Meet our team

Meagan Bublitz is the dance department teacher at Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy.  Mrs. Bublitz joined the teaching staff at SASA in September 2008. 

 Mrs. Bublitz is a 2005 graduate of Western Michigan University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. She later received her dance education teaching certification from Wayne State University. 

 After graduation, Mrs. Bublitz taught at Perry Woodard School of Dance in Bay City, MI., before coming to SASA.  

During her time at SASA, she has been nominated for an All-Area Arts Award, has had her students invited to perform in many different venues, and has seen many students go on to continue their education in dance at major universities.  

Her students have been chosen to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival for the past 14 years, presenting both ensemble and student works, as well as three appearances in the Welcome Gala Celebration. 

Mrs. Bublitz and the Dance Concentration are active members of Michigan Dance Council and the National Dance Education Organization.

Jason Applegate received his teaching certification from the University of Colorado. He has two MA degrees from Marygrove College and has been teaching theatre and English since 2003. In that time, Mr. Applegate has directed over 50 productions and performed in over 25, including an award winning performance in Venus in Fur at the AACT state festival in 2017 and again in 2023 for Tiny Beautiful Things.

Mr. Applegate serves on the board of Michigan Educational Theatre Association. There he also holds the positions of playwright academy director, showcase director, and special guest coordinator. He was recently inducted into the META Hall of Fame (2023). In addition, Mr. Applegate has received the Excellence in Education Award from the Michigan Lottery (2022).

Mr. Applegate has also served as a playwright adjudicator for American Association of Community Theatre and on the play selection and production committee for Midland Center for the Arts. 

During the pandemic, Mr. Applegate edited 19 Shakespeare plays for virtual performances through the Shakespeare and Chill program at Midland Center for the Arts. He is also actively involved in community theatre in the Great Lakes Bay Region, especially at Creative 360, MCFTA, Bay City Players, and Pit & Balcony Theatre.

Mr. Applegate is proud to be a huge nerd when it comes to plays, musicals, comics, films, and almost anything popular culture. 

Emerald Joiner-Christensen was born and raised in Saginaw, MI. She joined the performing arts team at SASA as the Voice/Keyboard instructor in 2022. Emerald is a proud Handley and SASA Voice/Keyboard alumna. During her time at SASA, as a student, she studied in the Voice/Keyboard program under Jeremiah Kraniak and Michael Brush.

The name, Mrs. Joiner-Christensen is a mouthful, so at school she goes by Mrs. JC. Mrs. JC graduated with her B.A. in Music Education in 2016 from Saginaw Valley State University. At SVSU she focused her instrumental studies on piano and voice; however, she also spent a great deal of time in the steel band ensemble Valley Steel as well. 

After graduation, Mrs. JC opened her private music studio where she continues to teach piano and voice lessons to local students. She began her professional teaching career in Bay City Public Schools. She spent the last few years in Saginaw Township Community Schools and has finally made her way back home to SASA to teach in the same program that molded her into the musician she is today.

Mrs. JC has always been active in Saginaw's music community. She was a co-director and accompanist for Major Chords for Minors' youth choir, the choral accompanist and piano instructor at the Choral Palooza Summer Camp, and has made many appearances at Jazz on Jefferson over the years both as a performer and as a music director. She also works closely with the Saginaw Choral Society and recently played the role of Narrator in the SCS's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Mrs. JC is also the Music Director and founder of the Saginaw Youth Choir and Pans in the Park. These are two non-profit youth music organizations for students of all walks of life to have the opportunity to be a part of music making in the community.

Mrs. JC loves being a SASA dragon and very much looks forward to what the future holds for Voice/Keyboard and the rest of the performing arts team.