DRAMA
Primary – Middle School
Take a bow! The Wellan Drama program helps students gain confidence, interpersonal skills, and public speaking experience. Through activities in improvisation, storytelling, and script analysis, they sharpen critical thinking and verbal communication skills. As they explore the wants, needs, and motivation of characters in the play, they increase their ability to empathize with others.
FACULTY & STAFF
Jennifer Cardy, Primary and Specialist Division Leader
Jen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in the Humanities from the University of Chicago and a Master’s of Education with a focus in “Risk and Prevention” from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Before college, Jen graduated from the Harid Conservatory, a performing arts high school in Boca Raton, FL and went on to dance professionally with Boston Ballet II.
The origin of Jen’s commitment to children is her own childhood experience as a Montessori student from ages 3-9. Jen has been fortunate to work with children in diverse settings and circumstances including art museums, ballet studios, mainstream preschools, non-profit organizations, charter high schools, private homes, and therapeutic daycare centers. Jen loves working directly with children; and due to her avid interest in how children form and maintain relationships, she also welcomes opportunities to support positive connections between children and the adults in their lives.
When Jen is not at school, she can usually be found with her husband and three kids who are proud to be students at Wellan. Jen enjoys impromptu dance-parties in the kitchen, and she cherishes the few quiet end-of-day moments that family life allows. Jen is grateful to find a home at Wellan where children and the arts are highly valued.
Jen Taschereau, Assistant Division Leader for Specials/Drama Program Coordinator/Drama Specialist
Jen has been teaching drama to children of all ages for two decades. Starting as a piano, vocal, and improv instructor at the local community theatre she grew up in, she then went on to get her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance at Salem State. Upon graduating, Jen became affiliated with Boston theatre companies that led to collaborations with the Museum of Fine Arts and ArtsEmerson. While a performer in formal education, Jen has spent the last decade plus creating drama programming in after school settings.
While not working on directing children's productions, creating drama workshops, and lesson plans, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jason and their two kids, Malcolm and Abby. And when family life gives her a little breathing space, she still performs, open water swims, rock climbs, and practices aerial silks.