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ARTS AT THE VILLAGE SCHOOL

At The Village School, we have integrated a bountiful scope and array of fine and performing arts education, both curricular and extracurricular throughout our school community to promote, engage, and connect with the arts, arts education, and artistic growth for all students. 
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Fine Arts program offered at The Village School.

 

Our comprehensive arts courses stimulate academic and social growth, higher academic achievement, and cohort and project-based learning. The arts also help students uncover new passions. Students who actively engage with the arts learn valuable lessons about the importance of hard work, dedication, and teamwork, and also discover a powerful way to express themselves in life. The arts create a healthy connection between your child and their classmates, as well as a meaningful integration within our larger community. They’ll experience the joy of creating something together, and the pleasure of sharing their gift with others, through concerts, theater performances, and exhibits.

The Village School collaborates with Juilliard’s Creative Classroom, a collection of teaching resources, lesson plans, challenges, and activities to help deepen your student’s understanding of their arts focus and provide them with even more opportunities to challenge, sharpen, and grow their artistry, understanding, and creativity. Through this program, students develop critical thinking skills, collaboration abilities, and self-confidence, which are essential for success in all areas of life. By engaging with world-class artists and repertoire, students gain a deeper understanding of the performing arts and their role in society, enriching their overall educational experience.

Subjects

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Dance

The Village School Dance Program provides curricular dance classes in all areas and levels of expertise, offering a broad spectrum of dance in ballet, lyrical, modern/contemporary, hip-hop, pointe, musical theatre, multi-cultural dance, and tap.  

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Music
All students at The Village School interact with music throughout their educational career, and dependent on their interest and level of expertise, many participate in after-school music offerings as well.
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Theatre

Students are introduced to theatre education in grade school, building a foundation of sequenced skills that help them to express themselves with confidence and poise throughout school and their life. 

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Visual Arts
Self-expression takes many forms in our visual arts program: drawing, painting, pottery, sculpting, photography, and digital media. At Village, art is never restricted to “art class": we integrate visual and creative learning throughout our curriculum, enhancing lessons and improving critical thinking skills.
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  • Fine Arts Faculty

Fine Arts Faculty

The Fine Arts Department at The Village School is composed of highly qualified and experienced educators who bring a deep passion for their disciplines—whether in visual arts, music, theater or dance. Collaboratively, they create dynamic and inspiring learning experiences that nurture creativity, confidence, and artistic growth in every student.
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Ange Grout
Elementary Music
Ange Grout is a passionate and experienced performing arts educator with over 20 years of dedicated service in early childhood and elementary education. Kodály trained and deeply committed to inclusive, hands-on learning, Ange creates joyful musical experiences that help young learners discover their creative voices and build confidence through performance.
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Ange Grout

Ange Grout is a passionate and experienced performing arts educator with over 20 years of dedicated service in early childhood and elementary education. Kodály trained and deeply committed to inclusive, hands-on learning, Ange creates joyful musical experiences that help young learners discover their creative voices and build confidence through performance.

Ange began her career as a licensed Kindermusik educator, church pianist, and children’s church choir director, and she continues to share her love of music as a member of the MDUMC traditional choir.

Throughout her career, Ange has remained committed to cultivating a lifelong appreciation for music in children, empowering them to explore, express, and thrive through the performing arts.

