The diverse skills of the ARTS ALIVE! family constitutes a mosaic that truly enhances the educational environment. We have backgrounds in theatre arts, creative drama, dance, music, visual arts, art history, psychology, literature, communications, Spanish, early childhood and elementary education. Furthermore, ARTS ALIVE! educates its instructors through an extensive apprenticeship program, formal classroom training, and playshops.
Tina Sabuco
Tina Sabuco, Artistic Director and creator of ARTS ALIVE! Inc., holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Drama and Children’s Theatre from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Northern Michigan University. She began dancing at age 3 in her hometown of Escanaba, Michigan and has never stopped – with 2012 marking her 37th year of teaching! Since 1994, Tina has combined her drama and dance backgrounds with music and visual art to offer an integrated arts program for students of all ages and abilities through ARTS ALIVE! Inc. Her teaching methodologies combined with her extensive and varied teaching experiences garner her frequent assignments training other teachers, as well as invitations to keynote early childhood education conferences.
During the fall of 2001, Tina served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Clear Lake. There, Junior and Senior Education Majors had the opportunity to benefit from Tina’s extensive experience in the field through taking her course, “Arts and the Child.” Tina lives in Garden Oaks with her partner of 21 years, Shellye Arnold, and their family – Elvis and Seymour – 2 lively longhaired dachshund brothers, Azalea – their ever expanding “tuxedo” cat and Clover – their playful cat with a feline sense of humor!
Tina delights in teaching “children” from 1 to 101 and looks forward to continuing to live out her personal motto - - “You don’t stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing!”
E-mail Tina!
During the fall of 2001, Tina served as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Clear Lake. There, Junior and Senior Education Majors had the opportunity to benefit from Tina’s extensive experience in the field through taking her course, “Arts and the Child.” Tina lives in Garden Oaks with her partner of 21 years, Shellye Arnold, and their family – Elvis and Seymour – 2 lively longhaired dachshund brothers, Azalea – their ever expanding “tuxedo” cat and Clover – their playful cat with a feline sense of humor!
Tina delights in teaching “children” from 1 to 101 and looks forward to continuing to live out her personal motto - - “You don’t stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing!”
E-mail Tina!
Wendy Haardt
Wendy Haardt joined ARTS ALIVE! as its very first employee in 1996! In 2008, Wendy became our Director of Operations. Wendy's experience, creativity, colorful personality, and knowledge of Spanish make her a valued member of our ARTS ALIVE! family.
Wendy hails from Eustis, Nebraska and holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Houston as well as a Teaching Certificate from the Houston Independent School District. She has specialized in preschool teaching in the Houston area since 1993 when she taught in a bi-lingual pre-kindergarten program with HISD.
In her spare time, Wendy loves to play at home and all over Houston with her daughter, Serenity, and son, Ronin. "My favorite part of this job is the many hugs I get daily while teaching ARTS ALIVE! and children treating me like a rockstar as I come in to teach class."
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Wendy hails from Eustis, Nebraska and holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Houston as well as a Teaching Certificate from the Houston Independent School District. She has specialized in preschool teaching in the Houston area since 1993 when she taught in a bi-lingual pre-kindergarten program with HISD.
In her spare time, Wendy loves to play at home and all over Houston with her daughter, Serenity, and son, Ronin. "My favorite part of this job is the many hugs I get daily while teaching ARTS ALIVE! and children treating me like a rockstar as I come in to teach class."
E-mail Wendy!
Anissa Dwiggins
Anissa Dwiggins joined ARTS ALIVE! in December 1998. In December of 2008, for her 10th Amazing Anniversary, Anissa was promoted to Executive Director. Now, in addition to teaching her wonderful classes, she is enjoying an even bigger role in the ARTS ALIVE! family!
