Faculty
Theatre Production, Design & Management
Theatre Production, Design & Management
Technical Theater Director: Cynthia Bloodgood : TBA
Julie Lorenz Technical Theater Assistant : TBA
Classical and Contemporary Dance
Classical and Contemporary Dance
Director of Dance Conservatory: Caryn Glass - TBA
Whitney Edwards is originally from Alpharetta, Georgia and began her training at the Duluth School of Ballet with former Peter Garrick and later progressed to North Atlanta Dance Academy under the direction of Michael Garrison. Ms. Edwards began her professional career at the world-renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell for 4 years. While at DTH, she had the pleasure of studying under Prima Ballerina Assoluta Eva Evdokimova and Raymond Lukens. After her time at DTH, Whitney joined Nashville Ballet II, became a company member at Nevada Ballet Theater, The Georgia Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, and California Ballet. Ms. Edwards also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Kennesaw State University. Ms. Edwards hopes to continue sharing her love for the art form of ballet with students all over the country.
Lauren Pym I have been dancing for 20 years and choreographing for 10 of those years. I grew up in San Diego and was part of a studio where I danced competitively. I have always been very passionate about dance from a very young age. I learned many facets of dance including contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, musical theater, modern, lyrical, ballroom, yoga, and neuromuscular training.
From 2021-2022, I was a part of The Bridge Movement, which is a 7-month dance conservatory in New Jersey under the direction of Stacey Tookey. Training in various dance styles, as well as learning yoga, Qi Gong, meditation, and neuro-sculpting, helped me realize how important these practices are and how positively they can impact a dancer. I have had many wonderful opportunities to train under various artists, including Stacey Tookey, Jason Parsons, Anneke Hansen, Roger van der Poel, Travis Wall, Ray Leeper, Dana Foglia, Kristen Gorski, Will Loftis, and Al Blackstone, to name a few. These artists along with many other mentors helped shape me into who I am today. I earned my AA in Dance and Humanities & Fine Arts from Grossmont College. College allowed many opportunities for me to grow in my artistic ability with choreographing. Connecting with the audience and presenting my vision allowed the story to come to life. I was a Young Choreographers Showcase 2020 Finalist. Since 2022, I have been teaching at Aspire Dance Company and Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA). My choreography recently was nominated for the Industry Dance Awards Best Jazz in 2023.
Dance is not just about the movement but also about connecting with yourself and diving deep within, bringing what is present at the time and letting your authentic self shine its light. I find great importance in combining mind, body, and heart within dance as well as a focus on our mental health.
I love learning. There is always something new to learn every day, which I find exciting. Dance is an ever-growing art, and I look forward as an instructor to helping each dancer bring out their most authentic self in their everyday life and the dance community.
From 2021-2022, I was a part of The Bridge Movement, which is a 7-month dance conservatory in New Jersey under the direction of Stacey Tookey. Training in various dance styles, as well as learning yoga, Qi Gong, meditation, and neuro-sculpting, helped me realize how important these practices are and how positively they can impact a dancer. I have had many wonderful opportunities to train under various artists, including Stacey Tookey, Jason Parsons, Anneke Hansen, Roger van der Poel, Travis Wall, Ray Leeper, Dana Foglia, Kristen Gorski, Will Loftis, and Al Blackstone, to name a few. These artists along with many other mentors helped shape me into who I am today. I earned my AA in Dance and Humanities & Fine Arts from Grossmont College. College allowed many opportunities for me to grow in my artistic ability with choreographing. Connecting with the audience and presenting my vision allowed the story to come to life. I was a Young Choreographers Showcase 2020 Finalist. Since 2022, I have been teaching at Aspire Dance Company and Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA). My choreography recently was nominated for the Industry Dance Awards Best Jazz in 2023.
Dance is not just about the movement but also about connecting with yourself and diving deep within, bringing what is present at the time and letting your authentic self shine its light. I find great importance in combining mind, body, and heart within dance as well as a focus on our mental health.
I love learning. There is always something new to learn every day, which I find exciting. Dance is an ever-growing art, and I look forward as an instructor to helping each dancer bring out their most authentic self in their everyday life and the dance community.
Digital Arts
Animation, Filmmaking, and Graphic Design
Digital Arts Animation, Filmmaking, and Graphic Design
Anna Woerman, M.Ed., Conservatory Chair, and Graphic Design Instructor:
Anna received her BA in Art and a minor in Italian from San Diego State University, studying at the Scuola Libero del Nudo all'Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, in Florence, Italy. She received her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of San Diego, and her Administrative Credential from the San Diego County Office of Education. She is a professional graphic designer, photographer, and artist. Her artwork has been in group shows in San Diego and Florence, Italy, and her design and photography have been featured in numerous blogs and publications. You can view her work at annawoerman.com.