 
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Eric Polley
High School Dance
Mr. Polley earned his B.F.A. in Theatre and Dance from Sam Houston State University. Before coming to Village, he enjoyed a career as a professional  dancer and performer based  in New York City, as well as working as an accomplished choreographer. This is his 16th year as a dance  educator at The Village School
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Eric Porter
High School Theater
Mr. Porter holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Texas, and  an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater and Ohio University. He has been a professional actor for over 25 years and  a proud member of Actor’s Equity.
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Eric Porter
He has performed regionally all over the country and in New York City, in everything from Shakespeare to Musical theater. For a brief period, Mr. Porter worked as the assistant to the Senior VP of Casting feature films at Paramount Studios in LA. He is currently the Head of the Theater Arts program and the High School speech team at the  Village School. He was recently inducted into the  Texas Forensic Association Hall of Fame and was a Teacher of the Year while working in HISD.
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Heather Huffman
Middle School Speech & Debate
Heather is a speech teacher in the Middle School and serves as the Head of the Speech and Debate Program at The Village School. Since its humble beginnings in 1997 with just a handful of students, the program has grown into a thriving community of over 150 members across two divisions. She is deeply passionate about the subject and finds great joy in watching that same enthusiasm take root in students.
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Helene Ribelayga
Lower School Visual Arts
Helene Ribelayga earned a B.F.A. from the University of Strasbourg, France, in Fine Arts and Education, and a diploma in advertising and marketing (BTS). She started teaching at the Village School in 2016 as a Kindergarten and 1st-grade teacher, then as a French teacher, and is now following her passion and her major in Fine Arts, teaching Visual Arts for grades Kinder to 4th-grade
 
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Jennifer Siler-Hunt
Fine Arts Department Head
Jennifer is the Fine Arts Department Head, Band Director, and IB Music instructor at Village. She holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a Master’s in Education.
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Jennifer Siler-Hunt
Outside of work, she serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Houston Symphonic Band, performs as a vocalist and pianist with the Baha'i band of Southwest Houston, and plays clarinet with the quartet Stella Nota. When she is not making music, she loves spending time in nature and traveling with her family.
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Katharine Piediscalzi
Pre-K Performing and Visual Arts

Miss Pie graduated from the University of Arkansas. She is a huge Razorback and Rockets fan! She enjoys quality time with her dogs, reading, and volunteering for the AFSP of Houston and to various local animal rescue organizations.

 
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Katherine Piediscalzi
Before joining The Village School, Katharine Pie (Piediscalzi) spent fifteen years teaching in both Spring ISD and Katy ISD, followed by two additional years at St. Francis Episcopal. She has taught art, kindergarten and first grade. Miss Pie is trained in ESL and special education inclusion.

Miss Pie cherishes teaching in an environment that is centered on teaching the whole child. Teaching feels like a natural extension of her heart—a way to nurture and guide children as if they were her own. She embraces this role wholeheartedly, weaving care, compassion and curiosity into every step of her teaching journey. She is eager to join the warm, supportive culture at The Village School, where the strong sense of community, collaborative spirit, and exceptional students deeply resonate with her values and passion.
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Kelsey De Pree
Choir Director
Kelsey De Pree is the Village School choir director for students in grades 4 to 12. She also teaches middle school musical theater and is involved in the directing team for the Village School’s three musicals. Kelsey holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music Education.
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Kelsey De Pree
Before landing in Texas, she taught choir in public, Christian, and private schools in Ohio, Washington state, and California. Kelsey recently earned the distinction of being named a Juilliard K-12 Qualified Teacher and is passionate about choral notational literacy and musical understanding. When not teaching, she enjoys reading, playing instruments, traveling, and being a member of several choirs.
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Leigh Anne Treistman
Yearbook & Journalism
Leigh Anne Treistman holds a BA in English from  UT Austin and MA in Human Services from St. Edward’s University. She has over 20 years of experience teaching and is passionate about working with student leaders and learners.
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Leigh Anne Triestman
She teaches and serves as advisor for the Viking Student Media program and brings with her expertise in photography and writing. Students under her leadership have earned top photography awards with ATPI and TAJE and journalism and yearbook awards from NSPA and CSPA and ILPC. 

