Little Miss Bluebird

I teach kindergarten at Wickliffe Progressive Alternative School, in the Upper Arlington school district in Central Ohio! What a dream job!! I am also an adjunct professor for Ashland University teaching Improvisational Drama for the Classroom and Adding Laughter in Learning.

I strongly believe in building learning experiences through thematic units of study and have the luxury of a teaching position that allows me to do so. Wickliffe Progressive Alternative School is committed to the belief that children learn best through a thematic, integrated approach to learning in which teachers incorporate the district courses of study and the children’s interests to build authentic learning experiences. I have used improvisational drama in my teaching throughout my entire career.

2009 Upper Arlington Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. The Second City Conservatory Improv Actor Award. Creator/Producer/Star of the longest running children's local television program in Central Ohio.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Education and my Master of Arts degrees from The Ohio State University. I am a graduate of The Second City Comedy Improv in Chicago, Illinois. I would fly to Chicago every weekend for classes for 2 1/2 years. I earned quite a few frequent flyer miles. The last three months of my career at The Second City I had to perform on stage every Monday night at 8:00. I was also teaching full time during this entire experience. I would catch a plane immediately after my students left the building every Monday, performed on stage in Chicago, fly home ready to teach on Tuesday morning! It was an experience of a lifetime! I loved every second of it.

I have also been fortunate enough to write, produce and star in my own children’s television program in central Ohio called Crystal Palace. It aired in the Central Ohio area for 11 years. It was a comedy for kids. The Columbus Dispatch newspaper described it as a cross between Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and a Saturday Night Live for kids. That too, was an experience of a lifetime. You may visit my television show web site at www.NinasCrystalPalaceTV.com. I have also posted vignettes of my TV show on YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvQ3aeQsBB8) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nftV2e1elw4) I live in Central Ohio with my wonderful husband, our two kittys and our very talkative Quaker Parrot. I plan on going back into production with a new television program for children. I am currently working on authoring a series of children’s books about a robot. I enjoy traveling and camping in the western Untied States with my husband during our summers. We love to ride ATV’s in the mountains!