Staff

Sherye Weisz – Executive/Artistic Director: Sherye has been involved in the arts and education for over thirty-five years.  Growing up in Providence, RI, Sherye took classes at Rhode Island School of Design, was a company member of the nationally known Looking Glass Theatre Company, played flute in state-wide groups and continued her creative pursuits at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York; Emerson College, Boston; and University of Calgary, Alberta.  Sherye has been executive/artistic director of SMARTS since 1988.  She was on the faculty of Lesley University, Cambridge, MA in the Creative Arts in Learning graduate program for 15 years and was president & artistic director of The UnCommon Theatre Company, a local regional children’s theatre, for 18 years.  Sherye is also an educational consultant, providing regional school districts with long and short-term in-service programs that address strategies to enhance student learning through integrated arts curriculum and assessment design.  She served on the Fine Arts Advisory Council to the Commissioner of Education for 6 years and was a member of the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education for many years.  Sherye’s greatest joys come from her husband Jim of 34 years, her 3 children and her grandchildren.

Jennifer Van – Office Manager: Jennifer is a graphic designer who joined SMARTS in September 2004 as our creative administrative assistant who tracks enrollment and supplies, designs promotional material and keeps the wheels of progress moving. Jen has been married eleven years and has two active and delightful children who keep her on her toes…and she loves to cook and bake!

Donna Bellerose – Bookkeeper: Donna has been retired for six years after working in the treasurer’s office at the Attleboro City Hall for ten years. Before that, Donna worked in the banking industry for over twenty years. She joined the SMARTS administrative team in September 2004.  Donna has been married to Wayne for thirty-three years, is an avid gardener and golfer and loves to spend time with her five grandchildren.

PRE-SCHOOL

Diane Postoian – Early childhood Arts Specialist Diane Postoian began her work as a creative dramatist in 1978 for the Providence Public Schools. From 1981-1986 she was assistant director of the Washington Market School, now listed as one of the top five preschools in Manhattan. While there, she engaged children in dramatic play and developed techniques that she now incorporates into her professional development program called, The Power of Play. Then, from 1988-2004, Diane was executive director of RI's venerable Looking Glass Theatre. Her three decades of field work in the area of performing arts and education earned her an Honorary Doctorate from Rhode Island College in 2006. Diane has shared her comedic commentary, poignant observations and her Power of Play workshops at conferences for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Childspan, and for independent agencies working with children such as Head Start, Montessori Schools and YMCA's. She also shares her love for children and education in the stories she has performed for audiences at Hartford, CT First Night, Three Apples Storytelling Festival, League for the Advancement of New England Storytellers, CT Storytelling Festival and the American Youth Policy Forum. In addition, Diane has been the SMARTS Summer Institute’s Elementary Drama Specialist for two years. http://www.dianepostoian.com/

Samantha Firestone – Pre-school assistant: Sammy has enjoyed SMARTS since she was in 6^th grade and is now ready to dive into teaching at SMARTS. She is going into her junior year of high school and wants to continue taking all honor classes. She is very excited to continue being involved with the performing arts. Sammy was cast as Monroe in a children’s play called The Fabulous Fable Factory. It was one of her favorite acting experiences. Also, in her last year of the SMARTS senior drama program she wrote the play called Hope, which was performed for the parents. Now she is editing and fixing up the play in hopes it will get published. In that it’s her first time no longer being a student at SMARTS, Sammy is very excited to put her ideas into the program. 

ELEMENTARY

Liz Shear – Dance Assistant: Liz is a junior at the Art Institute of Boston where she studies Photography. This is her first year assisting at SMARTS. She has practiced dance for most of her life—as a toddler at the YMCA and as a child and young adult at Le Studio Danse in Mansfield. Her training has been in mostly pointe ballet, classical jazz, and hip hop. She has recently begun taking yoga classes at her college and finds it to be a freeing, though sometimes a challenging new alternative. She is very happy to have the opportunity to share her love of dance with the talented children at SMARTS!