Anissa has a BA from the University of Houston in Studio Arts, focusing on a wide range of visual arts, including ceramics, painting, drawing, and sculpture. Anissa also earned an all-level teaching certificate from U of H, where she received hands-on training for children of all ages. Over the past 12 years, Anissa has taught thousands of children from newborns to 12 year-olds throughout Houston and surrounding areas. Since joining ARTS ALIVE!, Anissa’s family has grown! She married her wonderful husband, Julio, in April 2002. They now have 2 beautiful children - Marley Sky, born in January 2005 and Stephen-Anthony in April 2008. She also loves traveling, especially to Hawaii and Spain to visit relatives. Her love of education, passion for life, varied interests and desire to help others makes working with children, young and old, truly enjoyable.
“ARTS ALIVE! has brought so much joy to my life. The reward of sharing this with others is priceless.”
E-mail Anissa!
Anissa has a BA from the University of Houston in Studio Arts, focusing on a wide range of visual arts, including ceramics, painting, drawing, and sculpture. Anissa also earned an all-level teaching certificate from U of H, where she received hands-on training for children of all ages. Over the past 12 years, Anissa has taught thousands of children from newborns to 12 year-olds throughout Houston and surrounding areas. Since joining ARTS ALIVE!, Anissa’s family has grown! She married her wonderful husband, Julio, in April 2002. They now have 2 beautiful children - Marley Sky, born in January 2005 and Stephen-Anthony in April 2008. She also loves traveling, especially to Hawaii and Spain to visit relatives. Her love of education, passion for life, varied interests and desire to help others makes working with children, young and old, truly enjoyable.
“ARTS ALIVE! has brought so much joy to my life. The reward of sharing this with others is priceless.”
E-mail Anissa!
Janet Snider
Janet Snider joined ARTS ALIVE! in 1997 and we have been counting our blessings ever since. Originally from Liberty, TX, Janet currently resides in Alvin with her husband, Gene, and brings with her more than 25 years of experience as a teacher and nanny. In her more than eleven years of spreading ARTS ALIVE! magic, Janet has led an amazing 400 parties! Back by popular demand, Janet has returned from her party hiatus. We are thrilled to have our Party Queen back in action!
In addition to creating Country Campout and Playful Picnic, 2 of our 44 themes, Janet also created our Wonderful Wizards party, based on the popular Harry Potter series. Janet's energy inspires her students, as well as our other Edutainers. Parents and children love her personal approach and all the extra touches she brings to every playshop and class. In addition to dedicating her time to ARTS ALIVE!, Janet enjoys riding her recumbent "zebra" trike, being outdoors, spending time with her family and friends, scrap booking, reading, and collecting miniatures.
"Seeing children's imaginations come alive and being inspired by their play makes me feel very blessed and proud to be a part of the ARTS ALIVE! family."
E-mail Janet!
In addition to creating Country Campout and Playful Picnic, 2 of our 44 themes, Janet also created our Wonderful Wizards party, based on the popular Harry Potter series. Janet's energy inspires her students, as well as our other Edutainers. Parents and children love her personal approach and all the extra touches she brings to every playshop and class. In addition to dedicating her time to ARTS ALIVE!, Janet enjoys riding her recumbent "zebra" trike, being outdoors, spending time with her family and friends, scrap booking, reading, and collecting miniatures.
"Seeing children's imaginations come alive and being inspired by their play makes me feel very blessed and proud to be a part of the ARTS ALIVE! family."
E-mail Janet!
Sue Shefman
Sue Shefman has delighted ARTS ALIVE! students, parents, and even her fellow teachers with her wild thematic costumes and fabulous attention-to-detail teaching style since March 1999.
Her favorite character is "Hippiclown" - her hippo-themed clown creation. Sue is an avid hippo lover whose house holds over 2000 hippopotami. She is a member of Hippolotofus, an online hippo chat group with over 900 members worldwide that holds a convention in the United States every year. Sue's favorite hippo used to be Harmony the purple hippo-pautomobile. Harmony has been retired after 12 years of fun, so Sue's newest favorite hippopotamus is Cheerio, the cheerful red auto-potamus with baby roof-riders Shalom and Aloha - - whose names mean "Hello. Goodbye, and Peace." Sue has participated in the Art Car Parade since 2000, however she feels as if she is in a parade every day since Cheerio is the only car that Sue drives!
