga are just as important as the physical benefits of the asanas (postures).
Jamee's passion is to teach children this ancient practice in fun, creative and engaging ways to cultivate a lifelong love for physical and mental wellness, mindfulness, inner peace, unity and harmony.
Job Titles:
- Director / Major Gift Officer, Spring Arbor University
"I believe in supporting our community nonprofit organizations as they are an essential conduit in providing a healthy and vibrant community for all to live, work, and play. Supporting youth and the arts are two necessary pieces of that puzzle, and that is why I am proud to serve on the JSA Board and provide impact in any way that I can."
Job Titles:
- Art & Special Program Manager
- Kids Create Director
Jode is the Art and Special Program Manager, an art instructor, the director and lead teacher of Kids Create Preschool Experience, and in charge of visual displays for holidays and special events at Jackson School of the Arts. Jode has a Business Degree in Graphic Communications and a CDA in Early Childhood Education.
Her past experience includes owning and operating her own preschool center, Happy Hearts Children's Center, and working as a preschool teacher in Northwest School District. Jode is an artist herself working with paint, drawing and mixed-media. She was commissioned to create a large-scale mural at the Westwood Mall in Jackson, Mi, where she painted a beautiful set of wings. Jode has been in charge of numerous student art installations at various galleries throughout Jackson County, including, The Pure Credit Union Square Gallery, Spring Arbor University, The Ella Sharp Museum, The Westwood Mall and Jackson School of the Arts. She has also been involved in judging various community student art exhibitions at Ella Sharp Museum and The Jackson Crossing Mall. Jode has been an artist in the Art 634 24-hour Art Show, "Make-Talk-Sing-Play, and has participated in creative event planning for Bright Walls, and the Jackson School of the Arts annual Fairy Festival.
Jode believes that everyone is an artist, and finds her true joy in the classroom instilling the love for the arts in each and every student she has the privilege to work with. She enjoys sharing her creative spirit, and seeing the joy and pride it brings to others. Passionate about being an advocate for the arts and early childhood education, she fills her heart with the process of inspiring her students to create!
Jode Piotrowski, Art Program Coordinator has a business degree in Graphic Communications from Baker College. She also has a Child Development Associate from Jackson Community College. She owned and operated her own preschool, Happy Hearts Children's Center for six years where she worked as the director and lead teacher in the classroom and she has worked at Northwest Preschool and in visual merchandising at Elder Beerman Stores. She has taught various art classes for Jackson School of the Arts, including on-site classes, summer art camps, as well as the After School Art Programs and is also the Director of Kids Create, an immersive preschool experience in the arts.
Job Titles:
- Director / CEO, Advance Turning & Manufacturing, Inc.
At the age of 3, Lara began her dance training in Grand Rapids Michigan. She trained at Balletmore dance studio with founder and director Melanie Anderson Brossiet. Throughout the years, Lara had the opportunity to perform lead roles in many of the productions and participate in several summer intensives at the studio. She then continued to take dance classes throughout college and began teaching in 2018. Lara was one of the choreographers for the C Glass Dance Company and has been able to choreograph multiple performances with the company. She became the Children Director at Haus of Glass Dance where she taught multiple children classes as well as being in charge the Petite Dance Company.
Lara is so excited to get the opportunity to teach at Jackson School of the Arts. She finds a lot of joy teaching and sharing her love for dance with students.
Job Titles:
- Director / Artistic Director, the Chelsea Symphony & Music Director, Jackson Symphony
"Upon moving to Jackson, I was immediately struck by the vibrancy of the art scene in Jackson. It's unusual for a small community to have such rich offerings-a symphony, theatre, museum and of course, the Jackson School of the Arts! These institutions are treasures for our community."
"My early experiences with art have been fundamental in shaping me into the person I am today. Art has taught me to be curious, imaginative, and open-minded, and has greatly influenced my approach to creating positive change. As a lateral thinker, I am always seeking out creative and innovative solutions to complex problems. I believe that collaboration and a willingness to listen to the perspectives of others are crucial to finding the best solutions. That's why I am committed to working collaboratively with others, while always striving to create a more inclusive and equitable world. I look forward to serving as a board member for JSA; utilizing my skills and experience to contribute to the betterment of the Jackson community."
Job Titles:
- Instructor at United Tae Kwon Do
Mr. Alec Vann is a 2nd Dan and Instructor at United Tae Kwon Do in Livonia. He has trained extensively under Grand Master Skinner. Mr. Vann earned his Eagle Scout at 14 and is still actively involved in Scouting. He is also an active member of his high school band playing the Clarinet. Mr. Vann is looking to further his education at Michigan Tech studying Nature Conservation.
Mrs. Andrea Vann is a 1st Dan Instructor with United Tae Kwon Do. She has trained for 2 years under Grand Master Skinner and has been teaching classes for over a year. Mrs. Vann has been Married for 18 years and has three children who have all earned black belts at United Tae Kwon Do. She received her BS in Graphic Communication from the Center for Creative Studies.