Maria Clavin – Drama: Maria earned her BS in Music Education at Rhode Island College and a Master of Education degree from Lesley University’s Creative Arts in Learning program. She has taught music at Hyman Fine Elementary in Attleboro for eight years, instilling a love of creative drama, movement and music in the young children. Maria’s students have explored creative drama and movement as well as ethnic dance from several cultures including Native America, Asia, Mexico, and Africa. Under her direction the chorus at Hyman Fine has been expanded to a musical theater program which is very popular with both students and parents alike. She is thrilled to be joining the SMARTS family!  

Janey Cawthorn - Drama Assistant:  Janey is a junior at Salve Regina University, where she is studying European history. Janey participated in SMARTS for 7 years and is very excited to be back as an assistant for her fourth year.

Marie Chabot – Vocal/Musical Theatre: Marie Chabot teaches music at St. Mary’s Primary School in Taunton, MA (grades pre-k through 5). She has a BA from Elms College in Chicopee, MA, and a MA from Loyola University, New Orleans. In addition to teaching, Marie is a music director at Sacred Heart Church in Hopedale, where she plays organ/piano and directs the adult and children’s choirs. Marie also performs as a vocalist with the SOS big band out of Cumberland, RI and with her own five piece contemporary band, Big Yello. In addition, she teaches private piano, guitar, and voice lessons, and has performed as a solo singer/songwriter in coffeehouses and clubs throughout New England, and as a piano/vocalist in South Carolina, Tennessee, Norway, Sweden, and Japan. She has a Christmas CD, “Winter Wonderland,” which can be downloaded from Apple iTunes or cdbaby.com.

Lauren Bamford– Musical Theatre/Percussion Assistant/ After Care: Lauren is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University majoring in biology with a minor in theater performance. Musical theater has always been an incredibly important part of her life. Some favorite past roles include Maria in The Sound of Music, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and, most recently, Cathy in the Melodramatics Theater Company’s production of The Last Five Years. She had a wonderful time as a SMARTS kid in the vocal program for two years and is so excited to be the elementary musical theater assistant and in the Before and After Care program!

Alan and Kait banging out a tune.

Katie Clavette – Percussion/Lifeguard/Before Care: Kait has been a SMARTS kid all her life. A recent graduate from Rhode Island College, Kait majored in Speech Therapy as a Communications major. On top of classes, she works life guarding at the East Side YMCA and the Jewish Community Center in Providence. She also is a member of the high energy percussion group, The Rhythm Room, another friend of the SMARTS community. In Rhythm Room, Kait plays many things, among which are keyboard, euphonium, guitar, hand percussion, in addition to singing. 

Caryn Figaratto – Percussion Assistant /Lifeguard: Caryn has been dancing since she was five years old - she is 22 now. She loves to hip hop and tap dance and can't wait to share her excitement with the children. Caryn is also a lifeguard for SMARTS.  She has worked with children since high school, from community services to different summer programs. She is really looking forward to working with the SMARTS Summer Institute again and to learn and grow with the students and faculty.                                                                                                 

Grace and Janey relaxing by the pool.

Tracy Korneffel - Visual Arts: Tracy has worked as a professional artist and painter since 1990, upon graduating with a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Tracy has taught painting and sculpture classes at the Attleboro Arts Museum, and has taught at Willett Elementary in Attleboro. She is currently enjoying teaching Visual Arts at Brennan Middle School in Attleboro. Tracy is excited to return to SMARTS for her FOURTH year. The talented and enthusiastic kids that attend this program are really fun to teach!

Grace Guillotte – Visual Arts Assistant: Grace is a sophomore at Montserrat College of Art, and studies Art Education as well as Illustration.  She has been involved with SMARTS for over 7 years, and loves it. Grace has remained deeply involved with the arts since childhood and hopes to be able to inspire and create during her fourth year as the elementary visual arts assistant.  She looks forward to seeing both new and old faces this year and can't wait to get the summer started.

