Susan Comer Fisher
Objective: Seeking opportunities to teach and develop arts education curriculum and programs that foster creativity, critical thinking, and self-confidence for all children thru the magic of the arts.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Early Childhood Music Teacher, St. Michael's Day School| Raleigh, NC | December 2018– Pres.
Teaching Artist, Arts Together, NCMA, and Raleigh Little Theatre| Raleigh, NC | June 2016 – Pres.
Drama Teacher, WCPSS- Conn Magnet Elementary School| Raleigh, NC | August 2016- June 2017
Arts Education Teacher Specialist, Arlington Public Schools| Arlington, VA | August 2013- June 2015
Special Education Teacher, ACPS/FPCS| D.C/NOVA |August 2010 – August 2013
Drama Teacher, C.A.R.E Actor | Northern Virginia |July 2012 – August 2013
Teaching Artist, Royal Shakespeare Theater Company/Parks Armory| New York, NY |August 2011
Teaching Assistant, New York University| New York, NY | January 2010 – May 2010
Music Teacher and Choreographer, Music Institute of Chicago| Chicago, IL Sept 2005 – May 2006
EDUCATION
George Mason University, Arlington, VA, Masters in Special Education (M.Ed.)| VA Licensure in Special Education K-12 | May 2012
New York University, New York, N.Y., Masters of Arts in Educational Theater (M.A.) | May 2010
CERTIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
NC Teaching Certification in Theatre Arts Pre K-12, Vocal/Choral Music Pre K-12, and Special Education K-12
Passed Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) May 2011
Passed Praxis II: Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) May 2011
Wilson Reading Level 1 Certified Teacher May 2011
Dance training in modern dance, ballet, jazz, and musical theater
Training in Piano, Conducting, Music Theory, and Aural Skills
Skilled in classical, choral, and musical theater vocal training
Skilled in physical theater, Viewpoints, improvisation, Theater of the Oppressed, playwriting, and directing
Alma Goudes Encouragement Award Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions 2006
Please contact for References
Objective: Seeking opportunities to teach and develop arts education curriculum and programs that foster creativity, critical thinking, and self-confidence for all children thru the magic of the arts.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Early Childhood Music Teacher, St. Michael's Day School| Raleigh, NC | December 2018– Pres.
- Teaching music and movement classes to students of all abilities, ages 18 months to six years old. Planning and implement church music three days and week as well as holiday and graduation performances.
Teaching Artist, Arts Together, NCMA, and Raleigh Little Theatre| Raleigh, NC | June 2016 – Pres.
- Teaching music, theatre, film, and creative drama classes to students of all abilities, ages 18 months to twelve years old
Drama Teacher, WCPSS- Conn Magnet Elementary School| Raleigh, NC | August 2016- June 2017
- Taught focused Drama classes on pantomime, playwriting, musical theater, film, puppetry, technical theatre, Shakespeare, Greek Tragedy, and improvisation to over 600 Pre-K to 5th grade students.
- Designed, differentiate, and implemented drama course curriculum that provided access for all learners.
- Organized and directed four quarterly classroom showcases for 2nd to 5th grades, two Musical theater productions for over 100 students, and two 1st grade storybook performances.
- Planned funding, instruction, and schedule for excursions and field trips that supported Conn Elementary School’s theme of entrepreneurial design
Arts Education Teacher Specialist, Arlington Public Schools| Arlington, VA | August 2013- June 2015
- Worked as an instructional coach and program manager for the Arts Education department in the Department of Instruction with Arlington Public Schools
- Planned and facilitated in person and virtual professional development for Arts Education Staff (music, theater, and visual art) on topics such as creating successful classroom for ALL learners, Gifted and Talented education, and using technology (google, Sibelius, Finale) in the classroom.
- Organized and implemented the APS Honors Instrumental and Vocal Music Program auditions and performances for over 500 students and over 60 teachers.
- Provided in class support to Arts Education teaching staff on best practices for curriculum, classroom management, differentiation, and lesson implementation.
Special Education Teacher, ACPS/FPCS| D.C/NOVA |August 2010 – August 2013
- Taught reading grade level standards and beginning reading skills in the reading resource classroom to fourth to eighth grade students and co-taught 6th grade ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies in the inclusion classroom of 30 students
- Created personalized curriculum to increase student achievement by routine analysis and discussion of interim and assessments to create objective-driven curriculum, unit plans, lessons, resources, and implementation of timely interventions
- Managed a caseload of twelve students in the federal categories of Learning Disability, Visual Impairment, Emotional Disturbances, Speech/language, and Other Heath Impairment to ensure 100% of students are making progress on IEP goals.
Drama Teacher, C.A.R.E Actor | Northern Virginia |July 2012 – August 2013
- Created and implemented theater curriculum around character development and literacy learning standards through story books, improvisation, physical theater, script writing, and performances of student written work
Teaching Artist, Royal Shakespeare Theater Company/Parks Armory| New York, NY |August 2011
- Collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, other teaching artists, and students on the autism spectrum to create performances of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”
- Modified workshop curriculum and structure to meet individual needs of students on the spectrum which resulted in a successful performance of scenes from Shakespeare’s The Tempest
- Assisted with exercises for students on the spectrum that focused on increasing eye contact, spatial awareness, and social skills
Teaching Assistant, New York University| New York, NY | January 2010 – May 2010
- Assisted Dr. Philip Taylor in teaching graduate students Assessment of Student Work in Drama and Dr. Nancy Smithner in teaching undergraduate and graduate students Physical Theater
- Provided students feedback on assignments and individualized instruction through tutoring sessions
- Planned and facilitated class during teacher absence
- Set up Blackboard with course information, syllabus, assignments, and discussion boards.
- Collaborated with New York University to have media and sound available for student performances
- Participated in the teaching artist program that trains artists to work with students on the spectrum by assisting at PS 37 in Staten Island, NY a part of NY Specials Schools District 75
- Collaborated with teachers and artists to create theater lesson plans for students on the autism spectrum
Music Teacher and Choreographer, Music Institute of Chicago| Chicago, IL Sept 2005 – May 2006
- Provided musical direction, choreography, and private voices lessons to students age 6 to 15 years old in classes of up to 25
- Designed, organized, and performed in an outreach class on opera in the Chicago City Public School for the Music Integration Program
EDUCATION
George Mason University, Arlington, VA, Masters in Special Education (M.Ed.)| VA Licensure in Special Education K-12 | May 2012
New York University, New York, N.Y., Masters of Arts in Educational Theater (M.A.) | May 2010
- Studied at the Center for Theater of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Graduate of the Musical Theater and Opera programs
CERTIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
NC Teaching Certification in Theatre Arts Pre K-12, Vocal/Choral Music Pre K-12, and Special Education K-12
Passed Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) May 2011
Passed Praxis II: Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) May 2011
Wilson Reading Level 1 Certified Teacher May 2011
Dance training in modern dance, ballet, jazz, and musical theater
Training in Piano, Conducting, Music Theory, and Aural Skills
Skilled in classical, choral, and musical theater vocal training
Skilled in physical theater, Viewpoints, improvisation, Theater of the Oppressed, playwriting, and directing
Alma Goudes Encouragement Award Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions 2006
Please contact for References