SMARTS Community Teaching Artists
SMARTS hires and prepares community teaching artists with professional training and oversight so that they can provide quality arts-focused teaching and learning with lesson plans that follow state standards. SMARTS teachers are placed with partnering school systems to teach Visual Art, Music, Dance, Theater, and Creative Writing year-round during and after school, and teach free Public classes here at SMARTS.
Click on the underlined names to visit the teacher's website.
Visual Arts
SMARTS visual arts teachers are restoration artists, interior designers, founders of art galleries, painters, and animators.
Jennifer Carlson is an abstract artist, photographer, and designer based in Youngstown, Ohio. She received her BFA in Studio art w/ emphasis in graphic design from Youngstown State University in 2020. She has worked as a social media manager, corporate & freelance designer, and photographer after graduating college. She later became interested in abstract painting as a form of emotional support and therapy. Her work consists of bold colors, organic shapes, and exciting movement. Identifying her art as intuitive abstract art, Jennifer begun selling her work at art markets and festivals around North East Ohio with plans to expand.
Ally Christopher is a relief printmaker with studio experience in ceramics, painting, digital media, and textiles. While attending Ohio State University for a Bachelors in Art Education, Ally spent two years leading the education program at a gallery in downtown Columbus that focused on inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.
Will Duck is a painter from Youngstown, Ohio. He specializes in portraits, using acrylic. He is invested in the local arts community and paints on commission. He teaches visual art at SMARTS.
Marites Eldred is an interdisciplinary artist from Michigan with over 30 years experience in both music and visual arts. She taught English in Seoul, South Korea for three years and has traveled to Italy, Cambodia, the Philippines and Japan. Her life and art are greatly inspired by many different cultures. She has graced the community theater stage as many characters over the years including: Nancy in Oliver!, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and Penelope in Happy Birthday, Wanda June. One of her favorite art moments is when Josh McLaglen, Shawn Levy and Hugh Jackman all complimented a drawing she made on the set of the movie Real Steel.
Sarah Fenton Studied Art Education & 3-D design at Youngstown State University. Later, becoming a teacher and business owner. She found that even owning a business did not stop her from teaching. Sarah loves seeing that ah-ha moment when a student gets it. When they learn that with art, anything is possible, and anyone can become an artist.
Robert Kerr is a professional artist and animator specializing in both digital and traditional media. Self-taught and formally trained, he appreciates the guidelines of creating art while testing the artistic boundaries. His formative years included work in television production, graphic / web design, illustration and animation. His creative process is organic and unique unto itself, like each project commissioned. With over twenty years of experience in the visual arts, he brings an individual tone and energy to every creation.
Mia Mondora is an interdisciplinary artist who specializes in acrylic painting and textile art. Mondora graduated from YSU in 2022 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. Working as a freelance mural artist and traveling live painter, she contributes to the vibrant art scene in the Midwest and eastern United States. Her work seamlessly blends portraiture with organic elements, exploring the interplay of geometry and patterns to construct immersive spatial experiences. Beyond the canvas, Mia actively participates in organizing galleries at various music and art events, fostering a dynamic connection between her creations and the community.
Malorie Martin is an artist and writer with a Bachelor's Degree in English from Husson University. Her primary medium is printmaking, and Malorie has exhibited her works in both group and solo gallery shows. Malorie also has a passion for teahcing; she is working towards her Masters in Fine Arts in the hopes of teaching full time, and hosts printmaking workshops at local businesses.
Daniel Rauschenbach is an American contemporary artist, curator, and gallerist. He completed his BFA in Ceramics and is currently working on his Master’s Degree in American Studies with a focus in Community Development at YSU. Daniel is “planted” as a SMARTS art teacher at South Side Academy and is the owner at the SOAP Gallery. He is also a board member with the Legal Creative. Daniel is a painter, printmaker, and ceramicist. He has exhibited in numerous group and solo shows on the east coast and his artwork is displayed in private collections worldwide. He was selected as one of Youngstown’s 25 Under 35 by the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals in 2017 and has been a SMARTS art teacher since 2016.