An alumni of CoSA herself, Anna has taught in the CoSA’s Digital Arts conservatory since 2008. She teaches Graphic Design, Digital Media Foundations, DigArts Marketing, DigArts Portfolio, and Digital Photography at CHS. She was also the Yearbook Adviser at Coronado High School for the past 14 years. She is the Arts/Electives Department Chair, and serves as a SDCOE Designated Subject Program Teacher Mentor. She has contributed to the development of the DigArts Department’s pathway curriculum; collaborating with community and business partners supporting CTE advisory boards; and writing curriculum and receiving University of California A-G college credit approval for all of her CTE courses.
Anna is an Adobe Education leader, which provides access to a selected network of outstanding educators who collaborate, create curriculum, and share their expertise through workshops, education exchanges, conferences, and provide unique experiences for students. She is an active member in the arts community, both as a professional artist and collaboratively involving her students. She leads students in creating the Digital Arts Conservatory’s annual student-produced live shows which include student-created reels, curation of art pieces, and student-created promotion and marketing. She has a passion
for international travel and has taken students on educational tours throughout Italy, Iceland, and Japan.
Michelle Vescio Evenson, J.D., CJE., Filmmaking Teacher:
Michelle had been an educator for CUSD since 2018. She received her juris doctor with an emphasis in media law, the First Amendment, and copyright and trademark claims. Additionally, she holds a BS in secondary Education, speech communications and English as well as a BA in Theater and Journalism. Michelle began her teaching career in 2002. She has taught and advised Film, TV Broadcast, Yearbook and Newspaper, speech and debate, mock trial and English.
Michelle is a Master Journalism Educator, which provides her access to media curriculum, resources, mentorship, collaboration, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with other educators via the Journalism Education Association. She has also worked as a lawyer, professional journalist, dancer, costume design assistant, theater director, and dance director.
She has been married to her husband Nathan for nearly 30 years and her daughter Nitalia is working on her BA in theatre performance and history studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Instrumental Music Faculty and Coaches
Instrumental Music Faculty and Coaches
Director of Instrumental Music : Matt Heinecke 
Matt Heinecke has over 20 years of professional experience as an accomplished singer and guitarist, first performing in Coronado coffee shops as a high schooler. His passion for music led him to USC where he studied classical and jazz guitar and voice.
Matt worked as a singer-songwriter and studio musician in both Los Angeles and Nashville before relocating to his hometown of San Diego in 2007. Along the way, he developed his own unique style of guitar playing, with influences ranging from folk, classic rock, jazz, country, and bluegrass. His versatility has been showcased in some of Southern California’s most prestigious entertainment production companies for large private and corporate events.
Mark Margolies, Woodwinds: Mark Margolies worked for over twenty years as a freelance musician in the Boston area. He could regularly be found playing clarinet, E flat and bass clarinets in orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout New England, as well as saxophones, flute, oboe and bassoon in theater pits, klezmer ensembles and other groups. A champion of new music, Mark has many premiers to his credit including Julian Wachner’s Clarinet Concerto which was written for him and commissioned by the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. He has been a participant in every Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival since 1991, where he worked with such composers as Martin Boykan, Milton Babbitt, Marjorie Merryman, Andrew Imbrie, Bernard Rands, Sara Doncaster and many others. He has recorded for the Albany, ARSIS Audio and Denouement Record labels. He taught clarinet and coached chamber music at Boston College from 1995 - 2008 and was woodwind teacher and ensemble coach at Brookline Music School since 1989. In October of 2008, Mark moved to the San Diego area where he teaches and works as a freelance woodwind player. He performs regularly at The Old Globe Theatre, The San Diego Civic Theater, San Diego Symphony, The Lawrence Welk Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Lyric Opera, San Diego Clarinet Society, and other venues around Southern California. He is a member of The San Diego Clarinet Quintet, JAMB, and The Windsong Consort, a mixed chamber music group based in Temecula. He holds degrees in Music and Communication from Boston University.
Musical Theatre and Drama
Musical Theatre and Drama
Barbara Wolf, Ph.D. Conservatory Chair: 
Dr. Wolf serves as Chair of CoSA’s award-winning Musical Theatre & Drama conservatory. Recent shows include Cabaret, Grease, Catch Me if You Can, Bat Boy, Big Fish and Chicago. Her production of Legally Blonde the Musical won the Ben Vereen Award for Best Musical. Barbara has also directed for Southwestern Community College, Bowling Green State University, San Diego State University and The Huron Playhouse. Barbara received her Master of Arts from San Diego State University and her Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University.
