Changed for the Better is a project that I started in February 2022. Click the “About CFTB” link above to read about how it all unfolded. My guests were once my performing arts students who spent time in the dance studio classroom and in the theater. They are creatives who are moving into their best adult selves.
Take time to explore the episodes: read the blogs, watch the videos, let the life lessons and sage advice marinate in your mind. I hope you are inspired to subscribe to the page and maybe leave a comment or two (or more!)
Here, you will see all of the blogs that talk about my guests and their incredible stories. Linked in the blogs are the full interview videos that are on the YouTube channel.
Episode 49: Hadiyah Buchanan
Hadiyah Buchanan was, and is, a ray of sunshine. Even from afar, she is one of those people whom I have always held close to the vest. We only did one Thespian show together but she has remained imprinted in my heart for all these years. Learn how that experience set the stage for a…
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Episode 48: Floryane Joseph
On Changed for the Better, we’ve talked a lot about how people’s lives shift over the course of time. Floryane’s story is all about accepting change, re-defining her purpose and establishing a plan for course-correction.
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Episode 47: Michael J DelPup
Michael J. DelPup has an artist’s heart. He discovered his love for Thespians in his senior year, and that experience has shaped the person he is today. He is a SCAD trained graphic artist who works for Off White design, and he is responsible for the newest logo art for this podcast!
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Episode 46: Nausheen Rokerya
While I couldn’t possibly admit to favoritism, some of my guests have stuck in my memory and the thought of them instantly makes me smile wide. Nausheen Rokerya is one of them.
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Episode 45: Samuel Auguste
In performing arts education, there are some students who love the spotlight, and others who just love to be there, participating, without the pressure and responsibility of being the lead role. Samuel Auguste was one of the latter.
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Episode 44: Matthew Hochberg
Not all of my Changed for the Better guests craved the spotlight. Some were very happy behind-the-scenes, putting their production talents to good use in quieter ways.
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Episode 43: Esskee Nance-Doucet
From teen mom to LPN to NP, Esskee Nance-Doucet has climbed mountainous terrain in order to smell the sweet, clean air of success. Read on for her story.
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Episode 42: Tina Vasquez
What do you do when you have the lion’s share of talent, intellect, and drive to make real change happen? Perhaps, you follow a path like Tina Vasquez’s. Taking great care to carve one that suited her needs, she followed her heart’s passions and explored the challenging opportunities that called to her. That tendency started…
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Episode 41: Ornely Aubourg
Ornely Aubourg was one of my tried and true students, my tiny dancer, so to speak. At Spring Valley High School, the dance studio was her safe space, a leotard and tights was her outfit of choice, and being in the spotlight was her comfort zone. Tune in to learn how this working mom has…
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Episode 40: Karema Brown
Karema Brown has an educator’s heart. Her mission is to do all she can to improve the school experience for her kids. This is her story of service, how she processed her complicated roles as a Black woman, educator, and daughter of the badge, and how the dance studio taught her that vulnerability is a…
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Episode 39: Joseph Wallace
Joseph “Royalty” Wallace, once a pulsing ball of energy, has focused his creativity and discipline to become a successful man in finance and entrepreneurship. Read on to learn how dance was the catalyst for his leap into leadership.
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Episode 38: Bria Manning
Bria Manning is someone who sees what she wants and she gets it. Back in high school, she poured her energy into the Spring Valley community as a class officer, cheerleader, and active Thespian and dancer. Now entrenched in her quarter-century status, she is finding ways to balance the requirements of adulting with her need…
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Episode 37: Rushane Dunn
Episode 37 features Rushane Dunn, the first alum to be profiled from the class of 2019! Always the high-achiever, he is now finishing his senior year at Brown University. We talked about his dual passions for STEM and performing arts, being at the precipice of his adulthood and his impending journey into medicine.
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Episode 36: Nathalie Alcime, part 2
In part two of Episode 36, Nathalie Alcime (class of 2007) and I talk about how her time in the dance studio helped to give her more confidence in her own skin when it came to dance performance. As her confidence grew, she learned how to walk proudly in her experience, even when she made…
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Episode 36: Nathalie Alcime, part 1
Episode 36, part one highlights how my connection with Nathalie led to the creation of a performance opportunity that examines the slow awakening to the discourse of social justice. Sometimes, terrible events can give birth to beautiful things.
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Episode 35: Darian Garner
Darian Garner, the valedictorian of the class of 2013. A perfect blend of brilliance, kindness and humility, Darian graciously shared her stories about navigating the challenges of being Black in an Ivy League school, losing her mom, becoming an actuary, and growing into her independence.
