Greenbrier Academy
Pence Springs, WV

Greenbrier Academy has some exciting "Arts in Education" activities going on this month:

Theatre artist and educator, Jill Balch-Coon will be on-campus from July 13 - 31st, 2009 leading professional development workshops with faculty in classrooms during the
school day, and teaching students as part of our evening activities.

Most importantly, she will work directly with students in the evenings Tuesday thru Thursday. One evening activity for students especially interested in theatre will focus on audition prep: selection, practice and technique. Other classes will be open to all students working with improvisation using a Theatre Sports/Who's Line Is It?

In the realm of professional development, Jill will work with each of the teachers for a week modeling by co-teaching in one of their classes how the arts can enliven all disciplines.

Jill has over 17 years in professional experience in the field of arts education as well as in strategic partnerships. Currently, Jill is an Arts Education Consultant living and working in New York City. Her projects include: working as a teaching artist throughout the city, program evaluator with V-Girls as well as a curriculum developer and evaluator for college readiness programming.

Jill was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama and graduated with a BA degree in English and Theatre from Birmingham-Southern College. She also holds a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Florida and is currently working on her Master's in Public Administration at Baruch College. She also holds certifications to teach English and Theatre.


Second, we will also have a visual artist on campus for the week of July 20 - 24, 2009. Jennifer Brothers from the DC area is especially interested in working with Greenbrier girls artistically and therapeutically. She will also be teaching within the classrooms and with teachers to see how we can bring even more arts into our lesson plans on a regular basis.

Jennifer cannot remember a time in her life when art was not a part of it. She grew up drawing and painting in the Rocky Mountains and has continued with her art in the DC metro area for the past twenty years. Her BA in communications and design allowed her to work as an art director in commercial design firms prior to "retiring" to motherhood. She and her husband have four children, one of whom led them to experience life-changing family and individual work in a therapeutic wilderness program and a residential boarding school.

For many years in her children's schools, Jennifer created and has led a supplemental art enrichment program that relates to DC museum art exhibits. She has extensive art experience in non-profit community organizations. As the nest begins to empty, Jennifer studies master's level art courses through the Corcoran Museum and The Art League School of Art, focusing on watercolor, pastel and pottery. Jennifer believes that the process of artistic creativity and expression generates healing and serenity. She loves that there's no right or wrong way to do art. Jennifer feels blessed to do art; drumming and service work with the incredible young women at Greenbrier Academy. They teach her through their expressive, artistic gifts how to live joyfully in the moment.

Other related events include an all school trip to Blackfriars to see Much Ado About Nothing, planning an arts showcase day (July 28, 2009) where all students will share what they've been doing for Summer Session 2 in an artistic format, and an afternoon of Improv (July 29, 2009) with all students, faculty and staff as part of our Community Activities.