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Organization Profile

Since 1974, the Educational Arts Team, a private nonprofit organization, has developed and conducted countless educational and social workshops for children and families and teachers. The Team's unique approach of responding to community needs and requests from educators, by integrating the arts into the educational curriculum, has led to a high demand for their workshop programs.

Through collaboration with the school districts, community-based organizations and foundation and corporate sponsors, the Educational Arts Team offers a menu of in-school and after-school workshop programs for children and families and operates a popular summer arts camp located near Liberty State Park. The Educational Arts Team has recently expanded beyond Jersey City to include school districts in Hudson and Essex counties.

The Team provides a range of programs to meet the needs of elementary schools and the community including workshops for students K-12 and professional development workshops for teachers. The programs use age-appropriate drama, writing, storytelling, puppetry, music, dance and visual art activities as strategies for promoting learning, teaching basic academic subject areas, encouraging positive social experiences and promoting positive relationships.

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Educational Arts Team Staff

Carmine Tabone (Executive Director) is the founder and director of the Jersey City based Educational Arts Team. Since its inception in 1974, the Team has been exploring ways in which to use the arts to teach basic human values and academic skills.

Tabone has served as a board member and vice-president of the American Alliance of Theater and Education, as president of the Hudson County Coalition of Non-Profit Agencies, and as a Regional Governor for the Children's Theater Association of America. He is an adjunct faculty member at New York University teaching a graduate course for theatre education students: "Theatre Practices: Leaders in Educational Theatre."

He has conducted in-service training workshops for young people, drama leaders, teachers, librarians, and parents at regional, national and international conferences including the International Drama Education Association's conference in Bergen, Norway, 2001 and Ottawa, Canada in 2004.

He has written "An Evaluation Assessment of Pop-Up Puppet Theatre: A Project Aimed at Improving the Oral Presentation and Writing Skills of Third Graders," Youth Theatre Journal, Vol. 18, 2004. He has co-authored a number of articles that include: "Children of the World: A Multi-cultural Drama Program in a Multicultural Environment," Youth Theatre Journal, Vol. 5, No. 4, 1991; "Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad: A Drama Workshop for Junior High and High School Students," Stage of the Art, Vol. II, No. 3, Spring 2000; and "Martians Invade the Classroom: A Workshop in Language Learning," in the The Journal of the Imagination In Language Learning Vol. VI, 2002.

Dom J. Buccafusco (Program Manager) has worked with the Team since 1980 as a creative drama facilitator for elementary and junior high school students. He attended the New School For Social Research and received a BA in English/Theatre from Jersey City State College and his MA in Educational Theatre from NYU. Since 1983 Dom has served on the faculty and staff for the Music, Dance & Theatre Department at New Jersey City University as an Acting Instructor/Stage Director.

Lorenzo Veguilla (Office Manager) as chief set and graphics designer for the Team, Lorenzo started as a teen in the Team's teen drama group and has gone on to give 20 years to the Educational Arts Team as a staff member. Having studied at the Manhattan School of Printing, he designs all promotional material for the Team. Lorenzo also oversees all workshop scheduling and evaluations.

Robert Albrecht (Music Specialist) has worked with the Team since 1982 as a musician and workshop leader.  Albrecht has also been an Associate Professor in the Media Arts Deparment at New Jersey City University since 1997.  Dr. Albrecht is the author of numerous articles on the relationship of media, the arts and culture including “Teaching as a Creative Activity: Seven Ideas About Creativity and the Experience of Education,” “Mars Invades the Classroom: A Workshop in Language Learning,” (with Carmine Tabone), “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad: A Drama Workshop for Junior High School Students,” (with Carmine Tabone), “Electric Children: Orality and Literacy in the Age of Technological Change,” and “Children of the World: Multi-Cultural Education in a Multi-Cultural Environment,” (with Carmine Tabone).  Albrecht’s book, Mediating the Muse: A Communications Approach to Music, Media and Cultural Change (2005), was awarded the Dorothy Lee Prize for its contribution to “scholarship in the ecology of culture.” 

