- Youth Development Programs
- Writing
- Train Travel
- Youth mentor, providing guidance and support to empower the next generation of leaders
- Music
- DIY and Home Improvement
- Exploring various forms of art, such as singing, musical theatre, and writing, to nurture creativity and personal growth
- Volunteer Work
- I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community
- Exploring famous landmarks, historical sites, and cultural attractions in a new destination
Spring Starr Pillow
WYOMING,OH
Summary
Experienced professional with a proven track record in empowering teams through effective communication, compassionate management, and attentive listening. Recognized for a strong commitment to fostering collaboration, achieving results, and seamlessly adapting to evolving needs. Skilled in project coordination and innovation, valued for reliability and proactive problem-solving abilities. Seeking a position to utilize strong communication, creative leadership, instructional, and organizational skills to make a significant impact.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Assistant Director CCM Prep
University of Cincinnati
04.2023 - Current
- Lead a diverse team of faculty, administrative staff, and student workers, providing support, consultation, and strategy to improve processes, programming, and overall teacher wellness
- Guide and manage curricular development of all existing programs in music, dance, acting, and musical theatre
- Nurture multiple partnerships with area non-profits, foundations, and funders to explore viable pathways for programmatic growth and public awareness
- Oversee and assist with summer programs/camps, including the creation of new camps and hiring of faculty
- Update and work with the CCM Prep's strategic plan, aligning closely with the University of Cincinnati and CPS Strong
- Oversee and create multiple budgets to stay in line with funders and program needs
- Work with various CCM faculty, development, business, and marketing offices to promote and support programming
- Meet regularly with faculty to consult, listen, and support their efforts
- Manage multiple school programs in music, dance, and theatre at six Cincinnati Public schools
- Work with funders, resource coordinators, principals, and artists to ensure quality, organized instruction to area students
- Create and maintain various schedules for individuals, partnerships and collaborations
- Obtained over $65,000 in funding for school programs and secured new funders
- Have over 15 years of administrative experience and 25 consecutive years of experience in teaching and faculty management
- Oversee budget projections for school programming, group classes and music ensembles
Director of School Programming
WordPlay Cincy
04.2019 - 04.2023
- Managed, scheduled, and mentored over 25 Teaching Artists in over 27 Cincinnati Public schools
- Served over 2500 students through trainings, collaborations, and school-based classes
- Wrote several proposals to area schools for inclusion and enrichment
- Engaged over 175 students in the writers room, leading several project-based workshops with tangible outcomes
- Practiced writing combined with culminating project model through Poet Tree, Readers' Theatre, I AM project, and presenting student work in all partner schools
- Worked closely with partnering school staff to identify program objectives, timeline and culminating projects
- Taught engaging Project Connect workshops, involving role-playing, writing, and discussion
- Used project-based instruction to tap into feelings and focus on healing
- Compiled and wrote several outcome and assessment documents for all community/school partnerships
- Taught Arts Integration in over 15 area schools
- Developed a Teaching Artist training manual, and trained new teaching artists
- Designed and implemented curriculum for Poet Tree, Readers Theatre, I AM project, Playwriting, and Poetry classes
- Designed and implemented specialized curriculum for the partnership with Center for Great Neighborhoods in the Covington schools
- Instructed and engaged community partners in professional development
- Partnered with The Taft Museum of Art, to bring The Duncanson Artist in Residence to SCPA and Aiken high schools
- Partnered with the Cincinnati Opera, I Imagine, and Music Resource Center to bring FIERCE to the stage
- Planned and organized all talent and direction of the muses involved in the opera FIERCE
- Served on the Youth Poet Laureate planning committee and took part in the process of naming the first Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate
- Spearheaded Byron's Room campaign, bringing in $20,000 in funding through personal donors
- Funded several school programs by engaging major donors
- Kept a grant calendar for scheduled school funding opportunities
High School Music and Drama teacher, Grades 9-12
DePaul Cristo Rey High School
08.2015 - 06.2019
- Created and implemented drama and music programs and later added creative writing
- Directed and supervised student gospel choir and drama program
- Taught Drama and music to senior students
- Taught Corporate Work Study classes for the Corporate Work Study Program
- Developed and implemented lesson plans and instruction for drama, music, British Literature, and Corporate Work Study
- Directed and arranged several choir concerts in the gospel sector
Elementary Music and Drama teacher, Grades 1-8
Bethany School
08.2014 - 06.2015
- Wrote, directed, produced, choreographed, and arranged several musical productions each year
- Coached speech team in communicative and oral skills
- Took choir to contest multiple years
Elementary Music and Drama teacher, Grades 1-8 and Children with Autism Program
St. Williams Elementary School
08.2007 - 06.2014
- Wrote, directed, produced, choreographed, and arranged several musical productions each year
- Coached speech team in communicative and oral skills
- Assisted in the direction of the children's choir
- Instructed and implemented music enrichment for students in The St
- William Autism Scholarship Program
Director of Education
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
04.2003 - 04.2007
- Provided area schools with access to quality theatre and arts enrichment by increasing company's awareness by 40-60% annually
- Secured over $137,000 in underwriting for underserved area schools to attend Children's Theatre performances from 2003-2005
- Prepared, formatted, oversaw, and proofread study guides for each of the season's four productions that tied directly into classroom curriculum and proficiency testing
