Laurie Sales
Groton,MA
Summary
Passionate Global and Performing Arts Educator with 25 years teaching and educational leadership experience. Committed to social justice, inclusive curriculum design and inspiring student voice and self-expression. Consistently recognized for professional theatrical production values. Expertise in reaching diverse community needs with extensive knowledge of various approaches to SEL, global and arts education. Adept at fostering belonging within an inclusive community while working to decolonize curriculum and maintain a global perspective on arts education.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Theatre Program
Groton School
Boulder, CO
01.2012 - Current
- Recruited, hired, and supervised faculty members within the department.
- Provided leadership in curriculum development for existing courses and new programs.
- Collaborated with other departments on interdisciplinary projects.
- Served as a liaison between the department and external agencies or organizations.
- Managed departmental budgeting processes including forecasting, planning, tracking expenses.
- Reviewed and evaluated faculty performance for merit increases, tenure decisions.
- Advocated for resources necessary to support teaching excellence within the department.
- Mentored junior faculty members in their professional development initiatives.
- Represented the department at internal and external events such as conferences or symposiums.
- Developed and implemented departmental policies and procedures.
- Organized and directed faculty meetings, retreats, and workshops.
- Translated operational directives into program roadmaps.
- Assisted teachers with developing and revising lessons to more productively reach students of varying skill levels.
Department Chair of Performing Arts
Groton School
Groton, MA
06.2021 - Current
- Lead team of seven adults to joint attainment of department goals
- Stay abreast of developments within the field of Performing Arts to share with colleagues and students
- Collaborate on leadership of dance program and hiring of dance instructors.
Diversity/Inclusion Curriculum Working Group
Groton School
Groton, MA
09.2018 - Current
- Collaborate to support all-school DEI curriculum work
- Contribute to evaluation of school policies around issues of DEI
- Chaperone students to SDLC and attended POCC in 2017, 2019 & 2020
- Integrate Theatre Arts programming with DEI mission through season planning and outreach initiatives.
Global Educator
Groton School
Groton, MA
07.2009 - Current
- Seasoned trip leader with 12 years experience teaching cross-culture programs in East Africa
- Designed all facets of Global Education Opportunity to Bali
- Collaborate on mission document for best practices of cross-cultural immersion and education
- Train faculty trip leaders in curriculum
- Completed professional development opportunities with Where There Be Dragons and World Leadership School.
Trip Leader and Consultant
World Leadership School
Boulder, CO
06.2012 - Current
- Assisted in the development of 2023 TEDx talk "What if the purpose of school were purpose?" with WLS founder, Ross Wehner.
- Collaborated with educators to lead on-the-ground student global education experiences in Tanzania and Kenya.
- Participated in annual training in student leadership, curriculum implementation and industry best practices for health and safety of student experiences abroad.
Teaching Artist
Tectonic Theatre Project
New York, NY
09.2006 - 09.2008
- Conducted over a dozen interviews and wrote for creation of The Dover Project
- Conducted workshops of original work, Missing/Captured
- Collaborated to create curriculum for the TTP Training Arm.
Resident Director
Ridgewood Public School System
Ridgewood, NJ
06.1998 - 06.2008
- Provided collaborative leadership for a high school arts program of 150 students
- Facilities include a 250-seat flexible end stage, a scene shop, dance studio, TV studio and private costume collection
- Helped to manage publicity, production budgets and hiring of designers and technical staff
- Created youth theatre program serving 100-150 middle school students yearly.
Associate Director of Education
McCarter Theatre Center
Princeton, NJ
06.2000 - 06.2004
- Collaborated on development of educational programming for theater at large
- Created Youth Ink! playwriting program for high school students
- Lead talk-backs for 10-20 student matinee performances each season
- Created and ran annual retreat attended by over 40 educators.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Theatre
Northwestern University
Professional Directors Training Program
University of Washington
Skills
- Curriculum Design
- Student-centered learning
- Effective Public Speaker
- Budget Planning
- Visionary leadership
- Collaboration and Team Building
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Strong written expression
- Experienced Dorm Parent (8years)
- Documentary Writing and Ethnography
- Theatre of The Oppressed
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Academic Advising
- Program Oversight
Accomplishments
- Wallace Chair in the Performing Arts, Groton School. Recognized as distinguished teacher for significant contributions made to the performing arts programming as well as to student and faculty culture, including the design of a multi-grade theatre arts curriculum and significant interdisciplinary projects.
- Global Program for Intercultural Exchange, Groton School, July 2023. Part of a small team of global educators who created an inaugural conference for 50 students and teachers from seven different countries. Responsibilities included heading a committee for the implementation of student-based intercultural activities, overseeing all aspects of production of a multi-cultural performance event, planning and implementing an off-campus trip excursion, and assisting with all conference logistics including lodging, food and transportation.
- Presenter at GEBG Climate Summit 2024, Teachers College, Columbia. Presented a highlights session on curricular integration of Climate Change Theatre Action across multiple disciplines.
- Global Education Benchmark Group Action Research 2023-2024 Fellowship. Pursued Action research into the connection between arts experiences and the building of global competencies.
- Design and Leadership: Global Education Opportunity - Indonesia. Designed 21-day global education opportunity for students in Bali. Served as program coordinator and trip lead for all aspects of the experience
Timeline
Department Chair of Performing Arts
Groton School
06.2021 - Current
Diversity/Inclusion Curriculum Working Group
Groton School
09.2018 - Current
Trip Leader and Consultant
World Leadership School
06.2012 - Current
Director of Theatre Program
Groton School
01.2012 - Current
Global Educator
Groton School
07.2009 - Current
Teaching Artist
Tectonic Theatre Project
09.2006 - 09.2008
Associate Director of Education
McCarter Theatre Center
06.2000 - 06.2004
Resident Director
Ridgewood Public School System
06.1998 - 06.2008
Bachelor of Science - Theatre
Northwestern University
Professional Directors Training Program
University of Washington
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