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Episode 34: Melissa Iglody
From the to the class of 2012, Melissa Iglody’s bright, bubbly personality infused positivity and a lively spark to our performing arts community. Learn how she took those lessons from the theater and found new happy places in college and beyond!
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Episode 33: Melissa Denizard
A superhero is aware of the inequities of the world, and possesses the energy and drive to do something about it. Melissa Denizard is Spring Valley’s homegrown superhero. We talk about how she melds activism with her exploding artistic vision.
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Episode 32: Dara Orlando Handelman
Dara Orlando is somewhat of a Thespian legend. This Thespian alum has grown up to become a corporate executive/working mom. Read on to learn how she manages the demands and stays as centered as she can.
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Episode 31: Marie Casimir
Welcome to Season 3!! Episode 31 takes us back to the class of 2003. A self-professed “Jane of all trades” and Heartland Emmy nominee, Marie Casimir discovered her passion for everything the arts had to offer during high school, when she immersed herself in dance and Thespians. Now, she is sharing her own vision with…
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Episode 30: Dwayne Gentle
Is there a gentle doctor in the house? Pretty soon, there will be! Soon, my episode 30 guest will become Dr. Dwayne Gentle. What better way to close out season 2 than to talk to a formerly hyper-vigilant adolescent about his path to being more spontaneous, changing his mindset, surviving medical school and living life…
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Episode 29: Jessica Butler
Jessica Butler (La Presidenta) was tiny force of nature in Thespians. Taking notice of our drama club in middle school, she made an instant decision: she would lead the troupe in her senior year. Challenge accepted. In this episode, we discuss mentorship, embracing your ability in the face of imposter syndrome, and learning how to…
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Episode 28: Jacqueline Smith-Musselman
As we go through life, our identity is defined by the things we do and the relationships we hold dear. In this episode, Jacqueline Smith-Musselman reflects on all of her identifiers, including the bliss (and terrors) of motherhood and her dream job as a Kindergarten teacher. We also talk about the benefits of therapy, being…
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Episode 27: Cesia Roman
This episode’s theme is centered around social-emotional learning. So much valuable knowledge was shared in this conversation about how arts education activities support SEL for students. See what Cesia Roman learned through her performing arts activities, and how she is now paying it forward to the teenagers in her home district.
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Episode 26: Michaelle Vilsa
Today’s blog focuses on Michaelle Vilsa, Spring Valley High School class of 2014. From her high school days to the present, Michaelle has always done her best work in the spotlight. Read on to learn how she’s taken her early training in the arts to new heights.
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Episode 25: Chizi Duru
Chizi Duru is a content creator/influencer/entrepreneur/media personality. With over 500,000 followers, her YouTube channel promotes her mission to create a space for women to love themselves authentically so they may step into their power.
Read on to see how her time in the dance studio helped her to overcome her fears and inspire her trajectory…
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Episode 24: Elya Shavrova
Elya Shavrova talks about learning through disappointment, developing strong roots, and how her performing arts experiences gave her the self-confidence to determine who she is and what she wants.
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Episode 23: Robyn Corujo
Before Robyn Corujo became the superhero beast she is today, our paths first crossed in my first year at Spring Valley. Here’s a look back to that important musical experience and how we were both “Changed for the Better” because of it.
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Episode 22: Brittany Gischner
Brittany Gischner is straight out of Central Casting – literally. This successful casting director looks back to her roots as Thespian President, and how she applies our motto, “Act well your part; there all the honor lies” every single day.
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Episode 21: Bianca Pierre
Back in high school, Bianca was a bright, personable, happy young woman with a smile as wide as Texas, full of positivity and light. Despite some significant, unresolved childhood traumas, Bianca found a home with Thespians, where she was surrounded by a community who embraced her energy and helped her channel the difficult emotions she…
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Episode 20: Alex Domini
Alex Domini’s story is another example of how you make plans, God laughs, and you make new plans. Life is a journey, and it’s best to traverse the terrain with eyes wide open, ears attuned to the universe, and heart ready for the ride. Read on to learn about Alex’s journey.
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Episode 19: Robert Lee
This episode shares the experience of someone diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, and how his Thespian experience provided the community he needed to navigate some dark times in his life.
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Episode 18: Kinsley Alexandre
The third of the Alexandre legacy at Spring Valley, Kinsley talks about learning to enjoy the journey every day, and how maturing has taught him to work smarter, not harder.
