Ep 82 | Afterschool is Ripe for Building Character

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Tapping into some emotions that aren't your own, you know, playing a character, playing someone else, is just kind of can be freeing. But then also they get to explore things about themselves and express themselves that they probably they couldn't express it unless they're doing an art form like theater.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Welcome to the Voices United in Education podcast. Each week we showcase the teachers, administrators, and community members who go the extra mile to contribute to the success of every student in Escambi County. You'll meet the real people behind the titles and learn about the amazing resources to support every student's success. It's said that the afterschool hours of 3 to 6 p.m. are prime time for risky youth behavior. But as a working parent, your options can feel limited. My next guest is helping head up a program that not only facilitates a safe space, but an atmosphere that enhances school performance. It's Pensacola Little Theater's new program, Character Building Through Building Character, a three-hour after-school theater and reading program that brings literature and school to life. Today she's going to share what makes the program special for the kids, to her, and the community. Celebrating academics and the arts, performing and promoting community outreach director Kimberly Scott. Thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_00 1:31

Yeah, thanks for having me. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

This is such a unique program, and it's also a really unique job that seems to be at like the perfect intersection between your interests in both English and theater. And you shared with me that before taking this position, you were like firmly in the role of stay-at-home mom, unless the perfect, absolutely perfect role came along. So what's so special about this program to you?

SPEAKER_00 1:58

I mean, everything about this whole situation is just so exciting because some people get to say they do their dream job, you know, but I feel like this was better than anything I could have dreamed or come up with. And it's just the perfect intersection of my love of education, my love of community, and just being that positive role model to kids. And the fact that all of that is wrapped into one is just so, you know, it's honestly thrilling and exciting. And I feel like those are buzzwords, but that's how I actually feel. It's just it's exciting.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Do you feel the theater aspect of it brings something special that it wouldn't otherwise have?

SPEAKER_00 2:36

Oh, yeah, of course. I mean, theater, you know, for me, growing up, I was always, you know, having like little behavior issues, wanting to express myself. And there was just different opportunities where I was able to do that through theater. And then when I was going to college, I was thinking maybe I can do that for other students. And I see them have these different team emotions and expressions, and I'm able to guide them into using it for art and theater. And just theater is just such a great way to bring healing. And I'm just excited to be able to offer that to the Escambia County students.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

I don't think I'd ever considered theater as a part of the developmental process. That's really interesting that you point that out.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

I just think that there's so many layers to theater and and what that really means and how you're able to help students through it. Like not every student is gonna do a whole Broadway show every single time, but they maybe do like a monologue or do um a little bit of a dance, just ways to help them get through some of the things that they're going through.

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Yeah, you said it can be healing. How is it healing?

SPEAKER_00 3:49

One way I think it can be healing is just kind of tapping into some emotions that aren't your own. You know, playing a character, playing someone else is just kind of can be freeing. But then also they get to explore things about themselves and express themselves that they probably they couldn't express it unless they're doing an art form like theater. So I think that could be really I'm trying to think of an example for you know, students, especially who are just wanting to have fun in class or sing and dance, or like because I've had I've was a teacher in the classroom, like traditional classroom for a while, and I had students who are like every five seconds they're singing or banging their desk like a drum, or I had a student literally, you know, do a backflip like out of nowhere. And I'm like, how can I get this energy and lead it to be something proactive for the healing, just showing them that I guess how they're acting, what they're doing isn't wrong. But let me try to find an avenue for you to do it in a safe and effective way.

SPEAKER_01 4:50

Yeah. Kids need an outlet to express themselves, not just for their energy, but you said sometimes pretending to be somebody else can be freeing. Yeah. And what I was hearing you say is sometimes it can be a a break. It can be like a respite from maybe whatever their reality is at home to pretend to be somebody else. Is that overreaching?

