Shane Burke has been teaching at Eastside High School and Coeburn Middle School since 2009. During his time with Wise County Public Schools, he has directed eleven state-winning one-act plays and numerous school musicals and plays. He received a Bachelor's in Music Education from East Tennessee State University and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction: Theatre Pedagogy from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Shane lives in Norton, VA with his beautiful and talented wife, Amber, their three children, Matthew, Jenna, and Andy, a clumsy poodle named Dolly, and a dramatic chihuahua named Cricket. He has enjoyed working on The Wizard of Oz with such a talented and committed group of young artists.

This is Melissa Galliher‘s 6th summer as music director and it is such an honor for her to be a part of the WCPS Summer Arts Academy team. Melissa has taught for 28 years and this will be her 21st year teaching in Wise County. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and a Master’s degree in Music Education from Florida State University. Along with working at St. Paul Elementary School, Melissa is a very proud mom, a teacher with the Lyric Children’s Chorus, and a church musician. She is so proud to have the privilege to watch these fabulous students blossom on the stage.

Heather Marchant is the technical director for the theatre program at Eastside High School. She is also the head speech coach and assistant theatre coach there as well. Heather studied Theatre at UVA Wise with a focus on design and production.  In 2004, she was in the Wizard of Oz for the very first time, and it was the show that truly inspired her love for theatre. She is forever grateful for Ms. Debbie Ogle, the first director who took her on a journey to Oz. It is that love and dedication that have inspired Heather to work with the next generation of theatre kiddos. Some of Heather’s favorite shows that she has worked on are The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Little Shop of Horrors, and Groundhog Day. When she isn’t working on a show, she enjoys watching reruns of Survivor, Sci-Fi movies, and rediscovering her childhood through 90’s country music. Heather hopes you enjoy the magic that has been created this summer. To Oz! 

Ms Angel is an employee of Wise County Public Schools, where she works in PreK at St. Paul Elementary. The Wizard of Oz is the third summer program she has helped with. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, crafts, and watching true crime. She hopes all the children have enjoyed this production and looks forward to many more years of working with the Arts!! 

Heather Ayers is an educator with Wise County Public Schools and most recently directed the dance education program at St. Paul Elementary School. This fall, she will join the faculty at Coeburn Middle School. A longtime supporter of theatre and the performing arts in Wise County, Ms. Ayers is thrilled to be part of the WCPS Summer Arts Academy staff. Throughout this production of The Wizard of Oz, she has enjoyed helping students develop their performance skills through dance and staging while also collaborating with fellow educators on costumes, props, and production design. Ms. Ayers is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such talented students and creative colleagues and is proud to be part of an experience that fosters confidence, creativity, and a love for the arts.

Kyleigh is a junior at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with aspirations to become a Nurse Anesthetist. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking, volunteering at church, and competing in pageantry. A proud alumna of the WCPS Summer Arts Academy and Eastside High School’s theatre program, where she won 8 VHSL state championships and a state acting award, Kyleigh has continued to share her passion for the arts by mentoring young performers throughout Wise County. While at EHS, she served as the student director and choreographer for numerous productions, including Shrek, the Musical, and Beetlejuice Jr. She most recently served as the choreographer for UHS’s production of The SpongeBob Musical. From staging and costumes to choreography, character development, and social media promotion, she is grateful for the opportunity to help with the WCPS Summer Arts Academy and inspire the next generation of young performers while sharing her love of dance and theatre. She wants to give a special thank you to her family and former coaches who fostered her love for the arts. All Glory be to God! 

Ms. Sue is originally from Marion, VA and recently relocated to Norton to live with her daughter, Heather. She has been a theatre mom since 2002 when her daughter was in her first show. Since then, she has been all over watching plays, going to theatre competitions, and helping out with shows. Whether it’s making tissue flowers, cutting out foam, or steaming costumes, she is always willing to jump in with a helping hand. This is her first year working with the Wise County Summer Performing Arts Academy and she has loved having the opportunity to help bring this show to life. In her free time, Ms. Sue loves watching Say Yes to the Dress, doing arts and crafts, and dreaming about sitting in the sun on a beach somewhere. She hopes everyone will enjoy this show!