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Episode 17: Sofia Poe
We have a tendency to stay comfortable. Part of growing up is learning to sit in a space where you don’t have control, that pushes your buttons and still tolerating feelings of awkwardness and instability. Sofia Poe tells us how she did just that.
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Episode 16: Kenney Alexandre
Though known as “the quiet one” of the family, Kenney had lots to say about his high school Thespian experience. Following closely behind his sister as “Tendrina’s little brother,” he learned how to make his own impression and became his own person.
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Episode 15: Victorious Collymore-Bey
Victor went from the “new kid in town” to the shining star who found his home in the studio. In this episode, we talk about learning to live your authentic self, in all of its incarnations, despite the immense challenges of adolescence.
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Episode 14: Jean-Guerdy Saint-Louis
In this episode, we travel back to the class of 2003 and get an inside look at the life of a first responder/law enforcement professional who found his peace in the performing arts.
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Episode 13: Graig Kreindler
Graig Kriendler is all about nostalgia. It seems to be the driving force behind his life’s work, which is why this interview feels so special. For a guy who has been interviewed for tons of articles and podcasts about his professional achievements, this discussion was particularly meaningful for both of us.
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Episode 12: Tom Dheere
Special college edition! Tom Dheere is a fellow Montclair State alum (class of 1993!). We chatted about college, his prolific career as a voiceover professional (aka The VO Strategist), and how taking care of your mental health is paramount to any measure of success.
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Episode 11: Hilary Becker-Jarusinsky
Growing a leader requires an infusion of trust in a young person and giving them the support it takes to help them trust themselves. Becoming a leader requires taking that trust and further developing it yourself. This week’s discussion with Hilary Becker-Jarusinsky shows how this can be accomplished through arts education.
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Episode TEN: Tendrina Alexandre
We made it to episode TEN (cue the balloons and confetti)!! I feel like there should be bells, whistles and heralding trumpets! Tendrina Alexandre (get it? TEN??) is another superstar from the past, who comes from a superstar family. Does it feel like everyone I interview here are my faves? Yes, yes it does, and…
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Episode 9: Kayla Tavares
Hopefully, there are people in your life who, when you think about them, spark a sensation of pure joy, love, and light. While I have many people who fit in that category, Kayla Tavares is at the top of the list. Read more about why.
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Episode 8: Brianna Knight
There’s a lot to say about this budding superstar. I knew her as a teenager – smart, observant, swimming in talent. She melted the paint off of the auditorium walls of and now she is releasing simmering Neo-Soul singles to the world. Someday soon, everybody will have Brianna Knight’s name on their lips.
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Episode 7: Kristen Santos-Latrenta
When Kristen Santos walked across the threshold of my classroom, I knew I had to up my game. What a gift it was to work with such talent, and a joy to know she continues to hone her craft today. Read on to learn what this dancing-beast learned in my classroom and how she has…
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Episode 6: Hernz Laguerre, Jr.
Hernz Laguerre, Jr. has worn many hats. Linebacker, dancing cowboy, storyteller, multimedia journalist – he has taken the lessons learned from high school and infused them into his transition to adulthood. Read on about how his performing arts experiences informed who he is today.
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Episode 5: Stephanie Lauredent-Diasio
Stephanie Lauredent-Diasio is back in my blogspace!
“Aside from being yourself, realizing that you have your own special thing that you do so incredibly well, will get you so far in life. It’s not about the grades…it’s really about you as a person and the tools that you bring to the table that matters…
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Episode 4: Denishah Desroches
Teachers have the special task of getting kids to try new things, hopefully inspiring them to develop interests and talents that they might otherwise never be exposed to. Sometimes, you get a student who walks into your classroom and immediately feels at home, taking her space in the atmosphere and making her impression for everyone…
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Episode 3: Elijah Fremont
Now, Elijah Fremont is all grown up. We have kept in touch over the years, and always have good conversation when we connect. It’s like we were never really apart, we just pressed pause for a little bit. In this blog post, I share some of the highlights of our chat that made me smile.
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Episode 2: Emily Dowd
I’ve always felt that teaching is much more than the content in which you specialize. Arts educators have the superpower of connecting to kids in ways that they will remember forever. Take a look at this week’s episode of my new video podcast, “Changed for the Better: the Power of Arts in Education” to watch…
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Episode 1: Manny Piedra
I’ve always felt that teaching is much more than the content in which you specialize. Arts educators have the superpower of connecting to kids in ways that they will remember forever. Take a look at my new video podcast, Changed for the Better: the power of arts in education, to see how my connections have…
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Changed With Tirro 