Our Distinguished Faculty
Conservatory Prep Senior High will staff its own faculty for arts and foreign language instruction. The selection process took many months to find these outstanding individuals, all of whom come to the school with the highest of credentials, knowledge, creativity and passion for teaching.
Janet Erlick, Theater director
B.A. Swathmore
Ms. Erlick oversees both the administrative and artistic components of the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre. Ms. Erlick developed A Bridge From Me to You and the Arts Infusion Program for classroom teachers. She created partnerships with many cultural and social service organizations throughout South Florida including the School Board of Broward County and Broward Cultural Affairs Council.
Dee Ross Franklin, Science instructor
B.A. and M.A. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mrs. Franklin comes to us with tremendous hands-on experience. She has been a field archaeologist and has been published in several academic journals. Mrs. Franklin has in-depth knowledge of problem-based-learning, which will encourage our students to look at science in terms of the world in which we live.
John Kucinski, Latin and SAT Prep
B.A. Lafayette College, M.A.T. Brown University, M.A, Harvard University
Mr. Kucinski absorbed himself in the study of Latin and became fascinated with Roman earthiness and wisdom. With his background in both mathematics and the classics, Mr. Kucinski was a popular and award-winning SAT instructor in Gainesville. Mr. Kucinski's passion for Latin and desire to teach led him to gain Florida teaching certificates in math, Latin, and history.
Jenny Larsson, Dance instructor
B.A. Danshogskolan University of Dance, Sweden
Jenny has a degree in Dance an Dance instruction and has performed extensively in Europe and the U.S. She has taught flamenco, modern dance, creative movement and choreography. Ms. Larson looks forward to developing technique, improvisation and composition with our dancers.
William Leibowitz, Math instructor
B.A. Chapman University M.A. Chapman University
Bill Leibowitz comes to Conservatory Prep with a wealth of experiences from the math and art worlds. He spent ten years teaching at the prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy in California before making South Florida his home. Mr. Leibowitz has a passion for the arts, particularly theatre and enjoys teaching math to our students. Mr. Leibowitz’ philosophy is that everyone can ‘do math’ and looks forward to teaching in an arts-based environment.
Yoni Leviatan, guitar and garage band instructor
B.A. University of Florida
Yoni began studying guitar at age four and keyboard just a few years later, growing up in a musical environment of lessons, competitions and bands of various styles. By the time he reached fourteen he was teaching both instruments and continued to do so through college, developing the first ever ensemble program at the Gainesville Guitar Academy. Yoni Leviatan is an accomplished musician and producer, having worked on projects for artists such as Green Day, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Peter Frampton, and many more. He is the author of the DVD series Going Solo, an improvisational study for guitar he developed with Warner Bros Publications, and a performing musician in the South Florida music scene.
Dr. Pamela Markus, Theatre
B.A. Catawba College, M.Ed. University of North Carolina, Ph. D. Virginia Commonwealth, University
Dr. Markus studied and traveled extensively throughout Europe including taking informal courses of Film and Cinema in Budapest, Hungary and formal courses in British Theatre at Ithaca’s London Program . She taught full-time in the public schools in Broward County, Florida for the following six years: Resource and Drama teacher at Bennett Elementary; Drama Teacher at South Broward High School and Adjunct Faculty at Broward Community College. During the summers, Pam worked as an artistic director at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Theatre Camp for young professional actors in New York. During her doctoral studies in Education at Virginia Commonwealth University she gained valuable research experience in Certification and Licensure, clinical student teacher supervision, curriculum development.
Louise Potash, Social Studies
B.A. Vasser College, M.A. Columbia University
Studied in Israel, Mexico and England. Over twenty years teaching experience in a variety of educational settings for all kinds of learners, including community college, public school, private school and private tutoring as well as educational consulting and college prep. In addition, worked as the assistant to the Education Director of Arts For Learning/Miami, a non-profit that brings cultural and performing arts to Miami-Dade Public Schools. The Arts For Learning program also included facilitating professional development programs for teachers, guiding teachers in developing lessons that infuse the arts throughout the curriculum. Most important work has been as mom of Alexander, Elizabeth and wife of Jonathan.
Iris Ratcliffe, English
B.A. City University of New York, Brooklyn College, M.A. New York University
Iris Ratcliffe knew from an early age that theater and the spoken and written word would be her life’s passion. She created and performed in street theater in New York City, wrote and directed short plays, and began puppet and mask workshops for high school students. She began her teaching career in Miami at Miami Dade College in 1998. By 2003, Iris joined the faculty at DeVry University teaching a variety of courses with a concentration in the Humanities. During her spare time, Iris is a committee member for the National Writers Association, a contributing editor to Splendid and Gables magazines, a contributing writer for International Publishing Concepts, and an organizer of Coral Gables First Official Chinese New Year.
Brett Segal, Garageband instructor
B.F.A. Florida International University
Brett, a native of Miami, has grown up in a musical family. After completing his music degree at Florida International University, he became a professional drummer and started the progressive rock band, Fractal. Brett is also an accomplished music producer and will be sharing his talents with our students to produce their own music.
Tyler Smith, Art director
B.F.A., Syracuse University, M.F.A. University of Indiana
His incredible experience as an art director and special effects designer took him through the worlds of television, feature film and special effects. Mr. Smith’s work has been seen on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Nickelodeon, MTV, Showtime and in Paramount, Touchstone, Columbia and Zenith films. His sculpture and art talent is evident in all his work, most obviously in special effect makeup and robotic creatures.
Dr. Wendy Hirsch Weiner, Principal
B.A. Tulane, M.J.C.S. Brandeis, Ed.D. Florida International University
Dr. Weiner has been an educator and advocate for students in the school system who are not meeting their potential. With her many years of schooling she has gained a wide variety of educational experiences and knowledge to work with all types of learners. Dr. Weiner has designed alternative curricula for several institutions including the University of Miami.
Nicole Yarling, Violin, voice and music theory
B.A. Baruch college, M.Ed. Columbia University
Born and raised in and around Brooklyn, New York, a musical household laid the groundwork for Ms. Yarling’s career. For more than a decade, she has been a part of South Florida's musical world as a singer and violinist, working in jazz, rock, R&B experimental music, and a few other styles that defy description. Ms. Yarling’s musical excursions have brought about stints with Dizzy Gillespie, and three years on tour as a featured soloist with Jimmy Buffett
Ed Zeltner, Improvisation instructor
B.A. University of Florida
After graduation, Mr. Zeltner moved to Chicago where he studied improvisation with the Annoyance Theatre. His improvisational work spans the spectrum of games, long-form and sketch techniques. As an actor, Mr. Zeltner appeared with the Irish Rep. Theater, Annoyance and the Acrosstown Rep. throughout the Chicago area. He has also appeared in numerous commercials and studied stage combat as well
Conservatory Prep Senior High - 5850 Pine Island Road - Davie, Florida 33328
PHONE: (954) 680-5808/FAX: (954) 321-1817 EMAIL: info@conservatoryprep.org |
