Who We Are
PAIR Specialists are highly trained creative teaching artists, many who are certified teachers. All PAIR Specialists are trained to deliver arts integration in the classroom across grade levels and disciplines. Some are educators at the Springer Opera House, the Columbus Museum, Columbus State University, and local dance studios.
PAIR Founder
Sally Baker, Founder of the PAIR Program, comes with nearly 20 years of arts education experience. Sally has worked with theatres, schools and educational programs all over the country and has returned to her hometown, Columbus, to work for the Springer. A former classroom teacher of nearly ten years, she brings teaching experience pre-K through the university level and has written arts integrated curricula for programs nationally. Sally has a BSEd in Secondary English Education from the University of Georgia and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities from the University of Texas at Austin. Sally’s area of focus is arts integration in the classroom and its effects on student achievement and teacher preparation. Sally left the PAIR Program in 2022 to expand the influence in arts integration/STEAM learning through the GA Department of Education.
PAIR Director
Meagan Cascone, a member of the Education Staff at the Springer Opera House, has worked with the PAIR Program and the Springer Theatre Academy since 2018. She has also been a tour actor/director with Missoula Children’s Theatre, traveling to many different states and teaching children ages 5-18. In addition, Meagan has experience as a Preschool teacher in Georgia. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance from Lagrange College and spent her time since sharing her love for theatre with children of all ages through creative teaching, directing and performing.
Full-Time PAIR Specialist
Addie Newcomer is an artist and educator from Columbus, Georgia. Passionate about arts integration, Addie has worked with students K-12 for more than 15 years. With a B.F.A in Fine Arts from Columbus State University, Addie’s area of focus includes painting, printmaking, and ceramics. Addie brings a love of visual art and making art into the classroom to support teacher success, encourage creative thinking, and promote well-rounded, life-long learning in students.
Full-Time PAIR Specialist
Sam Bolar is very excited to join the PAIR team. He is a member of the Springer Education Staff as a Resident Teaching Artist! He began at the Springer Theatre Academy as a student in 2007 where he graduated from the program, went on to receive his BFA in Theatre Performance from Columbus State University, and has been working with the Springer as an Academy teacher and performer. Sam has also worked as a tour director/actor with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre as well as served as a full-time substitute teacher. Sam feels so blessed to call a place like the Springer home.
Full-Time PAIR Specialist
Tafee Patterson is an actress, singer, dancer, and musician based out of Atlanta, GA. She has been involved in Arts for Education for over 24 years and is currently studying to be a Wolftrap Teaching Artist. As a Teaching Artist for the Alliance Theater Institute, she has facilitated residencies with the SmART StART and Drama Partners programs, as well as reader’s theater, process drama, and Historical Figures. She also has done numerous professional learning workshops for both the Alliance Theater, Atlanta Symphony, and Fulton County. She is passionate about being a teaching artist and loves to constantly find new ways to integrate the arts into classrooms.
Full-Time PAIR Specialist
Kern Wadkins, a Theatre Arts educator for 20 years, has a passion for implementing arts integration in the classroom. Kern’s taught drama, music, and dance from the smallest (Pre-K) to the tallest (12th grade) and everything in between in both public and private schools, and non-profit arts organizations. Her goals have always been to provide a safe, nurturing, and joyful classroom environment for her students through the art of creative teaching. Kern has a B.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.Ed. in Theatre Education from Columbus State University.
PAIR Administrator
Kelli Leak, a Columbus native brought up in Smiths Station, Alabama is joining the PAIR team this year. After high school, Kelli worked toward a degree in Education prior to completion of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) from Columbus State University. As a registered nurse with almost twenty years of pediatric experience, her most recent career was in school nursing for fifteen years at Lakewood and Sherwood Elementary Schools in Phenix City, Alabama.
In her spare time, she has worked as a Set Medic for film and a Springer Opera House volunteer costume dresser. Kelli also enjoys the creative process, and is a “maker” of many things.
Kelli’s love for the arts began as a child when her mother, who was also her Girl Scout leader, directed the girls’ plays and took them to see live theatre.
Kelli also serves as the Education Coordinator for the Springer Opera House.
Springer Opera House Education Director
DB Woolbright is a Columbus native who first came to the Springer in 1996 as a student of the Springer Theatre Academy. After graduating from the program, he began his journey as a teaching artist. He has gained diverse experience working with Rose of Athens, State College Community Theatre and Brookstone School. In 2016, DB and his colleague, Wesley Forlines, completed a sculptural installation along the BeltLine in Atlanta named The Service Station. As a musician, DB has toured throughout the years with Katie Deal and Jason Petty in the Classic Nashville Roadshow series. DB also serves as the Director of Education for the Springer Opera House.