SPEAKER_00 5:11

No, no, that that's part of it for sure. I think like taking a break from every day and let's pretend that we're, you know, we're doing an improv. Sometimes we'll do like an improv game or something or pretend like we're riding a roller coaster, just something like just kind of take a break, express yourself.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

I think theater might be seen as organized play or organized chaos, depending on the day. But it's not something people equate with like academic or behavior enhancement like you're talking about. And I know this program is new, but what kinds of impact have you witnessed so far in the kids? Can you give any examples?

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Yeah, I mean, one of the most exciting parts has been that we've been able to do these fun theater things, but really just have this academic focus. And I've partnered with the Scambia County teachers and they've given me their curriculum. And so we're reading what they're reading in class. We're reading extra, we're doing extra reading comprehension exercises and writing exercises and journal exercises. And I've had the students report back to me and say, you know, Miss Kim, thank you so much for going over that story. We had a quiz. I got a 100. I haven't got a hundred on a quiz in forever. And just, you know, getting students excited about reading again by acting out some of those stories they're doing in class, bringing it to life. So it's been really, really fun.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

Okay, so teachers are actually giving you what they're working on. Can you give an example of that? And and you're then acting, you're creating plays out of them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

So we get the curriculum from the school. Like they give us the literature book. And so what activity we do, like, so we'll be reading, I'm trying to think of a name. It was like a story about a guy who like was a jazz instrumentalist. And so we would like tell them, like, okay, like act that out. What would that look like? And then one of the stories that a lot of the elementary students read throughout the year is his Aesop Fables. So we'd we put on Aesop's Fables, the costumes and everything, as their their final show. And it just brought a story that might be kind of like not that exciting. Well, I mean, it's exciting, but just bring a new level of excitement to it. And with this session, right now, we're reading Percy Jackson, the entire novel, and you know, doing some scenes from that. So Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Yeah. Isn't there some st studies that show that when you have physical activity after learning, it makes it stick? Or so I think I read that as like a college advice to survive your college courses is study and then take a walk. If that's true, this would be even more enhancing because you're studying while physically acting it out, I would imagine. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

That and then there's studies too about um reading things aloud, um, reading aloud to students, even up through 12th graders, like can be um life-changing for the reading comprehension and literacy skills. So it's been awesome.

SPEAKER_01 7:57

So, what's any given day look like? They are at school and then they get transportation to the theater.

SPEAKER_00 8:05

Yeah. So um I meet them at school, you know, meet them in the lobby, then we have transportation, we all ride together, and that's fun too. A lot of times we start the singing and playing and all that already starts on the bus, especially with elementary skeletary students. Then we get to the theater and I have got helpers there. I've got a couple assistants, and then what we're really excited to provide is, you know, food for the students. At first, I was like, I didn't, you know, wasn't exactly sure how hungry they might be, but we're able to, you know, provide like a nice meal for the students. I mean, like, you know, peanut butter and jelly, chips, and a and a drink, get them settled. And I do a thing I I call check-in. And I just, we're all sitting, we got these nice beanbag chairs. I check in with the kids and I ask them, you know, how was school today? What's your test like? Do you need help with any schoolwork? Let's take it out during snack if you need help with anything. And then after that, we get right into some warmups, which are really fun. And then we get into some theater games reading, and then we do like a more of like a rehearsal after that, focusing on what we want to present to their parents and teachers at the end of our six weeks. How many presentations are there a year? Right now, we're I'm not exactly sure how many we'll end up with right now, but our second one will be coming up December. Wait, sorry, January 10th is our gonna be our next performance. And then we'll have another session in February and another, we know special spring break camp thing and some summer camps. So I'm not exactly sure how many we'll end up having at the end of it, but we're excited for our second one.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

Well, you're still kind of creating it, I imagine, since it is a newer program. Yes. So how many hours is it after school? It's three, ends up being three hours. And who's eligible to participate?