- Created and developed five interactive outreach workshops and launched outreach programming, reaching over 22,000 students and bringing in over $45,000 in the initial year
- Developed and taught drama outreach programs/workshops at area schools
- Developed and maintained an education budget for the projected season
- Monitored school requirements for standards and testing
- Oversaw and orchestrated S.T.A.R. (Stars that are rising) program
- Trained teaching artists as Program Director of S.T.A.R. and continued to discover, train, and employ new talent in the tri-state area
Graduate Assistant, Assistant Program Coordinator
University of Cincinnati's Career Development Center
07.2001 - 03.2002
- Provided comprehensive career counseling to undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds
- Coordinated and facilitated career development workshops for university students
- Promoted and marketed services and workshops provided by the Career Development Center
Elementary Music Teacher, Grades 1-8
St. Jude Elementary School
09.1998 - 06.2001
- Created and facilitated after school drama program for grades 2 through 8
- Wrote, directed, and choreographed several school productions
- Introduced and utilized musically related terms and skills through physical and vocal exercises
- Assisted students on Speech Team with communicative and oral skills
Coordinator, Instructor, and Director of Programming
Gabriel's Corner
09.1991 - 05.1999
- Recruited, interviewed and selected participants for class and production
- Facilitated and instructed writing seminars for children
- Produced and directed productions written by students
- Hired and trained and oversaw writing instructors and other team members
Education
Master of Arts - Secondary Education
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OhioBachelor of Fine Arts - Musical Theatre
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky12.1995
Skills
- Curriculum Coordination
- Scheduling expertise
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Time management
- Multitasking Abilities
- Excellent communication
- Self motivation
- Interpersonal skills
- Hiring and training
- Team leadership
- Active listening
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Relationship building
- Scheduling and coordinating
Accomplishments
- Achieved increasing our attendance numbers for our Saturday classes by 35% by emailing and visiting area schools and talking with personal contacts to bolster our community presence
- Supervise and support a team of 50+ faculty members
- Collaborated with my team in the development of our teen and junior Cohorts and created summer camp opportunities for 4-6 year olds and 9-12 year olds
- Treated my piano, voice, jazz, dance, acting/musical theatre, Suzuki and ensemble teams with kindness and fairness in order to achieve higher degrees of excellence for our students
- Created a drama/musical department for Wyoming Middle School Drama and served as the Director/Producer and Enrichment Program teacher (2012 -2017) (paid position part time)
- Implemented a fine arts department at DePaul Cristo Rey high school, including music, drama, and creative writing (2015-2016)
- Collaborated with multiple area arts organizations and partnered with several area schools
Honors
- Recognized nationally for coordinating and instructing children in the nationally acclaimed 'Sounding the Trumpet' Inner-city Youth Drama Program
- Recipient of Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Musical Theatre Actress, (2000 and 2002)
- Featured solo vocalist at the opening of the National Underground Railroad and Freedom Center (2004)
- Recognized and accomplished children's songwriter, vocalist, and published playwright with Growing Sound Inc. and David Kisor. (nominated for a Grammy award for "Beyond the Bullying" (2013)
- Semi-Finalist Adjudicator for the Overture Awards (2001-2022), Finalist Adjudicator( 2013.)
- Featured Vocalist and Cabaret artist at The Celestial Restaurant (2013-2017)
- Star role in the 'Macaroni and Joe Show' children's TV pilot (2014)
- Adjudicator for Cincinnati Public Schools Gifted and Talented Program (2018/2019)
- Served on focus committees for the Hank Willis Thomas and the Kamoinge/Driskell exhibits at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and worked with area high schools to create response and performance-based pieces at said exhibits (2020/2021)
- Honored by the Three Rivers Acclaim Foundation as the Fine Arts Hall of Fame Inductee (2025)
Affiliations
- The Writers Guild of America - various committees (2019-2023) Wyoming Fine Arts Center - Executive committee (2019-2022) Bootsy Collins Foundation - Blues Consultant - (2023) Hey Cincinnati! - Steering committee - Safe places for our Children - (2024-25) Imagining America - Steering Committee - (2025) Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education - member - 2003 - present Broadway League - (once known as American League of Theatre and Producers - Active member - (2000-present) Wyoming Community in Action - Special Events Consultant - (2020- present) WordPlay Cincy - Consultant - (2024-2025) Semi-Finalist Adjudicator for the Overture Awards (2001-2022) Presenter at the Ohio Arts Council Arts Impact conference with The Cincinnati Arts Museum - Fall Fast Fall Forward, a discussion of working through visual art and poetry to bridge the racial and social economic gap. (2022) Presented for the World Affairs foundation a storytelling workshop for educators (2021)
- Serve on College Conservatory of Music Health and Wellness for Artists group
Interests
Timeline
Managing Assistant Director CCM Prep
University of Cincinnati
04.2023 - Current
Director of School Programming
WordPlay Cincy
04.2019 - 04.2023
High School Music and Drama teacher, Grades 9-12
DePaul Cristo Rey High School
08.2015 - 06.2019
Elementary Music and Drama teacher, Grades 1-8
Bethany School
08.2014 - 06.2015
Elementary Music and Drama teacher, Grades 1-8 and Children with Autism Program
St. Williams Elementary School
08.2007 - 06.2014
Director of Education
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
04.2003 - 04.2007
Graduate Assistant, Assistant Program Coordinator
University of Cincinnati's Career Development Center
07.2001 - 03.2002
Elementary Music Teacher, Grades 1-8
St. Jude Elementary School
09.1998 - 06.2001
Coordinator, Instructor, and Director of Programming
Gabriel's Corner
09.1991 - 05.1999
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Musical Theatre
Northern Kentucky University
Master of Arts - Secondary Education
University of Cincinnati
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