2023 MC3 Roster
KEEDRA BROWN - DANCE
Keedra Brown has taught all ages, levels and forms of dance. She received her undergraduate degree in Dance Performance and Psychology from Towson University, and her Masters of Education in Administration and Supervision from Loyola College. As a dance educator with the Howard County Public School System she has developed curriculum, conducted workshops, and coordinated and produced various performances. For the past seventeen years she has also held the position of Instructional Team Leader of Fine Arts at Reservoir High School. Exploring the many possibilities with Arts Integration she has taught several workshops incorporating dance into the classroom.
KIMBERLY BROWN - MC3 DIRECTOR AND VISUAL ARTS
Kimberly Brown has 20+ years experience in Arts Education. This California native earned her BA from UC Davis in Studio Arts and her Masters from Pace University in New York, before moving to Maryland to continue her journey in Arts Education. She has taught and learned from a variety of people and looks for new ways to advocate and increase knowledge through the arts. Currently she teaches Fine Arts for Elementary school and is the Director for the MC3 program.
DANA CARR - THEATRE
Dana Carr is currently the Executive Director of Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, a non profit organization whose mission is to empower youth through the arts, academics, and social development. She has served as an administrator, curriculum writer, mentor, teacher and instructional coach, giving her a diverse background of experiences to share. Dana holds her master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland with certifications in arts integration, teaching artistry and organizational development. She is passionate about ensuring that all students have equitable access to a quality education that is inclusive of the arts.
LEAYNE C. DEMPSEY - THEATRE
Leayne C. Dempsey is an international director, actor, acting coach and master teacher. She has used her theatre major in a variety of fields, including education, mental health, regional theatre, independent film, and arts administration. Leayne was an IB Theatre and English teacher for seven years. She is a proud Equity Membership Candidate with the Actors Equity Association. Leayne is CEO of the educational consulting company Theatre Major, LLC (@wearetheatremajor), that serves students who are pursuing degrees in theatre and/or musical theatre. Leayne will be teaching Arts Integration in the Elementary Classroom as an Adjunct Faculty member at the School of Educations's Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leaderships, at the University of Maryland, College Park.
JAMES DORSEY - MUSIC
James Dorsey is an arts educator in Prince George’s County Public Schools. He responds primarily through vocal performance, songwriting, dance, and collaborative arts with children.
Dorsey supports younger students to create music and other arts pieces that reflect artistic growth and empathy. He engages adults in personal reflection around big ideas, and helps them apply this to their personal growth and in learning spaces. He has most recently collaborated with Maryland Centers for Creative Classrooms and the City of Bowie Museums.
Dorsey earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music and education (UMBC, Loyola University Maryland), and National Board Certification (Music).
Tavish Forsyth - Theatre
Tavish Forsyth (he/them) is a queer improviser and educator with Celtic roots. He was born on Penacook Land in Lowell, Massachusetts under a Virgo sun (and moon) with Pisces rising. Since 2011 he has lived in Baltimore, on the ancestral land of the Piscataway people, where he became the founder of Bird City Improv and a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University. Tavish is a trained actor with two degrees in theatre. He is versed in multiple styles of improvisation, embodied practice, and comedic theory. Centering healing, queerness, and connection in his work, Tavish empowers individuals to listen, adapt, and respond. His hope is to co-create theatre that is joyful, patient, and honest.
Josanne Francis - Music
Born and raised in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Josanne Francis is an internationally known steelpan performer and music educator. She has under her belt, a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and a Master of Music performance degree. With hands that seem to move with a 'wand-like' touch, Josanne's music is not devoid of power when needed. Her music blends together and draws influences from traditional Calypso music, Jazz, Indian, Funk, Rock and Classical music- a unique mix which is not typical for the instrument. Josanne has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and has appeared as a guest artist and clinician at festivals and universities across the United States, including the San Juan Conservatory of Music, San Juan Puerto Rico; the Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA; and the Caramoor Jazz Festival, NY. Josanne was one of 6 Artists in Residence at Strathmore for the 2017-2018 season and has presented at Arts Education and STEAM conferences. She currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, Inc. and runs her very own educational steelpan program called Steel on Wheels which has had residencies in Maryland, Washington DC, and New York.
Kelli Johnson - Arts Integration
Kelli Johnson has over 15 years of experience as an educator for Anne Arundel County Public Schools. She has served the public-school system as a classroom teacher for both primary and intermediate grade levels. Currently she serves as the Arts and Humanities teacher where students in grades K-5 are encouraged to be creatively expressive through project-based learning. As an educator she continues to advocate for the integration of arts-based teaching. She has helped to support arts integration initiatives by leading professional development sessions for educators. She has collaborated with curriculum writers at local and state levels. She is a proud Alum of Morgan State University where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. In 2016 she was honored to represent her school as the recipient of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Educational Excellence Award. She stands firm on the proverb, “Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
LILLIAN PAILEN - LEADERSHIP
Dr. Lillian Pailen has served the arts education field as a teacher and administrator in public school and collegiate settings. She has also served as a specialist with the Maryland State Department of Education Fine Arts Office and draws upon these experiences as a consultant for statewide curriculum/assessment projects. She holds a B.A. degree in music education from Howard University, M.A. degree from Columbia University Teachers College, and doctorate in community college education from George Mason University.
LACEY SHEPPARD - DANCE
Lacey Sheppard is the Arts Integration Teachers Specialist for Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Previously, she was the dance educator and performing and visual arts department chair at Brooklyn Park Middle School. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance with K-12 Certification, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Arts Integration, and a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts Infusion from Towson University. Lacey serves as the K-12 Administration board member for the Maryland Dance Educators Association (MDEA). Lacey is grateful for her ever growing career in the arts, and is excited to continue working with fellow arts educators and classroom teachers with MC3!
strikeWare - Media Arts
strikeWare is a Baltimore-based art collective formed to create action-oriented experiences. Our recent work aims to uplift and amplify stories critical to our American history, often using new technologies to emphasize the nowness of that history. strikeWare members are Mollye Bendell, Christopher Kojzar and Jeffrey L. Gangwisch. Together, we work and play with virtual and augmented realities, time-based media, customized hardware, digital fabrication, and interactive media.
CARIEN QUIROGA - VISUAL ART
Carien Quiroga, an award-winning multimedia visual artist and educator uses her artmaking and teaching practices to engage with creative both communities locally and internationally. Social Justice, mindfulness and collaboration is at the core of her artistic work. Her teaching includes intergenerational art programs, professional development for educators, mural-making residencies and workshops with incarcerated youth and adults, including those with mental illness. She holds a BA in Criminology and Psychology from University of Pretoria, BA in Fine Art from University of South Africa and is currently pursuing a Masters in Visual Art focusing on Artmaking practices in Correctional Facilities. www.carienquiroga.com