SPEAKER_00 9:49

So for the spring break camp, it's really focused on fourth through eighth grade for all of the Scambier County students. And then we really are focusing on that fourth through eighth grade range right now.

unknown 10:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

Okay. So is that a requirement that you need to be the child needs to be within that age range?

SPEAKER_00 10:05

So fourth through eighth is our focus, but we've done a few things for people who have like siblings. So we do have some like younger ones. Oh, that's super so our focus is fourth through eighth, but we've got a couple of third graders and and stuff like that that are siblings, which is really cute. That is to see them perform with their siblings.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

Yeah. So you said you meet them at the school. What schools participate?

SPEAKER_00 10:27

So our first school was Global Learning Academy. So we pick them up, and then now we're working with Dixon School of the Arts, and then we're finalizing things for our February school, and then for spring, we're gonna invite like all the any any Scambia County students four through eighth that want to come.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

For the spring break. So it sounds like you are rotating schools, is that my am I understanding that right?

SPEAKER_00 10:51

Yeah, so that way we can just zero in, especially with the transportation and focus on helping these specific students for six weeks, twice a week for a little over three hours a day. And and then after the six weeks, we do the presentation and then we, you know, go to the next school and then go to the next school.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

So how many kids are allowed per session? Do you have a cap?

SPEAKER_00 11:13

We do about 20 would be probably our cap, but for spring break, we'll be able to offer some different things because we'll have some additional staff from, you know, since teachers will be on spring break also, so we're gonna have a little extra help.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Have you found that the participation has gained any traction from the schools that you've uh cycled through the six weeks and then moved on to the next? Is is the word getting out, or is that something that the listener could help you with?

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Definitely word of mouth is what helps this because at first we'll start with, you know, the first week, we maybe not have as many, but I tell students, you know, you can bring your friend and stuff, and then we grow and grow and grow. So I just want everyone to know that we want your students to come and experience this and learn from us and see the power of theater. And you'd be excited to have your student.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

Do you see that the any of the students that you've had so far this year may have a future in theater?

SPEAKER_00 12:13

Yeah, I think so. I mean, and I always think about this. One day I always tell myself, I'm like, I don't know which one of the, you know, who's Chad Wick Boseman? You know, I don't know who's the next, the next celebrity. I mean, I don't know. I think if you think your mindset like that, like I think there's one teacher, like he wrote a book and he was like, one, there's a kid out there in America who's gonna be like the next president or the next, you know, I don't know, the next big thing. And so you need to treat every single student like they are like that. Like that, you are teaching the president. I am teaching, you know, the next famous actor. So I need to treat them that way and give them all my energy and talents. But yeah, I think a lot of them, especially this session, have a kids who are like, they're also really good at um instruments and very musical this session. And they he like brought his viola to class and was like playing songs. So I I mean, I see a lot of potential in all of them, every single one of them, I think, you know, is the next big thing.

SPEAKER_01 13:12

But what kind of teacher would you be if you didn't see potential in all of them, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:16

Right, exactly. Yeah. So because I think growing up, I saw some teachers, like if the kid made straight A's, they're just, you know, loving them and staring at the like giving them all this attention. So I treat them all like, you know, the next big thing, you know, because they are. So you never know. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And I hear so many like actors, they'll be like on a podcast like this or something, and they'll be like, How'd you know you want to be an actor? And they'll say, you know, I had one teacher who just like really believed in me. And I want like all the kids to look back and be like, Yeah, that was Miss Kim. You know, like one day, like I literally and I do a thing where like I'll be teaching something else and I'll tell them, pause everything. I want you to know that I believe in you. Like, I know it sounds so cheesy, but like I really I do. I believe that they can be whatever they want to be, and I want them to know it.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

Why do you think it's important for them to see you as a black woman in in the theater space?

