Part 2: 5 Things You Should Know About PEAK Theatre Arts (And Why They Matter)!

I Never Set Out To Be A Teacher.

I never set out to be a teacher. Truly. It wasn’t part of the plan. I wasn’t someone who dreamed about shaping young minds and decorating a classroom. I was an actress, fully and completely.

And then, back in 2013, I started working in an after-school program because, well, I was in college and needed a job. During the interview, the supervisor asked me, “What special skill do you have that you could share with the kids?” Without hesitation, I said, “Theatre. I can create a drama club.”

Easy enough, I thought I’d been acting for over ten years by then. Surely, I can teach kids how to act. How hard can it be?

But here’s the thing: Knowing something deeply and knowing how to teach it are not the same.

I remember staring at a group of rambunctious kids, wondering how in the world I was supposed to take everything I knew about acting and storytelling and somehow make it digestible. I didn’t have a clue how to translate all my acting experience into something a fifth grader could grasp.

I remember googling things like “how to teach drama to kids” and “classroom management strategies for kids who don't listen."  

Through all the doubt, confusion, and uncertainty, I still somehow wrote my first play with my students: Vida La Bonita, a Spanish Cinderella Story.

Then something unexpected happened.

One of my quietest students, who barely spoke above a whisper, raised her hand and asked to play the lead. I said yes, with a little hesitation.

Then, she got on stage, and something cracked open.

And there, for all to see, was her light.

She radiated on stage.

She didn’t just act. 

She arrived.

And I just stood there, stunned and breathless, watching this transformation happen in real time. That was the moment. That’s when I realized: Oh. So this is why I’m here. This isn’t about theatre—it’s about watching someone light up from the inside out.

Especially kids.

Especially the shy ones who think they have nothing to say.

Especially the loud ones who already know they do.

So I kept going.

Let me be honest: it was a mess at first. I didn’t just wake up one morning with a lesson plan in my back pocket and the wisdom of a seasoned educator flowing through me.

I sat through professional development workshops, clutching my notebook like it might save my life. I asked what probably felt like annoying, obvious questions.

And I failed—gloriously and often.

But little by little, something started to click. My voice as a teacher started to show up. I stopped trying to make everything performance-perfect and started listening. To my students. To myself. I fumbled my way toward something that resembled trust—trust in the process, and eventually, trust in myself.

And honestly? I’m still learning. I’m still growing. Still showing up.

But somewhere along the way, teaching stopped being the job I took… and became the work that chose me.

Now, PEAK Theatre Arts is my home. It’s a space for the wild and the weird, the shy and the brave, the unsure and those who do "too much." A place where students get to show up fully, breathe a little deeper, and maybe, just maybe, be someone else for a little while—or more truly themselves.

And somehow, I get to be a part of that.

5 Things You Should Know About PEAK Theatre Arts (And Why They Matter)! Part 2 is I Teach Because I Can’t Help It. Because teaching isn’t just a job for me. It comes from that fierce, stubborn need to show up for kids, to create a space where art and community can thrive.

To the parents reading this: I see you. You want your child to feel confident, connected, and like they belong somewhere. Maybe they don’t thrive in traditional classrooms. Maybe they’re loud. Maybe they’re quiet. Maybe they’re trying to figure out who they are.

That’s the gift of theatre—it gives kids a place to try on bravery. To play with identity. To say things they didn’t know they were allowed to say.

And to the administrators and educators: I get it. You’re managing a million moving parts. Budgets. Behavior. Burnout. You don’t need another flaky enrichment program that shows up with pipe cleaners and a YouTube video. You need someone who understands students. Who teaches with heart and structure. That's me. That's PEAK.

I don’t teach from some abstract idea of what theatre should be. I teach kids to trust in the process. This isn't Broadway, and there's no pressure to perform perfectly. It's okay to mess up. The result? A performance so raw it leaves you speechless.

Because I’ve seen what happens when a kid finds their voice—and realizes the world is better when they use it.

And that’s what I bring into every space I enter. Not just theatre. But transformation.

PEAK Backsage Disclaimer

The content shared on PEAK Backstage is for informational and educational purposes only. While I draw from my experience as a teaching artist, parent, and arts educator, nothing here should be considered professional legal, medical, psychological, or financial advice. Every child, classroom, and community is different—please use your judgment (and consult appropriate professionals) before applying any of the ideas or strategies discussed here.

By using this site, you accept that you are responsible for any outcomes that result from your choices based on the information provided. I do my best to share what’s worked for me and the communities I serve, but as with all things in teaching and parenting, there’s no one-size-fits-all.