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“No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.” - Paolo Freire
I believe theatre education should be a rehearsal for liberation. Whether in the classroom, rehearsal room, or scene shop, I create spaces where students are empowered to bring their full selves—stories, identities, cultures, and all.
My approach is rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). That means I prioritize student choice, collaboration, historical context, and lived experience to meet learners where they are, while challenging them to grow through creative exploration. Every student deserves to be seen and celebrated—whether they’re onstage or backstage, designing sets or finding their voice through a script.
I begin each course by asking students to reflect on their core values—what matters to them—and we collaboratively build classroom agreements from those reflections. This process is the foundation for how we engage with each other and with the work: with empathy, care, and curiosity.
I’m especially passionate about making theatre education accessible for disabled students and inclusive of LGBTQ+ experiences. In one of my acting classes designed for students with disabilities, we integrated Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices (tablets) with pre-recorded dialogue, peer support systems, and alternative performance methods. Every student found their own way to shine. That’s the heart of my teaching: honoring different ways of learning and performing, and removing barriers to access in both visible and invisible ways.
Through Teaching While Queer—a podcast and national initiative I founded—I connect with LGBTQ+ educators and advocate for authentic, inclusive practices in schools and universities. I carry that same mission into every course I teach.
Ultimately, my classroom is a place where students can try, fail, laugh, create, and connect. It’s a space to build skills—but more importantly, to become more fully themselves. Because when students feel safe, empowered, and supported, they don’t just make better art. They become better collaborators, leaders, and humans.
Sample Syllabi
Fundamentals of Theatre Production and Design
Inclusive Theatre Classrooms
Implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) in the Theatre Classroom
In my work as a theatre educator, I believe access, equity, and cultural relevance aren’t bonus features—they’re the foundation of excellent teaching. Through my inclusive teaching practices, I ensure that every student, regardless of identity, background, or ability, has meaningful opportunities to participate, create, and lead in theatre education spaces.
Here’s how I integrate UDL and CRP in my teaching practice:
Multiple Means of Engagement
How I create buy-in and foster belonging:
- Students begin each course by identifying their core values and co-authoring classroom agreements.
- I center student voice and lived experience, encouraging students to connect coursework to their identities, cultural knowledge, and communities.
- Projects include multiple options for participation and self-expression—whether through design, performance, written work, or multimedia formats.
"Choice is the catalyst for engagement. When students choose how and what to learn, they are no longer passive observers—they are active artists."
Multiple Means of Engagement
How I create buy-in and foster belonging:
- Students begin each course by identifying their core values and co-authoring classroom agreements.
- I center student voice and lived experience, encouraging students to connect coursework to their identities, cultural knowledge, and communities.
- Projects include multiple options for participation and self-expression—whether through design, performance, written work, or multimedia formats.
"Choice is the catalyst for engagement. When students choose how and what to learn, they are no longer passive observers—they are active artists."
Multiple Means of Action & Expression
How I assess learning inclusively:
- Students choose how they want to demonstrate their learning—via choice boards, menu-style assignments, or collaborative rubrics they help build.
- I use flexible performance options, such as allowing students to pre-record monologues, use assistive tech onstage, or devise original work rooted in their own stories.
- In tech theatre, I support learning through hands-on, low-barrier engagement—from digital models to collaborative builds, ensuring safety and inclusion across all ability levels.
"Assessment should reflect who the student is—not who the system expects them to be."
Why It Works
These inclusive methods are not just best practice—they’re human practice. They create classrooms where:
- Queer students feel seen and safe.
- Disabled students are respected and supported.
- Students of color are recognized as knowledge-holders.
- Neurodiverse learners can shine in their own ways.
- Everyone understands that theatre is for them, too.
If you're an educator looking to implement UDL or CRP in your own arts teaching, I also lead trainings, workshops, and consultations for schools, districts, and higher education programs.
➡️ Download Sample Choice Project
Conference Presentations
2025 “Mobilizing Queer Educators for a More Inclusive Future” Charter for Compassion, Virtual.
2025 “Mobilizing Queer Educators for a More Inclusive Future” NEA LGBTQ+ Caucus. Las Vegas, NV.
2025 “Creating Culturally Responsive Inclusive Curriculum Utilizing Universal Design for Learning” CUNY School of Professional Studies, Virtual.
2024 “Creating Culturally Responsive Inclusive Curriculum Utilizing Universal Design for Learning” CUNY, Virtual.
2024 “Teaching While Queer Building a Community for Queer Educators” National LGBTQ Taskforce. New Orleans, LA.
2023 “Bringing Your Story and Identity into the Classroom”
Character.org International Forum. Washington, DC.
2023 “Moving the Needle toward Inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ Students in Primary and Secondary Education” PrideWorks Conference. Pleasanton, NY.
2022 “Empowering Actors with Disabilities.” Texas Educational Theatre Association TheatreFest. Galveston, TX.
2022 “Philanthropic Theatre.” Texas Educational Theatre Association TheatreFest. Galveston, TX.
2022 “Empowering Actors with Disabilities.” Texas Thespians State Festival. Grapevine, TX.
2022 “Philanthropic Theatre.” Texas Thespians State Festival. Grapevine, TX.
2021 “Empowering Actors with Disabilities.” American Alliance of Theatre and Education National Conference. Virtual.