“Stages of Learning is one of New York City’s most effective arts education programs….A strong education system is such stuff as dreams are made of, and Stages of Learning and its many supporters are making great progress in their efforts to secure a brighter future for our young people.”
— Michael Bloomberg
     Mayor, New York City

In the words of one of our participating classroom teachers, JoAnne Searle, 5th Grade Teacher, PS 290: “Last year all of the 5th grade classes performed Color of My Words with Stages of Learning, a story about a young girl growing up in the Dominican Republic during a revolution.  The teaching artists came into each classroom helping the students understand aspects of the Dominican cultural and various perspectives of the characters involved.  Two students from the Dominican Republic became our “experts” throughout the experience.  Thanks to Stages of Learning, students were able to understand the larger world and to honor each others’ cultures.”

“I'm feeling in myself something larger than life - it's magical. So much in our culture is about how you look and superficial things, but there is something much deeper and sublime here and I have a feeling that the kids recognize this. I want to give it more attention. There's so much power in it.”
— Steven Ninteman,
     Fifth Grade Teacher, PS 6 Manhattan, NY

“The incisive teaching reached all of the children and helped them to focus. Each child was exposed to essentials of good acting, how to develop a character. The teachers really dissected the process, and every single child was engaged!”
— Sharon Kullberg
     Parent of fifth grader J.J. Kullberg
     Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School, Croton, NY

“This is some of the best work I've seen in the field. Clear teaching objectives: articulation, key words. Dynamic, passionate, sensitive and artful presentation by the Teaching Artist, Scott. Amazingly full and engaged partnership with the classroom teacher. The students were totally engaged by the lesson, the text and the tasks at hand were scaffolded in a natural and effective way.”
— Eli Yamin
     Executive Director, Jazz Drama Program

“Stages of Learning is the finest addition to the curriculum that I have experienced in thirty years. It provides the best moments in a student's year: transformative, therapeutic, and instructive.”
— Dr. Janet Farnham
     Carrie E. Tompkins School, Croton, NY

"The School of Education at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University is pleased to acknowledge our new partnership with Stages of Learning.  After visiting their site and observing a theater arts seminar, I saw immediately the compatibility between both the process and the content of their approach to theater pedagogy and the inquiry-based teacher education programs here at LIU.  I was especially impressed with the level of engagement of the participants (both classroom teachers and teaching artists), the quality of the program design and instruction, and its relevance to the general education classroom."
— Dr. Kathleen Kesson
     Professor of Urban Childhood Education, Long Island University

“All of my kids passed the reading test. I attribute their success to Stages of Learning.”
— Clarene Henderson
     Fifth Grade Teacher
     PS145, Brooklyn

“One of my students blew me over. He has all of these emotions inside and he has been getting sick for weeks. So much so that he doubles over and has to go to the nurse. Since you've been coming, he hasn't been getting sick. He has made a complete turnaround. He even gave me a research paper that was phenomenal. It was beautiful.”
— Kristine Watts
     Fourth Grade teacher
     PS145 Brooklyn

“I just have to tell you this was the most incredible, incredible first session for the Shakespeare thing. It was fabulous. Your teaching artists deserve an A+. The improvement in her from last year with her clarity, her sense of direction and explaining and the flow of the lesson was absolutely incredible. It was just, it was wonderful. I was afraid to move in the room, because there was such magic; I was afraid I was going to upset the balance. It was a dynamic, dynamic first lesson.... And I took all notes and reflections, so I'll get those done and off to you too.”
— A collaborating school partner

“There were a lot of life-changing things that happened through-out the process. Kids turned corners and aren't going back. One girl was clinically depressive earlier in the year and opened up remarkably as her character. Another was dyslexic and she learned to read her lines beautifully – all this blew the teachers' minds.”
— Maureen Dillon
     Carrie E. Tompkins School, Croton, NY

“Acting soothes the anger in my soul.”
— PS 94 Student,
     Brooklyn, NY

“I saw magic. Fifth grade boys and girls discussing college level issues: archetypes, how to improve a dramatic scene. I was impressed.
They jumped the hurdles.”
— Joanne Henrick
     Parent of Fifth-grader
     Bryan Henrick at the Ridge Street School,
     Rye Brook, NY

