12 years teaching elementary theatre (public schools) in Texas. (currently to 800+ K-5 students) 10 years teaching special education in Texas. 1 year teaching Early Childhood in London, England. 2 years teaching ESL in Tokyo, Japan. Besides classroom plays, directed several after-school musicals of 50 - 75 K-5 students. Have been awarded many grants. Have taught many teacher workshops at local and state level.
Hands-on... it's Theatre! The more colorful and creative, the better!!!
Leander Independent School District (LISD), Curriculum Committee, 2012. NEH Grant Recipient. Literatures, Religions and Arts of the Himalayan Region, 2011, Link to their site: http://college.holycross.edu/projects/himalayan_cultures/ Website I created for the institute: http://college.holycross.edu/projects/himalayan_cultures/2011_plans/ddemerau/index.htm NEH Grant Recipient. Enacting Shakespeare in Delaware and Stratford-Upon- Avon, 2009, http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html Fulbright Grant Recipient, Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (JFMF), October 2008, two weeks in Tokyo and one week in the countryside visiting schools, etc. Elementary Interest Chair, Board Member, 2008 - 2011, Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA), http://www.tetatx.com/ Teaching Shakespeare Institute, Folger Library, June 22-27 2008, Nebraska. President's Bronze Star Volunteer Award, 2007, from local community. K-8 Theatre Teacher of the Year, 2006, Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA), http://www.tetatx.com/ Austin Jr. League Teacher Grants, 2005 & 2006, one to teach science (habitats) using puppets (second grade) and enact fractured fairy tales written by students (fourth grade). Schools to Career Grant Recipient, Austin Musical Theatre Academy, Austin, TX, 2002. Texas Educational Theatre Association, Inc. (TETA), member since 2001, also on K-12 Board http://www.tetatx.com/
Seattle Pacific University, graduate program in Japanese Studies, 4.0, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. BA in Theatre, Elementary and Special Education. Phi Beta Kappa, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. International People's College, Elsinore, Denmark. International Studies
I grew up in small towns in Michigan; now live in Austin, TX. Most of my teaching has been in five school districts, in ten schools in the Austin area. I teach at least some Shakespeare to ALL my students.
PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
English Language Arts, Specialty, Arts & Music, Drama, Gifted and Talented, Literature, Library Skills, Poetry