Master Peter Gruenewald is a 4th Dan and has trained and taught at United Tae Kwon Do for over 16 Years. He has been an instructor at the Livonia Branch and Detroit Branch who has trained under Grand Master Skinner and Grand Master Washington at United Tae Kwon Do. His two children have trained at United Tae Kwon Do and hold 3rd and 4th Dan ranks as well. In his spare time, he is a professional flautist and does studio work as well as private lessons. He is an IT professional and is currently a government contractor supporting various government entities throughout the USA.
Peyton Lowder began dancing at Jackson School of the Arts at age 4. After nearly a decade training with JSA, she left to pursue her love of ballet full time with the Ballet Chelsea junior and senior dance company. There she took a myriad of classes including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, and Character dance. She also joined the select Jazz Ensemble, where her love of choreography was born. Her training also includes various classes and intensives ranging from Oakland University, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Academy, and training with the professional company members Eisenhower Dance Detroit.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Managing Attorney of Curtis
- Vice Chair and Secretary / Managing Attorney, Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski
Philip J. Curtis is a partner and managing attorney of Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C., which was founded by his grandfather, former Jackson County Probate Court Judge George H. Curtis, in 1901. As a lifelong resident of Jackson County, Mr. Curtis enjoys his family, giving back and serving his community by, among other things, serving on the Board of Directors of the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, the Jackson School of the Arts, and the Spring Arbor University Foundation in Spring Arbor, Michigan, and supporting many worthwhile organizations.
Rene enjoys working in a variety of mediums and believes there is a creative spirit in everyone. She studied Art History, drawing and pottery at Cedarville College, as she pursued her Bachelors of Arts in English. Just as she believes everyone has a hidden creative spirit, Rene likes to find creative uses for ordinary things. Her art, under the name Attic Rescue League, has been featured at a few local galleries. She likes to help her students tap into their artistic side and hopes to inspire everyone to give "junk" a second chance through reuse.
Samantha Harris has always dreamed of ways to stay involved in gymnastics, so joining the JSA family was a no brainer! She was a gymnast until high-school where she switched to cheerleading and used her gymnastics knowledge to help the competition team. She is now a wife and mother of 4 kids (8, 4, 2, 11 months) and her oldest daughter has been involved with gymnastics, dance or acro since she was 18 months old. Gymnastics being fun and safe for all age ranges is huge for her! She is so thrilled to be able to teach children (including her own) how to be confident in their abilities and learn new skills!
Job Titles:
- Chairman and Treasurer / Chief Financial Officer, American 1 Credit Union
"On a personal level, I was a gymnast as a child and enjoyed art classes throughout school. Now, as an adult, I understand the value and impact that those experiences had in my life, and I want to be a part of bringing those experiences to children in our community," Miller said. "My advice to others who want to get involved with their community is to determine what you're passionate about and what strengths you bring to the table, and then find an organization that strikes the perfect marriage. Because when you find that perfect combination, your impact will be more meaningful - both personally and for the organization.
Job Titles:
- Board Development Director of Community Outreach & Marketing, Walton Insurance Group
"The arts serve a critical role in a community and the Jackson School of the Arts is a beacon of hope for future generations to come. I'm honored to serve as a board member and support the equitable, impactful work the JSA is making in our community."
Tae Kwon Do is an art form originating over 2,000 years ago and is recognized as one of the oldest forms of Martial Arts. Tae Kwon Do will teach the students how to defend themselves through jumping kicks, ground kicks and hand strikes.
The Intermediate level of Tae Kwon Do starts the students on a more advanced path, beginning to learn patterns as well as more advanced standing and jumping techniques. We still focus on discipline and confidence. Since many of the techniques are more difficult than Beginner level, the momentum of confidence-building increases for our students as they complete more goals.
Advanced Tae Kwon Do is meant for students to continue their skill building and begin working on Hapkido techniques. The progression of this class will start the foundation of learning blocks and strikes into grappling. The program is a no contact form of martial arts that will progress into learning how to defend yourself, escape an opponent or how to gain advantage using specific techniques while grappling. Students will need a Brown Belt rank to participate in this class.
Classes: Tae Kwon Do will be on the second floor in Room 2D
Master Tom Lelli is a 4th Dan and has been with United Tae Kwon Do for over 17 years. He has been a lead instructor at both the Livonia and Warren branches of United Tae Kwon Do. As a student of Grand Master Skinner and Grand Master Shankin at United Tae Kwon Do under Grand Master Shim's Traditional Teachings. His first love of martial arts is the study and teachings of philosophy of the Art of Tae Kwon Do. Master Lelli is the IT Director at a Tier 1 automotive parts supplier in the Metro Detroit area. He is the father of 3 young adults who all have trained at United Tae Kwon Do.
Zoe Cutie performed in her first dance recital when she was fourteen months old. Her mother owned a dance studio in her home town for over thirty years and during the time it was open, Zoe taught many varieties of dance. She has participated in dance competitions and conventions all around the United States. She moved to Jackson Michigan after graduating from Michigan State University with her master's degree in Social Work. Her primary job and education as a social worker helps to influence her teaching style to create an inclusive and encouraging environment for all. While she is familiar with many dance styles, her favorites include contemporary, tap, ballet and partner dances.