Kim Strassburger: Kim Strassburger, who teaches acting at CoSA and spearheads the ESU Shakespeare competition at CHS, has directed CoSA’s productions of Peter and the Starcatcher, A Piece of My Heart, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), The Grapes of Wrath, Metamorphoses and The Laramie Project, receiving Bravissimo Awards in 2010 and 2011 from the San Diego Educational Theatre Association. Kim is also the Associate Artistic Director and a Founding Company Member of Ion Theatre. Recent directing credits include: 8 Songs for a Mad King ("Best of Festival" 2017-San Diego International Fringe Festival) Gutenberg! The Musical (Backyard Productions); Sunday in the Park with George (2017 San Diego Theatre Critics Cirle Award- Outstanding Direction of a Musical), Passion (Nomination-San Diego Theatre Critics Circle-Outstanding Direction of a Musical), Master Class, Grey Gardens, Gypsy! (Nomination-San Diego Theatre Critics Circle-Outstanding Direction of a Musical) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Ion Theatre); A Civil War Christmas and A New Brain (Diversionary Theatre); and Edward Albee's Seascape at New Village Arts. Kim also won the 2017 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress for The Normal Heart (Ion Theatre). Kim has also worked with Sledgehammer Theatre (Associate Artist) and Cygnet Theatre among other San Diego theatres. Strassburger was the recipient of a 2013 National Artist Teacher Fellowship that funded her study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). In 2014, Kim also became a member of Lincoln Center Theater's Directors Lab.
David McBean: David McBean is a San Diego native and the Vocal Instructor for CoSA. He attended the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts and graduated with a BA in Theater Arts from the University of San Diego. Previous music directing credits include: "Dirty Blonde", "Pageant" (Cygnet Theater) and "A Midsummer Night's Dream - the Musical" (Intrepid). He is also Music Director for Mission Hills United Methodist Church and a local actor.
Coaches and Guest Artist:
Karina Johnson:
Karina Johnson is excited to be back at CoSA teaching tap dance! She is a CoSA Musical Theatre alumni that has continued on to teach and perform in San Diego. She has performed at SDMT in Catch Me If You Can. She is a Seaworld performer, dancing in their Club Sea Glow show during Electric Ocean and performing as a character in their Spooktacular event. She also performs at Legoland as a singer and dancer. Karina is a member of California Rhythm Project and performs at venues and schools, where they teach kids about tap dance and tap history. Along with teaching at CoSA, she has taught at Rap A Tap Center For The Arts. She is so happy to be sharing her rhythm tap and musical theatre tap knowledge with her students in the program.
Xavier J. Bush (they/he) is a San Diego based director, choreographer, performer, and theatre educator. They have choreographed many shows from coast to coast and worked with people of all ages and experience levels. They have also served as a teaching artist for many theatres such as Moonlight Youth Theatre, New Village, Arts, and Canyon Crest Academy. Xavier currently holds the position of Academy Director for San Diego Musical Theatre’s educational program. He believes in helping students elevate their craft in a safe and fun environment!
Visual Arts
Visual Arts
Karrie Jackson has over 30 years of experience as a creative. She completed her undergraduate training at California College of the Arts, San Francisco, With Distinction; obtained a Masters of Education, Curriculum & Instruction - Integrated Teaching through the Arts, from Lesley University; and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Visual Art from Point Loma Nazarene College and a Career Technical Education Credential in Arts, Media & Entertainment from Orange County Department of Education .
Ms. Jackson worked as a Visual Art Consultant for Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) starting in 2010. Since 2012, she has served as the CoSA Conservatory of Visual Art Director. In 2020, she began to support the CoSA staff and students across Conservatories as a CoSA Coordinator, TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment). From 2016 to 2020, Ms. Jackson worked as the Director of Arts for Learning in Coronado Unified School District in partnership with a Non-Profit Arts Contracting Agency, Classroom Teachers and Teaching Artists to guide and advise the collaborative creation quality Arts Integrated English Language Arts Lessons at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels. Prior to her role as Director, Ms. Jackson also co-developed the VAPA Curriculum for the Coronado Unified School District grades K-5 based on the new National Core Standards. Ms. Jackson has collaborated with Sharp Hospital in Coronado and adjacent Memory Care Facility as well as Safe Harbor Coronado and Counseling Departments at both the high school and elementary school level to develop projects that promote positive culture. On multiple occasions, Ms. Jackson's projects have extended out into the community. She has worked directly with the City of Coronado, The Coronado Cultural Arts Commission, For over a decade, Ms. Jackson worked as a guest Art Teacher in the CHS Art Electives running the annual Chalk Walk, silk screen workshops and specialty designed lessons in figurative and abstract artwork. Ms. Jackson has owned and operated a freelance business since 2003 providing projects and commissions scoping from private lessons, painting, design, large scale artworks and landscaping installation. As a small business owner, Ms Jackson has guided students in setting up an EIN with local and state permits, advised on budgeting, income statements, contract negotiation, web design and intent development.
As the CoSA Conservatory of Visual Art Director, Ms. Jackson facilitates a working artist studio developing individualized instruction for a range of skill levels grades 9-12 as well as guiding students in College Portfolio preparations, Public Exhibitions, Art Foundation Workshops and live Figure Drawing. As a Creative Advisor, Karrie Jackson offers a range of experience from coaching individual studio art practice, public art projects, community art events, and arts program development. Mastering the Art of individualized support, Ms. Jackson specializes in inspirational counsel, authenticity, transformation, passion and joy with a distillation of creative processes through diving deep into intent development making room for intrinsic creative expression.
