Teacher Biographies
Late Spring, Summer and Summer Camps #2008
Jane Birdsong spent most of her working career as a French teacher and radio copywriter & producer. She has acted and directed at the Old Brick Playhouse and was a founding member of the all-women band, “The Elktones,” (2001 cd Got What It Takes). Her BA degree is in speech & theatre; communications and French from Indiana University, with a Master's in Alternative Education.
Nanci Bross-Fregonara has worked with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources as designer writer, and assistant editor of their West Virginia Wildlife magazine. In that capacity she created many of the Kids Exploration pages and has lead activities in the public schools related to natural science. She serves as a substitute teacher at the Elkins Montessori Center and is avid promoter of the “Leave No Child Inside” philosophy-- making sure our children learn more about the world around them.
Kathryn Gillispie is an accomplished artist with over 20 years teaching expetience. Her work is shown and sold in galleries throughout the region. She earned a degree in art education from Glenville State College, and holds a Master's Degree in art from WVU.
Leslie Henderson has been making baskets for over 20 years. She sells and teaches a variety of fiber arts, including fabric weaving and crocheting as well as reed and bark basketry, throughout the region. She holds a Master's degree in Forestry. Her work can be seen locally at Artists at Work in downtown Elkins. She is also a member of the
Mountain Weaver's Guild.
Virginia Hicks is a full-time professional art teacher with Upshur County Schools, a position she aquired in March 2008. Prior to this Hicks was an instructor with the Artsbank program for seven years and has taught at most Randolph County elementary schools.She also taught art at WVWC for six years and has been an instructor of children's workshops, teacher workshops and summer camps at RCCAC for the past several years. She originates from Manchester, England where she earned a Bachelors degree in Textile Design and a Masters degree in Education.She now resides in Buckhannon with her husband, Jon, and their three children.
Joan Kefover is an accomplished potter and sculptor with more than thirty years of experience as a practicing artist and teacher. She holds a BFA from the Maryland institute of Art as well as advanced studies at San Diego college.
Beth King holds degrees in Journalism, Photography and Art Education from the University of Georgia; is an adjunct lecturer in art education at D&E College as well as the Executive Director of RCCAC. She has 18 years of teaching experience in elementary and secondary schools.
Kadra Kramer, a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, has been teaching art classes for over three years and holds a BA in Studio Art. She is owner of The Blue Door Studio in Elkins. Kadra specializes in monotype printmaking and currently has work on display at Artists at Work in downtown Elkins.
Brad Martin has taught Spanish for 29 years at Elkins High School and also German for the past 14 years after having lived and studied in Venezuela, Mexico, and Spain as a student. His teaching experience ranges from pre-school to college and also includes being a counselor at high school Spanish camps. He has led 23 tours and exchanges to various countries over the years. He prefers a high-energy, active immersion style of teaching.
Bill McWhorter is a practicing artist in Elkins, WV. He graduated from Humboldt State University, California, in 1975, and his work was soon accepted into galleries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver. Using the landscape as his dominant theme, Bill’s work is both representational and romantic. “I’ve always believed that drawing from nature is instructive for good composition and basic design.”
Luanna Moore has been playing the mountain dulcimer since 1969 and the hammered dulcimer since 1996. A Physical Education teacher at George Ward Elementary School, she teaches private lessons in addition to working with school students at George Ward. She does outreach demonstationfor 4H groups and nursing / assisted living homes.
Susan Pell has been creating pottery for over 20 years. She spent seven years as an elementary and secondary teacher. Susan has been a pottery teacher at RCCAC since 2004 and her work is on exhibit at the Primitive Blessing Gift Shop in the American Mountain Theater.
Maggi Rhudy has degrees in Art and German literature as well as teacher certification. Freelance artist Rhudy is also an experienced teacher. She has taught art and German to students ages 5 to 75. She retired from teaching at Elkins High School and now enjoys pursuing the many artistic techniques she has taught.
Alison Siewny holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art Education from Ohio University. She has been teaching art to children in preschool through middle school in private, public and art center settings for over 10 years. She has had students contests under her direction have been finalists and received honorable mentions in national art competitions.
Richard Smith is an experienced instructor of blues music, guitar, voice and piano. Richard was co-founder of Creative Links in Elkins, and performed throughout the region with Voices From the Earth, and as an instructor for the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College.
Heidi Thompson is an accomplished artist and teacher with a working studio in Buckhannon. She is a regular RCCAC teacher as well as an ArtsBank artist in the Randolph County Schools. Thompson is a certified teacher with a degree in art education from WVU.
Valerie Voge holds a B.S. in Parks and Recreation Administration, has taught preschool related programs for 10 years and recently obtained her Kindermusik certification.
Kenneth D. Waddell is now retired from the field of education and currently is an adjunct professor at Alderson Broaddus College. A member of the Seneca Trails Artists’ Guild and a juried member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society, he has received numerous awards for his oils and watercolors. His paintings can be viewed at Mountain Treasures in Philippi.
Kate Weber has a BA in Art from The College of New Rochelle, NY where she concentrated in ceramics and photo-silk screen. For the past 15 years she had her own pottery studio and has exhibited her work in galleries in Arizona and West Virginia.