STARRRS

The STARRRS Program is a collaborative effort between participating New York City Public Schools and The Actors Fund.  AWP members, after receiving training and obtaining their OPD (Occasional Per Diem) license work in elementary, middle or high schools throughout New York City as substitute teachers. They come from all of the performing arts, i.e. drama, music, dance, etc. to teach a variety of subjects.   During the training, participants are given a wealth of instructional materials to use, and they develop a portfolio of their own lesson plans for single lessons and multiple lesson units.

STARRRS are New York City-based professional performing artists who teach their crafts regularly in the local public schools, integrating the arts curriculum into lessons fulfilling Literacy and other academic standards.

Samantha Fisher, a teacher with 17 years experience working with emotionally disturbed kids, shared this brief video clip of one of her students talking about how excited he was to learn from our STARRRS teachers using improv and dance techniques that were new to him.

Thanks to your support, STARRRS are teaching in NYC Public Schools!