SMARTS Community Teaching: Visual Art, South Side Academy
Music
SMARTS music teachers are recording artists, classical musicians, piano and instrumental soloists, church music directors, and are in rock and jazz bands.
Rasadokht “Rasa” Ahmadi is a pianist, sound engineer, and music educator originally from Tehran, Iran. Fascinated by music from childhood, she began piano lessons at eight and entered the Tehran Music School at twelve, knowing she wanted to pursue a life in music. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and completed Orff Schulwerk certification in children’s music education. After moving to the United States in 2023, she discovered a new passion for Electronic Music while expanding her studies into Audio and Music Production at Youngstown State University. At SMARTS, she teaches Adventures in Piano, Music and Movement, and Early SMARTS Music, as well as contributing to curriculum development.
Rasa’s artistry bridges traditions and technologies: her classical piano training and Persian Santoor performance meet her skills in sound engineering, digital audio production, and a growing versatility with instruments like guitar and ukulele. She brings this broad musical background into her teaching and is especially passionate about the emotion’s children experience as they discover music. Outside the classroom, she is an avid adventurer and yogi, committed to helping young people grow not only through music but also through a thoughtful, connected relationship with the world around them.
Amanda Beagle is a Warren, Ohio based singer/actor who has spent the greater part of her professional life invested in the development of young people through the arts. She has maintained a private vocal studio since 2001, both in the Warren/Youngstown area and New York City. She has been on faculty with music schools in New York City and South Orange, New Jersey serving a diverse body of students. An experienced theatre teaching artist, she has also trained extensively with Lincoln Center Education, The Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department and The City College of New York in educational theatre and teaching artistry. Ms. Beagle currently serves on the Musical Theatre voice faculty at Youngstown State University.
Amanda's history with SMARTS dates back to 2001 when she was a sophomore vocal performance major at Youngstown State University. During that time, she worked on a SMARTS team that facilitated the Metropolitan Opera Guild's education program called Creating an Original Opera in which students wrote, produced and performed their own works of musical theatre. SMARTS was also Amanda's community service platform as she competed for the job of Miss Ohio.
Angelica Bohurjak has had a passion for music her whole life. Beginning flute and violin lessons at 10 years old, she knew she wanted to inspire students the way her own music teachers had inspired her. She graduated from Austintown Fitch High School in 2021. She then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she attended Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music. While enrolled as a full-time college student she toured the country as a featured musician with the "world's longest running live stage show," the Tamburitzans, from 2022-2025. As an educator she instructed 4-8th grade band for two years, as well as PreK general music for one year. She graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University with her Bachelor of Science in Music Education in May 2025 and currently holds her PK-12 Music Education Certification. Upon graduation she moved back to the Youngstown area where she currently teaches in both a public-school and private setting (flute and violin), as well as exploring musical opportunities for students with special needs.
Rosie Bresson graduated from Youngstown State University in May 2020 with her BFA in Musical Theatre. Her recent credits include Cabaret (Emcee), Chicago (Roxie), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), How I Learned to Drive (Li’l Bit), and The Last Five Years (Cathy). She is also an avid musician and has worked as a music director, director and choreographer. Rosie has been a 2-time Irene Ryan Scholarship Nominee at the Region II Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, a 2018 Region II KCACTF Musical Theatre Initiative Finalist, and was among 120 students selected to attend the 2018 Open Jar Institute Summer College Intensive in New York City.
James Harris is an alumni of East High School and Geneva College. He holds a bachelor's degree in music education and Ohio teaching license in music education . He has taught middle and high school band as well as general music in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for ten years. He also taught middle and high school band in the Wellsville Locals School district for seven years. He currently works as a music teacher in the Youngstown City Schools as well as a piano teacher at SMARTS.
Simon Kenneally is a singer/songwriter, composer who has established multiple musical projects and solo projects. He has recorded and released thirteen studio albums. He has performed thousands of shows across the country and has been commissioned multiple times to create original scores for plays at various playhouses. He studied classical guitar at the Dana School of Music focusing on music education. He also studied secondary education at Youngstown State University and has been teaching music theory and composition publicly and privately for over 20 years. Simon teaches Rock Band, Studio Recording and Production, ukulele, guitar, and piano to SMARTS students.