JUNIOR

Pete Tarsi – Creative Writing: Pete holds a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing and Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts. He is in his fourteenth year teaching physics at Attleboro High School, where he is also the after-school Drama Coach. During his time there, he has world premiered three of his own original plays. His one-act play "Tracks" has been published by the Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois--one of the three largest play catalogs in the country--and since coming out in print in September 2008 has been produced by almost thirty high schools and community theatre groups in the United States and Canada. He has also penned numerous short stories, poems, and novellas. Pete has three beautiful daughters, all participating in the 2010 SMARTS Summer Institute.

Samantha Firestone – Creative Writing Assistant: Sammy has enjoyed SMARTS since she was in 6^th grade and is now ready to dive into teaching at SMARTS. She is going into her junior year of high school and wants to continue taking all honor classes. She is very excited to continue being involved with the performing arts. Sammy was cast as Monroe in a children’s play called The Fabulous Fable Factory. It was one of her favorite acting experiences. Also, in her last year of the SMARTS senior drama program she wrote the play called Hope, which was performed for the parents. Now she is editing and fixing up the play in hopes it will get published. In that it’s her first time no longer being a student at SMARTS, Sammy is very excited to put her ideas into the program.

Jill Goodwin - Dance: Jill grew up in the dance world with her mom, Jean Wenzel, who was the very first SMARTS Summer dance teacher and a vital part of the senior program for 14 years. Jill took dance while majoring in Education at Dean College. Jill says SMARTS was her favorite part of growing up having attended as a student for 7 summers. As a young dancer, Jill's formal dance training led her to earn several Gold metals at dance competitions around the region. She was fortunate to study with some of the area's best, including Nailah Bellinger, Joan Pallidino, and Jill Silverman. Jill also took master classes from tap dance greats like Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. Jill's teaching experience covers both dance and gymnastics. She is also a certified fitness professional. Jill currently teaches at Express Dance and Acrobatics in Milford. Jill is also the mom of two busy children who will be attending the SMARTS program again this summer. She is very excited to return to SMARTS and cannot wait to share her creativity and love for the performing arts!

Caitlyn Shepard - Dance Assistant: Caitlyn graduated from Attleboro high school and is now a sophomore at Dean College as a dance major. Caitlyn has been dancing for 18 years and participated for two years in the SMARTS junior program. Caitlyn is looking forward to returning to SMARTS as the dance assistant for the second time to share her love of dance.

Chelsea Lembo – Drama: Chelsea Lembo is an actor, dancer, singer/musician in and around the Boston area. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theater Studies with an emphasis in Acting and Creative Writing and a minor in Dance from Emerson College, and has performed with professional companies in both NY and Boston including the Fort Point Theatre Channel, The Talent Co., Andary Dance, Rising Earth Productions, and has choreographed for and performed with Emerson Stage. In addition, Chelsea plays saxophone, sings, and plays percussion with The Rhythm Room- with a few of the other SMARTS superstars- a fun high-energy world-rock band which also provides music enrichment programs for schools. Chelsea currently teaches drama at a variety of schools in Concord, Foxboro, Chelmsford, Cambridge and Attleboro. Chelsea believes that drama gives young people the permission to explore and express in a fun, creative way, and is very excited to be returning to a second year of all imaginative possibilities the SMARTS has to offer!

Phillip Sloan- Drama Assistant: Phil's career in the performing arts began in his sophomore year of high school in which he participated as part of the stage crew for the musical Brigadoon. He later moved on to performing on stage as part of the cast in several other productions ranging from East of the Sun, West of the Moon, to Bye Bye Birdie. He is currently in his sophomeore year at Champlain College, majoring in electronic game art and animation and he is excited to be returning to the SMARTs summer program to pass down his knowledge and experience in the performing arts (and for some warm weather, Burlington, Vermont is cold).

 
Rick performing a tune with SMARTS guys.

