LISANNE SHAFFER - DICKERSON    

Assistant Professor, Theater Education & Theater for Young Audiences

Contact                     

917-574-6653                    

LISANNESHAFFER@GMAIL.COM                   

Professional Summary

My teaching philosophy is to ignite the creative energy the students I teach to support and empower them to move beyond the potential they currently see. I believe in nurturing students as individuals and recognizing different learning modalities offering differentiated instruction in my teaching. I am committed to my own social responsibility as an educator to encourage empathy and divergent thinking in my students. I am also a distinguished professional with teaching and administration experience. Highly proficient in curriculum design for theater, directing theater for young audiences and student teaching advisement. I possess a proven track record of developing and delivering engaging and effective lessons.            

Experience  

August 2022 - Present  

Assistant Professor, Theater Education & Theater for Young Audiences  

East Carolina University, Greenville, NC  

· Courses taught: Intro to Acting 1 & 2, Teaching Theater Arts Grades K-12, Theater for Young
Audiences, Internship Seminar, Creative Dramatics  

· Supervise Theater Education teaching candidates in their student teaching internship.  

· Assist with preparing Theater Education interns to take the EdTpa exam.  

· Direct Theater for Young Audience shows: 2022 Last Stop on Market Street, TYA musical.  

· Provided students with syllabus or course guide summarizing objectives and requirements.  

· Coordinated campus activities resulting in increased morale and student networking.  

· Assessed academic performance and identified areas of improvement.  

· Modified course content and complexity to meet individual and group goals.  

· Offered academic support and advice, helping students with challenging curricula.  

· Engaged in scholarly activities, demonstrating professional research competency.  

· Attended various conferences and seminars, delivering scholarly presentations and guest
lectures.    

January 2014 - June 2022    

Theater Teacher, NYC Department of Education  

Brooklyn High School of the Arts, Brooklyn, NY  

· Classes taught: Theatre History, Intro to Acting, Advanced Acting, Playwriting and Musical Theater  

· Productions Directed: Rent (2022), Fame (2020), Bring it On the Musical (2019), Into the Woods (2018),
Almost Maine (2017), A Raisin in the Sun (2016)  

· Selected as an Arthur Miller fellow in its inaugural year.  

· A Raisin in the Sun, Almost Maine and Fame were all selected to be a part of the annual Shubert
High School Theater Festival on Broadway  

· Scheduled and maintained regular office hours to meet with students.    

January 2017 - Present    

Lead DOE High School Theater Teacher  

Summer Arts Institute, New York City Department of Education, New York, NY  

· Create and facilitated lesson plans for middle school students in support of their upcoming
auditions for performing arts high schools.  

· Collaborate with master teaching artists to develop methods of coaching young students on auditions.  

· Direct and coach high school aged actors in preparation for a performance of a scene night.  

· Revised and evaluated curricula, course content, and methods of instruction.  

· Participated in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.    

October 2021 - Present    

Apollo Stories Fellow  

The Apollo Theater, Harlem, NY  

· Collaborated with a team of educators from across the country to develop a brand-new curriculum based
on Ta-Nehisi Coate's award winning book, Between the World and Me  

· Created and co-created lesson plans based on the themes of the American Dream, the Black body and Race.  

· Co-created a vision statement for the ongoing Apollo Stories fellowship.    

July 2020 - July 2022    

Director Of Education and Training  

Broadway For All, New York, NY  

· Recruited, hired, and trained primary and supplemental staff.  

· Developed curricula and recommended curricula revisions and additions.  

· Designed and used assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.  

· Directed, coordinated, and evaluated activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in
administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.  

· Observed teaching methods and examined learning materials to evaluate and standardize curriculum. 

September 2021 - January 2022    

Adjunct Professor of Speech and Communications  

City College of New York, Center for Worker Education, New York, NY  

· Evaluated and selected texts and instructional materials to prepare course materials and lesson
plans.  

· Developed and adjusted curriculum to accommodate individual student needs.  

· Helped students develop confidence in public speaking.  

· Facilitated classroom discussions to promote critical thinking about instructional topics.  

· Provided communication instruction to dialect speakers and students with limited English
proficiency.    

January 2018 - January 2021    

Adjunct Professor  

City College of New York Educational Theatre Program, New York, NY  

· Courses taught – Seminar in Educational Theater, Curriculum Development  

· Taught the class that supports student teachers in the educational theater program.  

· Taught theater education students how to write and implement curriculum.  

· Discussed and taught strategies with students on how to differentiate, use cultural
responsiveness, and plan for ELL learners.    

July 2013 - January 2016    

Family Arts Day Coordinator  

City College of New York Educational Theatre Program, New York, NY  

· Participated in networking with local theatre companies and friends of the arts for fundraising efforts.  

· Scheduled a group of student volunteers into various jobs on the day of the event.  

· Created fliers for the event and distributed these fliers to local businesses in the neighborhood.  

· Provided administrative support as needed.    

January 2012 - January 2015    

Director Of Piper Starlings Program  

Piper Theatre Productions, Brooklyn, NY  

· Directed The Taming of the Shrew, A Comedy of Errors, King Lear, and Midsummer Night’s Dream  

· Created and facilitated process drama-based lessons for students in grades 2nd through 5th aligned
with performances.  

· Created and facilitated a unit on devising theatre from fairytales for students in grades 2nd through
5th which led to a performance of an original play written by students
entitled Grimm Fairytales with a Twist  

· Created and facilitated process drama-based lessons for students in grades 2nd through 5th aligned
with all Shakespeare performance.  

· Co-facilitated lessons on set building and costume design in which students built and painted their own
sets and designed and sewed their own costumes.  

· Developed self-confidence, creativity, and community among participants through engagement in theater.    

January 2005 - January 2008    

Theater Director  

Camp Wicosuta, Hebron, NH  

· Productions I directed included: Once on this Island, Annie, The Aristo cats, Into the Woods and
Newsies  

· Created drama lessons for children ages 7-13  

· Facilitated theater activities based on the musicals to be performed each summer.  

· Directed and choreographed two musicals per summer.  

· Oversaw a staff of collaborating theatre teachers.  

· Designed and built the set and created costumes and props for all shows.  

· Implemented a new scene design class for students.    

January 2004 - January 2006    

Actress/Tour Manager  

Theatre IV – Theatre for Young Audiences, Richmond, VA  

· Facilitated talkbacks with students.  

· Managed a cast of 5 actors.

· Resolved any problems with itineraries, service, and accommodations.  

· Collaborated with other actors as part of ensemble.   

Education  

Expected Diploma, 2026

Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Theater; Concentration in Directing 

Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA

May 2015  

Master of Science in Education (MS.Ed), Educational Theater   

The City College of New York, New York, NY  

May 2003    

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Musical Theater   

East Carolina University, Greenville, NC  

Skills  

· Directing  

· Meisner Technique in Acting  

· Student Engagement  

· Public Speaking  

· Lesson Planning  

· Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

· Curriculum Development  

Certifications  

· Professional Teaching License, Theater  

Awards  

· Arthur Miller Foundation, Excellence in Arts Education 2020