Roxanna Arrojo (Drama Specialist) has been working for the Educational Arts Team for over five years. She graduated from New Jersey City University with a major in Musical Theatre. She has worked as a drama teacher for the Upward/College Bound program at New Jersey City University and as a vocal teacher at Holy Family Academy & Serrano's Music Academy.

Kelly B. Darr (Art Specialist), a graduate from Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA Painting/Printmaking, Kelly studied Foil Imaging under Virginia Meyers at the University of Iowa in the development of her new Light Painting process. Kelly brings her special knowledge of design, love for the imagination and a diverse range of fine arts skills to the classroom as part of the Pop-Up Puppet Theatre series as well as many other programs offered by the Educational Arts Team.  Click here for her website.

Sobha Kavanakudiyil Paredes (Educational Theatre Specialist) received her M.A. in the Program in Educational Theatre at NYU and her B.A. in Communications/Journalism from Fordham University.  She enjoys working as a Teaching Artist with the Educational Arts Team and working with children of all ages all over Jersey City and NYC.  Sobha is an adjunct professor at New York University, and Hudson County Community College.  Sobha has performance training in stage, film and television at: Capes Coaching, HB Studios, TVI Actors Studio and has enjoyed performing for audiences in New York, New Jersey, and Korea.

Peter LaBrusciano (Drama Specialist) Peter is a teaching Artist, Actor, Director and Mask Maker. Originally from Vermont, Peter graduated from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education with a Master’s Degree in Educational Theatre. He also received a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Iowa. For eleven years Peter was an actor in professional theatre in Vermont and Iowa. He is currently the Artistic Director of The Simpleton Circus, a Theatre Company focused on creating original mask and puppet productions. 

Dina Bruno (Drama Specialist) has been teaching for over 10 years in and out of schools in both New York and New Jersey. She also works as an actress in the theatre with an emphasis on Improvisational Performances. Dina's credits include off off-Broadway, cabaret theatre, and a number of independent films. She has also toured with theatre companies performing in NYC, Toronto, and Massachusetts.

Administrative Personnel

Carlos Ponton                            Katie Prins

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History of the Educational Arts Team

The Educational Arts Team is a non-profit agency based in Jersey City, New Jersey. Since 1974, the Educational Arts Team has been serving the social and educational needs of youth. The Team is a group of educators professionally trained in the visual and performing arts, who believe art should exist in every child's learning world.

1974: The Educational Arts Team began its work in Jersey City by conducting art and drama workshops in youth centers and at a summer arts camp.

1975: In response to a request from principals concerned about racial tensions in their schools, the organization developed a youth theater program which fostered a sense of tolerance and respect for others among high school students.

1979: Several elementary schools invited the Educational Arts Team to develop a program for younger children that celebrated cultural diversity and mutual respect.

Early 1980s: The Team developed a program called Children of the World, in which stories from different countries were presented in large assembly programs.

1983: The agency received an award from Save the Children Foundation for the Camp Liberty summer program.

1985: Puppet plays were produced for housing projects, schools and day care centers throughout Jersey City.

1986: The Team received a citation for Special Achievement from the American Alliance of Theatre Educators.

Late 1980s and early 1990s: The Team invited a number of British and Irish drama educators and theater companies to visit Jersey City. This collaboration led to the development of the Bringing Literature to Life program.

1996: The Bringing Literature to Life program was featured on CTN's Classroom Close-up.

1998: The agency was featured on Comcast Cable's Meet the Newsmakers.

1999: Pop-Up Puppet Theatre goes district wide in Jersey City to every 3rd grade classroom.

2000: Television Productions expands its scope to deal with violence and substance abuse with middle schools.

2001: Completed a series of Professional Development workshops for teachers in the East Orange public elementary schools.

2002: E.S.P.A. Literacy scores increase 36% district wide in Jersey City schools where the Educational Arts Team had been conducting workshops for over two years.

2004: Pop-Up Puppet Theatre research published in Youth Theatre Journal, assessing the three year, district-wide project.

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