Michael Cain (PM Players Co-Coordinator)is an author, artist, mathematician, and an award winning educator with 26 years of experience. He brings a dynamic approach to art and education that is engaging and inspiring.
Renie Fischer (Co-Motion Program Coordinator)is a free lance musician and private instructor of piano and voice with a B.A. Degree in Music ED. from Mercyhurst College and a C.DA. in early childhood. She is also Music Director for French Creek Communtiy Theatre.
Richard Freysinger (Players Vocal Music Instructor and Apprentice Co-Coordinator) holds a BA in Math and Music Education from the University of Michigan and a MM in Music education from Duquesne University. Richard currently teaches algebra 1, geometry, trigonometry and calculus at Linesville High School. He performs in various ensembles in NW Pennsylvania.
Debbie Gifford (Pre-Kindergarten Program Coordinator) is the Program Coordinator at PENNCREST Thurston House. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Preschool and Family and Consumer Sciences. Debbie and Pete initiated the Pre-Kindergarten program and have coordinated it through its 15 years.
Janace Gifford (Pre-Kindergarten Movement Co-Coordinator) is a sophomore at Baldwin-Wallace College where she is pursuing a major in Neusoscience and Psychology.
Pete Gifford (Pre-Kindergarten Program Co-Coordinator) is the Systems Manager in Administrative Computing Services at Allegheny College. He plays the guitar and piano and enjoys reading and writing local history.
Jan Hyatt (Landscapes Program Coordinator): MFA, Ed.D. is a recipient of the Ohio Governor's Award for Arts Education and the Julian Ross Prize for Excellence in Teaching from Allegheny College where she conceived and co-ordinated the Dance Studies Program from 1982-2004.
John Hyatt (Players Co-Coordinator, Landscapes Original Music CD Producer) is a social studies teacher in the Crawford Central School District. John also teaches guitar and performs throughout Northwest Pennsylvania and in 2005 was named to Who's Who in American Teachers.
Lori Lawrence (Pre-Kindergarten Literature and Writing Coordinator) teaches at West End Elementary School in the Autistic Support Classroom. She enjoys swimming, cooking, and reading. This will be her 9th year with the Creating Landscapes Pre-K program.
Shari Karn Mastalski (Apprentice Dance) MS3 (Master of Science in Sustainable Systems, Slippery Rock University) practices sustainable systems, landscape design, creative dance and other active arts for life. Shari Dances on Water by telling stories through words and movement. She offers an innovative approach to engage everyone in a Movement Movement by setting their Dreams in Motion to transform communities, environments and economies.
Bob Shields (Players and Apprentice Math/Science Instructor) BA Mathematics, Teacher Cert, & M.A. concentration in ceramics from Edinboro University. He works as an Instructional Math Coach at the Intermediate Unit in Edinboro and continues to work in clay.
Betsy Sumerfield (AM Players Co-Coordinator)graduated with a B. A. in Communication Arts/Theatre from Allegheny College. She has a Masters Degree for Theatre and Dance from American University in Washington DC. Betsy teaches dance at Allegheny College.
Brenna Thummler (Creating Landscapes Book Editor & Photographer)is a 14 year veteran of the Creating Landscapes Program, having entered the Pre-K Program in 1998. She is currently pursuing a degree in illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design.
Brian Thummler (Novice, Players, and Apprentice Art Instructor, and Creating Landscapes Website Designer and Manager) BFA in drawing, BA in Psychology from Edinboro University of PA. He teaches in the Allegheny College Middle Schools Arts Immersion and the Senior High School Gifted and Self-Identified Talented Programs.
Eleanor Weisman (Allegheny Student Intern Coordinator) is the director of the Allegheny College Dance and Movement Studies Program. Eleanor has a Ph.D. in Art Education from Ohio State University, A Master of Arts of Liberal Studies in Movement from Wesleyan University, and a BFA in Liberal Dance-Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She is a Certified Movement Analyst and has worked with students of all ages in dance and movement for more than thirty years.
Dan Winston(Novice Program Instructor) has a BS in Psychology from Allegheny College and a Masters in the Art of Teaching for Elementary Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Dan, who has been a part of the Creating Landscapes summer program since 2000, is now a teacher at the Creating Landscapes Learning Center.
Dana Hunter Yeager (Novice Program Coordinator) M.Ed, is the Educational Director and a teacher at The Creating Landscapes Learning Center. She founded the Novice program 22 years ago.
Nate Youngblood (French and Afro-Caribbean Language and Culture Instructor) has a B. A. in French from Allegheny College and two Certificates of the French Language from the Sorbonne, Paris, France. Nathan is a French teacher at Saegertown and Maplewood High Schools in the PENNCREST School District.
Lora Zill (Players and Apprentice Writing Instructor) MA, Gannon University, Allegheny '78 is a Teaching Artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and an adjunct instructor at Gannon. She teaches creative writing in Allegheny's programs for gifted and talented middle and senior high school students.