“The students looked forward to your weekly visits and your efforts made a difference in their lives....We have spoken about the importance of making connections with the instructional literacy curriculum and the drama program. Stages of Learning made those connections for and with the students and integrated the flow of learning beautifully. Additionally, the teaching artist connected emotionally with her students....It is clear that you have a place in our school. You chose to become a part of our community and we will welcome you back.”
— Janet Kaminsky
     Principal, CES42, The Bronx, NY

“I sat in on one class every week and consistently saw 100% engagement from students who I know struggle in the classroom”
— Dan Feigelson
     Principal, PS 6, Manhattan, NY

”District 31 sets a high priority on developing the literacy skills of its student population. The methodology and interdisciplinary curriculum developed by Stages of Learning are highly successful not only in making classic theatre accessible to children but in inspiring a zeal for the playwright.”
— Maria Palma
     Arts Coordinator, District 31
     New York City Board of Education

“You would have been amazed!!! The 4th graders were knockouts -- every one of them. You should be so proud of your teaching artists. They are outstanding and the quality of their interaction with the children at Murray is of the highest level, both on a professional level, as well as a humanistic level. The kids and their families got so much pleasure from the experience, and we are very grateful that we've have been able to work with you and your staff, and will continue to do so in the future.”
— Randi Kaplan
     Parent and Chairperson/Cultural Arts Committee
     Murray Avenue School, Larchmont, NY

“I was impressed with the session I observed and more so by Stages of Learning's ability to see all the children as valued group members with thoughts and feelings to express. Your creative strategies have facilitated the full involvement of all the players, which is consistent with our overarching philosophy about the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. We are excited to be a collaborator in bringing this inclusive Arts and Cultures project to the Henry Viscardi School and the the Herricks School District!
— Fran P. Prezant
     Research and Evaluation Center
     National Center for Disability Services

“Thank you for helping us with our writing and you made me believe in myself and helpme be a great actor but the real important thing you taught us is to believe in yourself.”
— Astrid Gonzalez
     Student, CES 204, the Bronx

“Thank you for coming in to my class and letting me express my imagination.”
— Yakarra Senellon
     Student, CES 204, the Bronx

“Academically, my class is the lowest functioning class in the school. Since we've been working with Stages of Learning, the class is able to focus on the rest of their school work with greater ease. There is one child in particular who was a huge discipline problem and was unable to stick to any academic task. He was riveted during your production of Macbeth, and is thrilled to be participating in the program. He has become a model student since this program began..”
— Michelle Erich
     Teacher, MS206B, The Bronx

“My son was inspired tremendously. His self esteem soared! It was wonderful to watch this happen since he has been labeled a ‘problem' child and has a ‘bad rep' in the school. Stages of Learning really brought out his potential for becoming a successful student and a loving human being. You left him with a sense of being gifted at something.”
— Aurora Pagan
     Parent of ten year old, Josue
     PS 52, Staten Island, New York

“Stages of Learning's artistic excellence and willingness to collaborate to help us meet each school's needs are among their strengths. The artists really listen to teachers and develop scripts that are unique to each school. No one else does that in quite that way.”
— Carol Rice
     Director of In School Programs
     ArtsConnection, New York

“Floyd and his actors break down the walls that so often exist between teacher and students. This wasn't theory. It was words moving in action. It was a miracle.”
— Steven Bluestone
     Teacher, Chatsworth Avenue School
     Formerly of PS 75, Manhattan

“Five years ago a student who sat doing virtually nothing in his language arts class because of major learning disabilities came alive during this dramatic experience. His teachers were amazed. Now an eleventh grader, he has dominated the high school theatre program for three years. He is an extremely confident young man on stage and plans to make theatre his life's work.”
— Robin Willig,
     Fifth Grade Science Teacher
     Ridge Street School, Rye Brook, New York

“Rarely do I encounter a person with the knowledge, dedication, experience, and fervor of Floyd Rumohr. He is a talented and disciplined artist who exerts a strongly positive influence over students and teachers. He is completely dedicated to arts-in-education, as a master teacher and artist-trainer, and an extraordinary teaching artist. His work in the classroom is magical. Elementary school students deliver scenes form Shakespeare with passion and understanding, and teachers continue his work on days when he is not present. Teacher ownership is the highest achievement of a successful arts-in-education program.”
— Robert Zukerman
     Program Associate
     New York State Council on the Arts

“I’m learning how to face my fears in front of people. I’m also learning new vocabulary.”
—Jonathan Maynard, Jr.
    Academy High School
    Sixth Grader
    MS 57, Brooklyn