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Wellness and Self Care

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    • Non-member - $139.99
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This learning pathway features professional learning opportunities focused on wellness and self care. Learn simple proven strategies to manage stress. 

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Certificate Recorded On: 08/10/2021

    Take a deep dive into self-care to explore approaches, core beliefs, and tactical strategies that uplift well-being and joy.

    Take a deep dive into self-care as we explore approaches, core beliefs, and tactical strategies that uplift well-being and joy. Join us to open a door (or deepen the path!) to a self-care practice that contributes to continued ease and lessened stress. Many thanks to the generosity of the Maryland State Arts Council for donating this session to theatre educators everywhere.

    Dana Parsons

    Director of Grants and Professional Development

    Maryland State Arts Council

    Dana is a highly experienced performer, director, and arts educator and is currently the Director of Grants and Professional Development at the Maryland State Arts Council. Her career in the arts began as a member of the Resident Acting Company for Clear Space Theatre in 2004. For the past 15 years, she has taught and/or established performing arts classes and programs to students and adults of all ages and levels, specializing in honesty, connectivity, and excellence of craft. She has performed in and/or directed over 100 performance pieces (theatre, vocal, movement) on the east coast as well as abroad, including Puerto Rico, Italy, and England. Dana also teaches professional development as a Roster Teaching Artist for the Maryland State Department of Education’s Fine Arts Office.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Certificate Recorded On: 02/14/2022

    Theatre teachers are now dealing with an incredible amount of stress and trauma that is impacting the community they strive to create in the classroom and on stage. In Unicorn Teachers: Wellness and Stress Management, participants will explore compassion fatigue in the theatre arts classroom and create a personalized plan for Wellness and Stress Management that is sustainable, authentic, and honors the creative inside!

    Theatre teachers are no strangers to stress! However, teachers are now dealing with an incredible amount of challenges, including stress and trauma, that are impacting the community they strive to create in the classroom and on stage. With this onslaught of challenges, the term “self-care” is tossed out haphazardly—often with a one size fits all mentality—and has become a buzzword that is quickly losing its effectiveness.  

    In Unicorn Teachers: Wellness and Stress Management, participants will explore compassion fatigue in the theatre arts classroom and create a personalized plan for Wellness and Stress Management that is sustainable, authentic, and works for them! 

    Ayesis Clay

    Ayesis Clay is a distinguished Theatre educator, multidisciplinary theatre artist, and educational consultant. Recently she served as a Featured Speaker for the National Educational Theatre Association and for SMART Technologies Summer Reboot Conference. With over 19 years in education, she has written and developed curricula for Prince George’s County Public Schools, the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, and many local and regional theatre companies. She has held many school and district leadership positions including Theatre department chairperson for the largest magnet program in the district, chairperson for the Prince George’s County Schools Theatre Advisory Board, and served as Co-Founder and Co-Director of the PGCPS Honor's Theatre Ensemble.  

    Combining her extensive background in theatre and education, Ayesis founded Sculpted Clay Productions, where she uses innovative theatre-infused residencies and professional development workshops to help schools create trauma-sensitive spaces that are focused on social-emotional wellness and creativity for teachers and students.  

    Her original plays Standing on the Edge and Sculpting Clay or How I Became Mother of Unicorns are currently touring and can be booked with accompanying professional development workshops and student residencies.