Staff

Valeria Marto
Director

Valeria is passionately committed to developing kids through drama as she herself benefited from it as a child. Valeria’s first appearance on stage was in middle school — an experience that changed her life forever! She devoted her teen and young adult years to studying theatre and participating in numerous productions. Upon graduating from Columbus State University, Valeria began her career in the corporate world. There she quickly learned that an articulate and expressive person, with dynamic presentation skills, would heavily outweigh the soft-spoken scholar. Joining Drama Kids International was a natural transition in 2007 when she brought the program to the Chattahoochee Valley. Today, Valeria lives out her passion by helping children to develop those essential skills that will make the journey through life much easier. In addition to overseeing the program locally, Valeria teaches her beloved Acting Academy program for students in middle and high school.

Leslie Cardwell
Program Manager

Leslie has been with Drama Kids since 2012. She has been teaching drama for more than 15 years and has over 25 years of experience in working with kids. Leslie is also a published playwright. She has written more than 20 plays and coaches our summer campers on writing their plays every year. Leslie LOVES and shares the vision of Drama Kids, which is to build confidence, communication skills, and acting abilities through drama, or in her own words, “seeing kids blossom and gain confidence through the skills they learn on stage.”

Brittany Campbell
Lead Drama Teacher

Brittany has been a Drama Kids teacher since 2014. Before working for us, she was a youth leader and taught young people to express themselves and worship through music and Dramatic Arts. Drama is nothing new to Miss Brittany. She has a divine passion for theater among other arts. She has performed in numerous productions with Family Theater and in musicals at The Springer Opera House. Brittany is also a voice instructor, professional children’s entertainer, and face painter. She feels very blessed to be a member of the DKI team. “I believe in this program. I believe in what it can do for these children and what the children who learn from Drama Kids will do for the world.”

Anitra Thompson
Drama Teacher

Anitra is excited to join the Drama Kids family! She was bitten by the acting bug at the tender age of seven, after watching Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on Full House. Being a twin herself, she was captivated and a dream was born! Since then, Anitra has appeared in many productions at her church, school, the Historic Liberty Theater, and the Springer Opera House in Columbus, GA. She’s also studied on-camera acting at yourACT Acting Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, and Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles, California. Anitra has coached, counseled, and worked with youth since she was 15. She loves interacting with children and cannot wait to share her love and knowledge for entertaining with her Drama Kids!

Tina Holder
Drama Teacher

Tina is BACK in Drama Kids after several years of focusing on being a mom to her three beautiful children and pursuing her acting career. She is a working actress and has appeared in four Network TV shows, three feature films, two short films, and a variety of plays. Tina also holds 30 credit hours in Elementary Education as part of her overall Bachelor of Science Degree. She taught Drama Kids in 2009 and 2010 and thoroughly enjoys working with children. She can relate to her Drama Kids because she also began acting while she was still in elementary school. She acted in both plays & musicals throughout Middle & High school. In High school, she won numerous acting awards, such as receiving Superiors in State Competitions, and “Best Actress” twice in regional competitions. During college, she competed in 2 scholarship pageants, in which both of her “talents” were monologues from classic plays.

Khaliah Wiggins
Drama Teacher

Khaliah is thrilled to join the Drama Kids Family! She has been no stranger to the stage. Since her elementary school days, Khaliah has been involved in theatre in various forms – from back-stage support, to stage managing, to starring in lead roles. Khaliah was in the first graduating class of the prestigious Rainey McCullers School of Performing Arts in Columbus, GA. While in high school, Khaliah was the Thespian president for Troup 8787. Khaliah has just finished her freshman year at the University of West Georgia and has been accepted by the CSU Theatre Department where she will be pursuing a degree in Theatre Education. Khaliah loves helping

Queen Briggs
Drama Teacher

Queen is a charismatic, bright teacher with a warm relationship with Theater! Queen was a part of Drama Kids herself while she was in elementary school. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Psychology at Troy State University. When she is not teaching, or studying, Queen hosts a variety of open-mic and other theatrical events in Columbus to boost the arts’ popularity in the area. Queen joined Drama Kids almost a decade after being a student herself to bring full circle the lessons, fun, and lifelong camaraderie that she received all those years ago.

Join our team! Click here to apply!
Drama Kids is seeking dynamic and fun part time teachers to meet our growing class schedule.