Because of her interest in the unusual, Sue is a member of the Eye-Opener Committee for the Orange Show for Visionary Art, scouting out unique and different homes and places of business to visit on bus tours. Sue has a BA in Spanish from Sophie Newcomb College and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Denver. Her boundless enthusiasm for bubbles has bubbled over into all aspects of her life, from blowing them in every ARTS ALIVE! class to having a small bottle available to anyone who walks in her front door.
"Blowing bubbles is bodacious beyond belief!"
E-mail Sue!
Her favorite character is "Hippiclown" - her hippo-themed clown creation. Sue is an avid hippo lover whose house holds over 2000 hippopotami. She is a member of Hippolotofus, an online hippo chat group with over 900 members worldwide that holds a convention in the United States every year. Sue's favorite hippo used to be Harmony the purple hippo-pautomobile. Harmony has been retired after 12 years of fun, so Sue's newest favorite hippopotamus is Cheerio, the cheerful red auto-potamus with baby roof-riders Shalom and Aloha - - whose names mean "Hello. Goodbye, and Peace." Sue has participated in the Art Car Parade since 2000, however she feels as if she is in a parade every day since Cheerio is the only car that Sue drives!
Because of her interest in the unusual, Sue is a member of the Eye-Opener Committee for the Orange Show for Visionary Art, scouting out unique and different homes and places of business to visit on bus tours. Sue has a BA in Spanish from Sophie Newcomb College and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Denver. Her boundless enthusiasm for bubbles has bubbled over into all aspects of her life, from blowing them in every ARTS ALIVE! class to having a small bottle available to anyone who walks in her front door.
"Blowing bubbles is bodacious beyond belief!"
E-mail Sue!
Samhita Sunya
Samhita Sunya, aka Sam, joined ARTS ALIVE! in May 2007. She was born in Wisconsin, and she is, to this day, a committed Packers' fan, aka Cheesehead! Her "cheeseheadedness" aside, Samhita is a sweet 16-year-long resident of Sugar Land - all puns intended!
In 2003, she left for Texas A&M University, and she returned from College Station in May with a B.A. in English Literature. In the fall of 2007, Samhita entered the PhD program at Rice University, where she will continue her career as a lifelong student. After working with all sorts of kids - in India, at Bryan High School and at the Texas A&M University Writing Center - Samhita decided that ARTS ALIVE! would give her a chance to finally work with kids in her own neighborhood.
"If I ever become a nutty professor, I want to be the fun, positive, energetic kind of nutty, and not the dry, serious, shriveled-prune sort of nutty. ARTS ALIVE! is basically my anti-shrivel cream!"
E-mail Samhita!
In 2003, she left for Texas A&M University, and she returned from College Station in May with a B.A. in English Literature. In the fall of 2007, Samhita entered the PhD program at Rice University, where she will continue her career as a lifelong student. After working with all sorts of kids - in India, at Bryan High School and at the Texas A&M University Writing Center - Samhita decided that ARTS ALIVE! would give her a chance to finally work with kids in her own neighborhood.
"If I ever become a nutty professor, I want to be the fun, positive, energetic kind of nutty, and not the dry, serious, shriveled-prune sort of nutty. ARTS ALIVE! is basically my anti-shrivel cream!"
E-mail Samhita!
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Jenny Wilkerson
Jenny Wilkerson joined ARTS ALIVE! in January 2011. Jenny is a true Texan - born and raised! She specialized in Child Development at College of the Mainland in Texas City. While in college, Jenny worked as a preschool teacher and a nanny. She relocated from Galveston County to Houston in 2008. After taking a different road for seven years in the field of Industrial Distribution, she returned to her FIRST love and began teaching at Three R's Plus Montessori School in The Heights. It was there that Jenny and ARTS ALIVE! discovered each other! Jenny was able to experience the ARTS ALIVE! program every week and absolutely loved playing and learning alongside her students. She thought it was magical and after a while she knew she wanted to be a bigger part of ARTS ALIVE! That’s when she came knocking on our door!
Jenny lives with her husband, Bryan, and their two furry cat children, Rayne and Bailey. She says that if she had lots of money, lots of time and a huge home, she would rescue as many animals as possible! In addition to her love for animals, Jenny's other interests include theatre, concerts, sports, camping, shopping, bad reality TV shows, and spending time with friends and family.