SMARTS Classes: Rock Band, Ukulele 101
Alex Miller is a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger and audio engineer based in Youngstown, Ohio. He received a BA in Jazz Studies and an MM in Saxophone Performance from The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University and studied Classical and Jazz Performance and Music Composition at The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford from 2019-2021. Alex has worked extensively as a composer and session musician, having written over 150 original works and appearing on over 30 albums across a multitude of genres. Alex teaches saxophone, flute, clarinet, guitar, ukulele, bass, percussion, piano, jazz improvisation, music theory, music composition and audio mixing/recording. Throughout his career, Alex has had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall as a featured soloist, has won numerous competitions and has had his music performed throughout the United States and Europe.
Daniel Shiller graduated from University of Akron with a degree in Percussion Performance. There he studied classical and world Percussion. While there, he played in the Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, and helped lead the African Ensemble. He also did a study abroad to Ghana West Africa to study Ghanaian Drumming and Dance. He has also studied Brazilian Percussion with Masters in California during California Brazil Camp. He is currently finishing his Masters degree in World Percussion Performance from Oakland University. While, there he has worked as Teaching Assistant for the World Percussion ensemble, World Cultures Course, and Latin Jazz Combo. He has experience as a freelance artist on Steelpan, Congas, and multiple Percussion. He also worked as a Dance Accompanist for many years, studying with musicians from the Mark Morris Dance Company in Brooklyn, NY.
Dance
SMARTS dance teachers work in studios all across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. They dance in a large variety of styles: Jazz, Modern, contemporary, Latin, African, Bollywood, Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Tap.
Sydney Moore is a senior at Youngstown State University studying Dance Management. She is currently a Student Assistant at SMARTS and will be teaching dance classes for the upcoming spring semester. Over the years at Youngstown State, she has participated in Dance Ensemble, showcasing her talents in modern and contemporary dance. This year, she served as the treasurer. Sydney attended high school at Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During her four years of high school, Sydney participated in many musicals as a dancer and while also playing small roles in plays in the performing arts program. Her dance training began at Amie’s Dance Academy in Forest Hills, PA, where she performed her senior solo to Defying Gravity from the Broadway show Wicked.
Dulcinea Ramirez-Abercrombie (Ms. D) is a dedicated teaching artist currently studying Primary Education at Youngstown State University. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC (2022), Dulcinea has a deep passion for the performing arts. She brings a wealth of experience to her work, having been a dancer since preschool and an actor since early high school. Her training in both disciplines allows her to offer a well-rounded, creative approach to teaching students of all ages and abilities.
Margie Rapp
SMARTS Community Teaching: Dance, Liberty High School
Theater
SMARTS theater teachers are prop and costume designers, directors, actors, playwrights, and storytellers.
Cara DeChurch is a singer, actor, and writer who graduated from The Institute for American Musical Theatre in the Spring of 2020. There she learned from working Broadway professionals, and got further feedback from Broadway Stars like Kelli O’Hara and Kate Rockwell. Cara teaches general music, voice, theater, and musical theater for SMARTS.
Maja Kibler is an actor, director, writer, and amateur acrobat with 2 decades of theatre experience both on- and off-stage. Over the past 4 years with SMARTS, they have taught classes on pantomime, Shakespeare, and juggling, as well as comedic writing and set design. When they’re not teaching, you can find Maja rock climbing, reading, or playing with their cat, Michael. Some of their favorite roles include Hamlet, the titular Prince of Denmark and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors.
Creative Writing
SMARTS creative writing teachers choose their own adventures, study heroes and villains, solve mysteries, and more.
Dominic Adams is an aspiring fiction author who is pursuing bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Philosophy at Youngstown State University. He has been writing since before 2014 and is now in the process of publishing his first science fiction novel after two years of working on the project. Creative Writing is Dom's primary field at SMARTS, however, he also has expertise in argumentative courses and the performing arts. He has been employed in several government and political positions and possesses over a decade of experience in the Youngstown theater community.
CONTACT US
SMARTS at Ohio One
25 East Boardman Street, First Floor
Youngstown, OH 44503
330-574-2787 (ARTS)
info@smartsartschool.org