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Limeng Zhang
Orchestra Director
Limeng Zhang is the Middle and High School Orchestra Director at the Village School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, a Master’s degree in Violin Performance, and an Artist Diploma, and is completing her DMA at the University of North Texas.
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Limeng Zhang
An active performer for nearly two decades, she has appeared in venues from Carnegie Hall to major festivals across Europe, and has earned prizes in international competitions. Before joining the Village, she taught in Dallas and served as Artist-in-Residence at Weatherford College. She now focuses on guiding young musicians to grow in skill, confidence, and artistry, helping them discover the joy of making music together.
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Max Manning
High School Visual Arts
Max Manning earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Two Dimensional Studies from Bowling Green State University in 2011 and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati in 2014. He started teaching at The Village School in 2018.
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Max Manning
Max as been teaching and working in the arts for over a decade. His teaching practice is about shifting power—empowering students as artists, thinkers, and citizens who can shape their own learning and the culture around them. As a practicing artist, Max has exhibited work nationally and internationally and is currently represented by Reeves Art and Design in Houston, Texas, Art Space Warehouse in Los Angels, California, TW Fine Art in Brisbane, Australia and Todd Weiner Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. 
 
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Robert Gale
Head Debate Coach
Robert Gale is our head high school speech and debate coach and debate coach for our middle school team.  Robert holds a BA Degree in political science and philosophy from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA.
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Rob Gale
He has been coaching at the Village School since 2022, first as a volunteer and then as part of our staff. Robert is deeply dedicated to inspiring students to learn how speech and debate skills can help them speak up for themselves and accomplish their goals in life. 
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Sarah Perkins
Middle School Band Director
Sarah Perkins is the Middle School Band Director at the Village School. Sarah has been at Village since 2015, serving as the Performing Arts Lead, as well as a Teaching Fellow through Nord Anglia.
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Sarah Perkins
Recent awards Sarah has received include 1st place in Brass Faculty Musician of the Year, featured in the Houstonia, Houston Press, and Shoutout Houston TX, as well as in NPR education podcast “Classical Classroom”. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy, and served as a brass teaching assistant during the summer festival for years. Her undergraduate degree in music performance is from Western Michigan University, and has a masters in music from University of Houston. 
 
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Selene Bautista
High School Visual Arts
Selene Bautista is an art educator with experience teaching in international schools, where she inspires students to explore creativity through meaningful artistic experiences. She holds a degree in Visual Arts from the Universidad Autonoma de Querétaro and recently earned a Master’s in International Education from King’s College London.
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Selene Bautista

Before dedicating herself fully to education, Selene worked as a costume designer for 10 years. Her designs have been showcased on movie sets, in theaters, museums, and competitions across Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.

She finds joy in building with her hands, whether it’s a painting, a movie set, a puppet or a dress. For Selene, the act of creating is like weaving a textile with the threads of imagination, passion and heart.

 
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Tabitha Christy
Spirit Team Head Coach & Middle School Dance
Coach Christy has been teaching dance and cheer for over 20 years and is technically trained in all core dance styles with an emphasis on ballet. Tabitha graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BFA in dance.
 
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Tabitha Christy
After college, she worked in Willis ISD as a PE and dance teacher. During this time, she also judged many high school dance and cheer tryouts throughout Texas and has choreographed several regional, state, and national routines. She also danced professionally with Sons of Herman and Fierce Motion dance companies, along with performing as a background dancer.
 
In 2015, Tabitha started teaching dance in physical education and created the spirit teams at The Village School. These teams are competitive cheer and dance teams with an emphasis on dance. They support all athletic teams on campus and cheer at events across the community and have won several regional and national competitions.
 
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Tyler Willmore
Middle School Visual Arts
Tyler Willmore holds a BFA from the University of Utah and an MA from Minnesota State University Mankato.  He is a dedicated professional artist as well as an educator. 
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Tyler Willmore
He worked in digital print and manufacturing prior to becoming a teacher. Mr. Willmore believes that an arts education allows an individual to develop real-world problem-solving solutions to real world problems. His program is built to help students be prepared to tackle the IB and AP art programs at the high school levels. He instills in his students the passion and love for art that he mimics in his own studio practice.