Dear Artist-scholars and Families, 

Welcome to Theatre Arts Production Company School in the North Bronx!  I am your Principal, Hannah Kehn and I cannot wait to welcome you this fall.

Who am I? As a young person the arts were a huge part of my life and experience in school.  This fall will be my tenth year as a principal. I graduated from Northeastern University where teaching experiences in Ghana and Boston confirmed my desire to become a teacher.  I taught English and writing for six years at a performing arts magnet school in Brooklyn and went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching from Pace University and a master’s degree in school leadership from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. As a Catapult Fellow in Denver, I learned from schools and leaders across the country who are effectively preparing students to become innovators. In addition to my experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal (including a founding principal for 7 years), I have experience supporting schools to strategically use the arts as a catalyst for growth.  

What does it mean to be an artist-scholar? 

The term “artist-scholar” strives to communicate that at TAPCo, we value academics and the arts equally and we recognize the potential power of arts-integration into core academics.  Artist-scholars don’t just memorize or learn information, they create something new and useful with their knowledge.  

When I hand each of you a diploma, it will not only represent that we met certain criteria, but that we created something unique, something necessary, and something in which we take tremendous pride.

Sincerely,

Hannah Kehn, Principal

*Artivism:  “The artivist (artist + activist) uses her artistic talents to fight and struggle against injustice and oppression— by any medium necessary.”  - MK Asante from Bigger than Hip Hop.