Consultants

Meet the Focus 5 Team

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Sean Layne

Sean is the founder of and Senior Consultant for Focus 5, Inc., and author of the book Acting Right: Building a Cooperative, Collaborative, Creative Classroom…

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Melanie Rick

Melanie is a National Board Certified Teacher, certified reading specialist, and co-owner and Senior Consultant for Focus 5, Inc. She designs and leads workshops, in-depth…

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Daniel Barash

Daniel holds a master’s degree in Education from New York University and applies his strong background in education to his art form. Shadow puppetry, with…

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Garrett Brown

Garrett is a national teaching artist who specializes in cartooning, illustration, and sequential art (comic books). He earned a BFA in Studio Art from the…

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Harlan Brownlee

Harlan understands the transformational power that the arts have to improve the quality of life for individuals and the community. He possesses a passion for…

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Jamin Carter

Jamin is an educator, activist, artist, and minister who calls Memphis, TN his home. He holds a BFA in sculpture and painting and a MAT…

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Carrie Chinners

Carrie holds a master’s degree in Arts Integration from Lesley University and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from The College of Charleston, South Carolina….

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Imani Gonzalez

Imani is a professional world/jazz vocalist, National Kennedy Center teaching artist, and children’s author. Her voice is featured on many of the National Geographic Television’s…

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Michelle Holdt

An artist, a mom, a passionate advocate leading for Love with a capital L and Creativity with a capital C, Michelle brings her years of…

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Ryan Hourigan

Ryan Hourigan (2010 Indiana Music Educators Association Outstanding University Music Educator of the Year, 2021 University of Michigan Kendall Award winner, 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award…

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Jessica McHugh

Jessica holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education as well as a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theater Arts from Rutgers University, New Jersey. Jessica…

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Kassie Misiewicz

Kassie is a professional Theatre for Youth director, actor and John F. Kennedy Center National Teaching Artist. She received her Masters of Fine Arts degree…

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Jason Nious

Jason is a performing artist and creative director whose background with high school step teams and NCAA gymnastics launched his life-long love for the arts….

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Angie Russo

Angie Russo holds a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision and bachelor’s degrees in both Art History and Psychology, with teaching credentials in elementary education,…

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Maria Schaedler-Luera

Maria is a Brazilian-born educator and artist who studied with acclaimed director Augusto Boal and has taught classes and workshops that focus on Theatre of…

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Lynne Silverstein

Lynne Silverstein has 50 years’ experience in designing and leading programs in arts education, arts integration, and professional learning for educators and teaching artists. In…

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Emily Smith

Emily is a music educator and arts integration specialist. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory, where she also studied for a…

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Jason Suel

Jason is a teaching artist and professional actor who holds an MA in Theatre and Film from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He is…

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Kay Thomas

Kay is a visual artist who received an M.F.A. in ceramics from Arizona State University and a B.F.A. degree in ceramics from Texas A&M University….

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Sam Tidwell

Sam hails from Greenfield, CA where he embarked on a yearlong walk across America, arriving in New York City on November 1st, 2014. His journey…

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Morgan Vaught

Morgan was an elementary classroom teacher for 14 years in a John F. Kennedy Center CETA (Changing Education Through the Arts) school in the Washington,…

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Paige Whelan

Paige Whelan is a problem solver. She grew up watching her father tinker with half-built computers in the garage. He often pulled her away from…

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