"Every time I teach a class I feel like a kid again!"
E-mail Jennifer!
Jenny lives with her husband, Bryan, and their two furry cat children, Rayne and Bailey. She says that if she had lots of money, lots of time and a huge home, she would rescue as many animals as possible! In addition to her love for animals, Jenny's other interests include theatre, concerts, sports, camping, shopping, bad reality TV shows, and spending time with friends and family.
"Every time I teach a class I feel like a kid again!"
E-mail Jennifer!
Stacey Hall
Stacey Hall is thrilled that she found a home with ARTS ALIVE! in July 2011 and looks forward to all the many adventures that await her. Stacey is a native Houstonian and a devoted Astros fan - - no matter what.
She studied Early Childhood Development and Dance at Houston Community College and received her Texas Day Care Director Certification in 2000. Stacey has worked with children for over 20 years beginning first with her years of Girl Scouting as a girl member and adult volunteer. Her favorite memories are of teaching songs and games to girls at day camp. She has worked for many years in the childcare field as both a teacher and administrator and has also enjoyed teaching dance and gymnastics. Stacey lives with her husband, Shea, and daughter, Callan, along with their four-legged kids – Shiner the dog, and Mary & Jack, the cats. When she isn’t playing outside with Callan, Stacey's other interests include the performing arts, reading, writing poetry, camping, karaoke, grassroots activism, and creating customized DVDs and digital scrapbooks for Hallway Gifts, her home-based business.
"You know you have an awesome job when you spend most of your time dancing around in silly hats!”
She studied Early Childhood Development and Dance at Houston Community College and received her Texas Day Care Director Certification in 2000. Stacey has worked with children for over 20 years beginning first with her years of Girl Scouting as a girl member and adult volunteer. Her favorite memories are of teaching songs and games to girls at day camp. She has worked for many years in the childcare field as both a teacher and administrator and has also enjoyed teaching dance and gymnastics. Stacey lives with her husband, Shea, and daughter, Callan, along with their four-legged kids – Shiner the dog, and Mary & Jack, the cats. When she isn’t playing outside with Callan, Stacey's other interests include the performing arts, reading, writing poetry, camping, karaoke, grassroots activism, and creating customized DVDs and digital scrapbooks for Hallway Gifts, her home-based business.
"You know you have an awesome job when you spend most of your time dancing around in silly hats!”
Stephanie Jones
Stephanie Jones relocated to Houston by way of Arkansas in July 2010 and was searching for a place that made her feel at home. She has now found it with ARTS ALIVE!
Stephanie graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Journalism in 2007 and is currently studying both print and web design with Sessions School of Professional Design. Whenever an opportunity presents itself, she does freelance design work and loves to create holiday cards and other custom print goods. In addition to graphic design, Stephanie loves music, theatre, comedies, bad television, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Stephanie was born in Missouri, but considers Arkansas home and is a devoted Razorback fan. Though she misses Arkansas desperately, she is intent on discovering all that Houston has to offer. She especially enjoys seeing all of her favorite bands who come through, which is something that did not happen often in Fayetteville.
“I feel like I have found my Houston family at ARTS ALIVE! Everyone is so loving and accepting. It’s as if I have known everyone for years.”
E-mail Stephanie!
Stephanie graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Journalism in 2007 and is currently studying both print and web design with Sessions School of Professional Design. Whenever an opportunity presents itself, she does freelance design work and loves to create holiday cards and other custom print goods. In addition to graphic design, Stephanie loves music, theatre, comedies, bad television, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Stephanie was born in Missouri, but considers Arkansas home and is a devoted Razorback fan. Though she misses Arkansas desperately, she is intent on discovering all that Houston has to offer. She especially enjoys seeing all of her favorite bands who come through, which is something that did not happen often in Fayetteville.
“I feel like I have found my Houston family at ARTS ALIVE! Everyone is so loving and accepting. It’s as if I have known everyone for years.”
E-mail Stephanie!
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