Faculty

Tovah Bodner Muro, a Rhode Island native, received her early training while dancing with Festival Ballet of Rhode Island, under the direction of the late Christine Hennessey. She attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, under scholarship as a Promising Artist, and received her BFA in dance from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has studied Irish dance technique and history at University College, Cork in Ireland and continued her studies with Cork native, Terry Songini.  As Artistic Director of The Robin's Egg, she has choreographed for RI2PN's 2007 concert RIPPED & 2008 concert Cheek 2 Cheek & many of their summer Frazier Fests, Alive With Dance in Amherst, MA, Island Moving Company's Flight of Steps and Open for Dancing in Newport, RI, as well as for The Theater Expansion's Annual concert, Dancestravaganza in both 2005 & 2007.   Her work has been commissioned by The Theater Expansion for the RI premiere of Painted Alice.  In addition to her choreography work, Ms. Bodner Muro works as a producer for the RI Independent Performers Network (RI2PN), was on the commitee that wrote and implemented the DANCE GSEs for the State Of RI,  currently serves as President of Rhode Island Dance Alliance, Inc., and is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization.  She has taught a broad range of dance techniques, composition, & anatomy/injury prevention throughout New England.  

 Karen Carpenter has been teaching theatre at JMW since 2005.  She is proud to be teaching one of the four art disciplines at Rhode Island’s first public arts high school.  Karen graduated in 2001 from Rhode Island College and completed the teaching certification program at Providence College in 2004.  She works professionally as a resident actor with The Gamm Theatre here in Pawtucket.   

 Jason Marchetti, a graduate of Rhode Island College is the history teacher at Jacqueline Walsh as well as the director of student activities.  With 3 years experience teaching at Talent Unlimited High School in New York City, Jason has a background in theater and arts-based education.

Recent student activities events include JMW’s first Cabaret Performance, our annual Holiday Canned Good Drive and the 2008 Semi-Formal Dance.  Student Council also coordinates spirit week, community service and fundraising activities.Kyle LaBranche:  is a math teacher at JMW.  He is certified in secondary math and this is his fourth year as a full-time teacher.  He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2004.  There he obtained a Bachelors of Science with High Distinction in Systems Engineering.  He is also the JMW debate coach and coaches wrestling and tennis throughout northern Rhode Island.

William Ashton, Prior to teaching, Bill Ashton served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman and naval air crewman for five years, ran a textile mill for three years, worked in finance and as a caretaker for mentally retarded adults.

He holds a B.A. in Literature with a minor in Theatre Arts from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and an M. Ed. from the University of Houston. He is the recipient of the John P. McGovern Master Teacher Award, the Francis P. Hulme Playwriting Award, and the Thompson Theater Playwriting Award. He has also attended the National Endowment for the Humanities Institutes, Shakespeare and the Rose Playhouse and Mark Twain and His Age. His acting credits include a summer stock season in Unto These Hills in Cherokee, NC.

 Kayla Campbell   has been employed with the Pawtucket School Department as a Spanish teacher since 2005.  Before coming to Pawtucket Ms. Campbell worked in Providence and Seekonk, Ma.  She has worked with students from age 3 to 21.  Ms. Campbell is a graduate of Providence College.

 Mr.Julio Sequeira, Mathematics:  Julio Sequeira is one of Jacqueline M. Walsh’s mathematics teachers and was appointed the year the school opened after a distinguished career in the Pawtucket School Department as a teacher and administrator. Most recently he was the principal of Joseph Jenks Jr. High School one of our sending schools and prior to that was the assistant principal at Charles E. Shea High School and Samuel Slater Junior High School.  His teaching career started at Joseph Jenks Junior High School where he taught math and held the positions of math coordinator, elected the ninth grade team leader by the faculty and was selected as the Pawtucket School Districts Teacher of the Year.

  Mr.Scott Beauregard first performed as a professional musician at the age of 15, playing electric bass at local clubs across Rhode Island.  At 17, he studied double bass with David Cobb and later graduated from Rhode Island College with a BA in music.  After performing with local artist for a few years, Scott found he enjoyed teaching music and enrolled in a graduate program to become a certified music educator. He has been teaching professionally for over thirteen years.

As an educator, Mr. Beauregard has over 15 years experience as a private instructor. He taught elementary music for over 8 years, where he has been known for developing outstanding vocal groups and releasing CD projects. Over the years, Scott has trained many student teachers from RIC, Providence College, and Brown University.  He has also developed and facilitated workshops in music technology and is an active member of RIMEA. 

As a performer, Scott has worked in numerous theatres, clubs, and other venues through out New England. He has a vast background of experience performing with college symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, theatre orchestras, jazz ensembles, and rock bands.  Scott is currently working with a jazz trio.  In his spare time he continues to compose music in various genres.

 Chris Kane graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1992 with a BFA in illustration. He studied sculpture and drawing for a year in Italy on RISD’s honors program in Rome. Chris apprenticed at many leading sculpture studios and foundries, including Skylight Studios in Massachusetts. Johnson Atelier Foundry in New Jersey, Paul King Foundry in Rhode Island and to Felix DeWeldon (sculptor of the Iwo Jima monument in Washington D.C.).  In 1995, Chris founded Kane Sculpture Studio, a full service bronze casting and sculpture service. Kane Sculpture cast large and small works for artists all over the East Coast. Chris’ public commissions in Rhode Island include the bronze Gaspee plaque in Warwick, the life-size bronze family of travelers at green airport, and the fiberglass sculpture of “Fanny the Elephant” in Slater park in Pawtucket.  Chris sold Kane Sculpture in 2003 to pursue teaching.  In 2005 Chris started teaching at JMW arts high school, designing a four year program in visual arts which will prepare students for art college and to pursue careers in the arts.

 Ms. Laura DiMaio is the newest member of the faculty in the area of science.  She has a BS in Biological Science from the University of Rhode Island and obtained her teaching certification through Providence College.  She was also the recipient of the Alpha Award in Biological Research at URI in 2004. Prior to becoming a science teacher, Laura worked at Rhode Island Hospital in substance abuse research for over 3 years.  Laura is a certified research scuba diver and is an avid member of the Rhode Island Women’s Soccer Association.