SPEAKER_00 14:06

I mean, I think it is just so important because when you see someone doing something that looks like you, then it can connect with you that that is something that you can do. And growing up, I just didn't have that as far as seeing like a theater person or even teachers, even. I didn't have a lot of black teachers. And I want these students to know that not only like you can be like Miss Kim one day, but you can be, you know, better than Miss Kim or you can be different than Miss Kim. But just seeing a successful black woman, and then that's why I'm intentional with who I have on staff with me. I have another black male teacher who assists me so that these, you know, young men that I have in my class, they know, you know, it's okay to, you know, do theater and sing and dance. And um, it's something that black men do, and I just see them look up to him so much and be inspired by him. Because there's, you know, like of course I want to be every kid's favorite and reach out to everyone, but sometimes, you know, the um the boys, you know, really respond well to having a male teacher, and that's just been so good for them for sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Do y'all ever talk about that? Do they ever talk about what it means to them to see a a black man in the theater space and and how it might change their perspective of what they thought before versus now?

SPEAKER_00 15:27

Yeah, I think I see it honestly more through their actions. Like they just respond so much to him. But I don't think I've had them specifically say anything about it, but I think they just by instead of it just being me getting up there dancing saying follow me, if you know you're seeing him play guitar and dance, they feel like, oh, he's doing it, I'm I can do it too. So that's what I've really noticed. And just, you know, if something happens and he misses a day, they're like, Oh, where is he? Like, you know, they just respond really well to him on and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

So you s when you say how they act is how you notice it, you mean their participation?

SPEAKER_00 16:10

Like just their yeah, willingness to be involved and participation, and just you know, if we're splitting into groups or they're wanting to be with him and he's leading them, and and that's really great.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

If you could fast forward, we'll say like five years from now, which doesn't sound like a lot when you're a grown-up, right? We're like, what's five years? But five years in the life of a child, a 10-year-old is 15, a 15-year-old's 20. You know, and so if you could fast forward five years from now and this program is still thriving, what would that look like to you?

SPEAKER_00 16:47

I mean, just filled to like so many students we don't know what to do with. I just hope we have so many students. And what I'd really love to see is some of, I guess it would be called alumni, but some of those students I taught come back and be leaders or interns for me, just continuing to guide those students and have them become leaders. I think that would be amazing. And just being, you know, really well known in the community as a good program. And I think we're really we're we're getting there and working on it. And I think in five years it'll be in a known program and be so full. And what else would we have? Like just doing, you know, probably even bigger shows and and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

Like it would be the it program to be involved in.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Yeah. Yes, I definitely, yeah, definitely just ex in expanding, you know, working with more age groups, because right now we've got that focus on fourth through eighth grade and just helping high schoolers be leaders and maybe doing some things like still have kids come to the building, but maybe I can do some things going into the schools and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Oh, that would be exciting. Is there a specific enrollment period that parents need to keep an eye out for?

SPEAKER_00 17:58

I would definitely keep an eye out for our spring break coming up. So that's open now. As long as you email outreach at Pincel Little Theater.com. I can get your students signed up. And then everything else, like when we're in our six-week session, if we're at your student school, which our next session should be Fairy Pass Elementary in February, we do an ongoing like enrollment. So if your student doesn't come to the first session, they can come to the second one, they can come to the third. So we just do like a rolling enrollment for that.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

So yeah, because this might not air, you know, in January or February from the time that we're recording now in December. Where can people find information about whatever's next? Is there a certain hub that they can they can go to?

SPEAKER_00 18:44

If you go to Pennschool Littletheater.com and the education section has information about all of our activities in this program, and um email me anytime, outreach at Penskolittheater.com. We're gonna have summer camps and um our programs are free. And that's gonna be really exciting. It's gonna be really big for us and different. And the summer camp is probably gonna be, you know, even more creative than the other stuff. We're gonna have some student writing their own scripts and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 19:13

Oh, that's exciting. Well, thank you so much for sharing this. This is very cool. I can't wait to see where it does end up in the next five years. Yeah, that's exciting. Thank you so much for having me. Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe and share. Voices United in Education is a production of Escambia County Public Schools.