About Mrs. McRoberts
Elizabeth Lawrence once said, “There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again”. My childhood garden was theatre. Early on I participated in imaginative play and even created mini productions to perform for my family and friends. When most grew out of that phase, I remained intrigued by it. It was my way of escaping the harsh realities of growing up in the volatile small town of East St. Louis, Illinois and being introduced to the world by a single, teenage mother who was struggling to find her own place in the world. |
When my mother left me with my grandparents, I turned to stories, television shows and movies for inspiration. I began writing and was actually allowed to write the school’s play during my junior year in high school. By my senior year, I had earned many academic awards and was offered several college scholarships. I desired to attend an arts conservatory, but I didn’t have the financial or physical support. Instead I opted to take a full, four-year Army ROTC scholarship that allowed me to attend the school of my choice provided that school had an active Army ROTC department. I chose to attend Hampton University, one of the most prestigious Historically Black Colleges in the United States. There I majored in Speech Communications and Theatre Arts with an emphasis in theatre performance. In college I learned early how to balance two very demanding departments; the theatre department and the military science department. I was determined to make it work. I also challenged myself to earn an FCC license in radio announcing and become a recognized campus radio personality. I earned many academic and arts awards and had lead roles in several productions to include: “The Amen Corner”, “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show”, and “Steel Magnolias”.
Although I experienced major success in college, I had more challenges entering the professional world of theatre after completing my undergraduate degree. Immediately after college graduation, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. I began my mandatory part time career as an Army officer. Shortly after I was provided with a unique opportunity from Teach For America. I was chosen from thousands of applicants to join the corps as a creative and non-traditionally trained teacher in an urban, under-resourced area. I was sent to Baltimore, Maryland where I was one of the first middle school drama teachers. I was allowed to create my own curriculum and produce the school’s first play. I later moved to Atlanta and obtained a position at the only performing arts elementary/middle school in the area, DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts(DESA). I became co-director of the school’s most prestigious touring performance group, Shows To Go and a spokesperson for DESA. My tenure at DESA was interrupted by a call to active military duty in 2003. I was deployed to Iraq as a promotable US Army Captain. I served as Company Executive Officer and Assistant to the Central Command J-1 in charge of US Postal Congressionals. Traveling to Iraq was like traveling back to my childhood. It was violent, harsh and unstable. To cope, I mentally went back to that enchanted garden, but this time I had a video camera. I began capturing footage of my experiences and writing and recording stories and narrations. I survived deployment . Within a year of my return, I completed a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies. I was voted DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts 2006 Teacher of the Year. I was also provided a unique opportunity to work Robert Townsend in the reality show "Playhouse 22", featuring great new writers, directors and creative producers. I was a finalist whose work was featured on the show. I started a private theatre company and continued to work as a Theatre Arts educator at DESA. I cultvated great talent. Many of my students have gone on to pursue and maintain professional careers in the arts.
Though live theatre was my first love, in 2012, I earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Motion Pictures and Television. I combined my passion for teaching and learning with my artistic passion and began creating creative documentaries and other educational media. I began incorporating more technology in my classroom lessons as well. It was my desire to transition from the classroom to a professional career in filmmaking and television. Ultimately, I resigned from the DeKalb County School System, but rather than working in "the industry", I spent a great deal of time dealing with medical issues and addressing the many needs of my four wonderful and talented children who had never had the luxury of having their mother at home, full-time. After a couple of years at home, with one child graduated from college, I felt compelled to return to the classroom. I was presented the awesome opportunity to teach Theatre Arts at the incredible Inman Middle School.
I am excited about this journey and look forward to cultivating the talent of a new generation of diverse students!
Although I experienced major success in college, I had more challenges entering the professional world of theatre after completing my undergraduate degree. Immediately after college graduation, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. I began my mandatory part time career as an Army officer. Shortly after I was provided with a unique opportunity from Teach For America. I was chosen from thousands of applicants to join the corps as a creative and non-traditionally trained teacher in an urban, under-resourced area. I was sent to Baltimore, Maryland where I was one of the first middle school drama teachers. I was allowed to create my own curriculum and produce the school’s first play. I later moved to Atlanta and obtained a position at the only performing arts elementary/middle school in the area, DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts(DESA). I became co-director of the school’s most prestigious touring performance group, Shows To Go and a spokesperson for DESA. My tenure at DESA was interrupted by a call to active military duty in 2003. I was deployed to Iraq as a promotable US Army Captain. I served as Company Executive Officer and Assistant to the Central Command J-1 in charge of US Postal Congressionals. Traveling to Iraq was like traveling back to my childhood. It was violent, harsh and unstable. To cope, I mentally went back to that enchanted garden, but this time I had a video camera. I began capturing footage of my experiences and writing and recording stories and narrations. I survived deployment . Within a year of my return, I completed a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies. I was voted DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts 2006 Teacher of the Year. I was also provided a unique opportunity to work Robert Townsend in the reality show "Playhouse 22", featuring great new writers, directors and creative producers. I was a finalist whose work was featured on the show. I started a private theatre company and continued to work as a Theatre Arts educator at DESA. I cultvated great talent. Many of my students have gone on to pursue and maintain professional careers in the arts.
Though live theatre was my first love, in 2012, I earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Motion Pictures and Television. I combined my passion for teaching and learning with my artistic passion and began creating creative documentaries and other educational media. I began incorporating more technology in my classroom lessons as well. It was my desire to transition from the classroom to a professional career in filmmaking and television. Ultimately, I resigned from the DeKalb County School System, but rather than working in "the industry", I spent a great deal of time dealing with medical issues and addressing the many needs of my four wonderful and talented children who had never had the luxury of having their mother at home, full-time. After a couple of years at home, with one child graduated from college, I felt compelled to return to the classroom. I was presented the awesome opportunity to teach Theatre Arts at the incredible Inman Middle School.
I am excited about this journey and look forward to cultivating the talent of a new generation of diverse students!