Late Spring and Summer 2009 Teachers:
Kadra Casseday, 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.
Derrick Helzer Derrick Helzer's life long love and passion for foods comes from his Mom. He refined his technical and classical skills while working at the Greenbrier as a chef. Now an Elementary Education major at Davis and Elkins College, he continues to foster his love of foods through his catering business and Fabulous Fruits business. Helzer lives in Elkins with his wife Holly and their three children.
Nanci Bross-Fregonara is the Marketing and Communications Manager at the Randolph County Community Arts Center. Previously she worked with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources as designer writer, and assistant editor of their West Virginia Wildlife magazine. She is avid promoter of the “Leave No Child Inside” philosophy-- making sure our children learn more about the world around them.
Virginia Hicks is a full-time professional art teacher with Upshur County Schools. Prior to this Hicks was an instructor with the Arts Bank 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.
Guitarist Billy Kaiser attended the Musicians Institute (MI) in Hollywood, CA. He has been teaching guitar privately and playing in the region for three year. Kaiser is a member of the Elkins based Appalachian Jazz project.
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.
Luanna Moore 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 demonstration for 4H groups and nursing / assisted living homes.
Kylie Proudfoot-Payne graduated from Davis and Elkins College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology / Human Services and Art Education. Kylie is a practicing artist who specializes in depicting color in nature through art.
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.
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 12 years and is currently the art teacher at Tygarts Valley Middle and High School. She has had students contests under her direction have been finalists and received honorable mentions in national art competitions.
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.
Ken Waddell 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.
Kevin Woody Woodcock Kevin “Woody” Woodcock creates his visual artworks in his home studio and works as a commercial silkscreen printer and sign maker at The Art Medium Company. He received his BFA in Printmaking at West Virginia University in 1986 and his MFA in Printmaking at Louisiana State University in 1989.
Seth Young is a professional musician and music educator with a passion for authentic learning through performance. He currently teaches choir and general music at Elkins Middle School and is an acting coach for the Old Brick Playhouse apprentice program. You can see him perform in several bands about town, most notably with Blackwater Mojo, The Appalachian Jazz Project, and The GinSangers.