Rick Morin – Percussion: Rick is a composer and a performer currently working as a freelance drummer/percussionist for original artists, general business bands, dance companies and theater companies.  He has performed with Betty Buckley and Shirley Jones with Heart To Heart Production based out of Taunton, MA.  His teaching experience includes teacher/owner of the Innerythms studio in No. Attleboro and SMARTS Summer Institute.  Rick is also the master artist/teacher of the SMARTS World Beat Discovery Project which was recently awarded a grant by the Francis R. Dewing Foundation to provide children grades 3-5 in 8 SMARTS member school districts with an in-school music enrichment program in world beat and percussion.  Additionally, he received the 2006 Kathleen McKiel Memorial Award by the North Attleboro Cultural Council for his contribution to the Arts. Rick is also very involved with the Hasbro Children's Hospital Arts Program and Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Attleboro.  Additionally, Rick formed an ensemble called The Rhythm Room. They travel throughout New England performing original compositions and have released 2 CD’s, The Rhythm Room and Circle of Souls.  Rick has also created a TV show for local cable, The Rhythm Room.  Rick is an endorsed percussionist by LP, Sabian, HQ, REMO, Evans and Vic Firth.  He is also a member of the original band Spiney Norman and the house drummer for Paris Cabaret in Stoughton, MA. Check out Rick's website for more information http://rhythmroomlive.com/

Seth Antonitis – Percussion Assistant: Seth Antonitis has been drumming since age thirteen, taught by percussion master Rick Morin. Seth was formerly the drummer for local band Strait Laced, playing venues such as the Paradise Lounge, Jarods Place, and WAAF's Locobazooka 2003. Seth is currently focusing his music with The Rhythm Room, also lead by Rick Morin.  Being an original member of the Rhythm Room, Seth has gotten to perform all across New England, and most recently in Washington D.C.  Along with performing, Seth teaches private lessons at the Innerythms studio in North Attleboro. Scholastically, he has earned a philosophy degree at UMass Dartmouth and has had a fantastic, awesome time teaching percussion at the SMARTS Summer Institute for six years.

Emily Ruddy– Vocal/Musical Theatre Assistant: Emily is 16 years old and has been doing theatre since the 6th grade. She takes private voice and dance lessons every week and is involved in 3 or 4 plays a year. Her recent plays include Anyone Can Whistle (UnCommon Theatre Company), Pirates of Penzance (Mansfield High School), and All In The Timing (Mansfield High School). She has attended SMARTS for 3 years and enjoyed every minute of it! This is her first year working as an assistant at SMARTS and cannot wait to help and teach others.

Stephanie Piccirilli – Visual Arts Assistant: Stephanie Piccirilli is 19 years young. She has been attending SMARTS since the third grade - she is now a freshman in college. She is currently an illustration major at The Art Institute of Boston and hopes to illustrate children's books for a living. She is also considering a degree in art education. This is her first year working as an assistant at SMARTS and she can't wait to share and pass on her love of art with others. 

SENIOR

David Bettencourt - Drama/Film/Video: David received an MFA in Film Production from Boston University in 2001 and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.  His first feature film, "You Must Be This Tall", a critically-acclaimed documentary about Rocky Point Park, was recently screened for six weeks in New England cinemas. David has shot over a dozen short films and videos and has taught digital video production at the Boston Museum. This summer is David’s seventh year with the SMARTS Summer Institute. http://www.midway-pictures.com/  is David's website.

George Dussault - Instrumental: George is a full-time record producer, audio engineer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and music educator.  As a producer/engineer, he has been nominated for several Grammies and worked with countless artists (such as Aston, Joe Parillo, Kris Hansen, Mark Cutler, Another Option...), many of whom have gone on to tour the world and perform at prestigious venues and events such as Carnegie Hall and the Warped Tour.  As a composer, his music has been used on NPR Radio, various television shows, and received excellent reviews in several magazines and newspapers.  Recently, the Attleboro Sun called him a "sonic wizard."  As a performer, his instrumental and vocal talents have been featured on hundreds of successful projects including The Rhythm Room, Spiney Norman, The Left Hand Band and the Grammy nominated Dino Club.  As an educator, he has been teaching instrumental music to fifty-plus students per week for ten years.  His musical interests are in music of all kinds, multimedia and artist development. http://www.galileeprod.com/home.html is George's website.