Welcome back! We interviewed Avelyn Simons, an award-winning high school drama teacher, director, and performer. She discusses the significant impact of arts education on students. 

With 18 state nominations under her belt, Avelyn shares her journey from performer to educator, the challenges she faced, and the rewards of seeing her students grow. 

She elaborates on the transformative power of public speaking classes, the importance of taking risks in directing complex shows, and the broader life skills students gain from theater. 

00:16 Avelyn's Journey to Teaching
01:40 Impact of Arts Education
03:20 Challenges and Successes in Directing
04:33 Personal Stories and Student Growth
07:55 Risk Taking in Theater
10:03 Speed Round

https://www.linkedin.com/in/avelyn-mae-simons-5ab747248/

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