Staff

Heather Havel
Curriculum and Administrative Coordinator

Heather has been with Drama Kids of the Triad since 2015. She received her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts with a minor in dance from East Carolina University. She also has her Early Childhood Credentials for birth to age five. Heather has starred in Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors,” was assistant director for Disney’s “Aristocrats Kids” and “The Wizard of Oz,” and was director for an adaptation of “Snow Queen” for the local community theater group, POPs, in Okinawa, Japan. Her love for teaching began when her now 6th and 9th graders were born. She has also been a substitute teacher overseas and for Guilford County, but she truly loves sharing the world with students through the lens of drama!

Karen Hincher
Lead Teacher/Media & Administrative Assistant

Karen Hincher is a Kernersville native who is excited about her 5th year of teaching with Drama Kids! She graduated from Brevard College in 2015 with her degree in Theatre Studies and loves using her education to teach kids how to love theatre! When she’s not teaching, she’s also working as a stage manager and director with local community theatre. In her free time, she loves to play volleyball, play board games, listen to music, and hang out with her awesome husband and their herd of cats!

Kimberly Hume
Substitute Teacher

Kimberly has been a Lead Teacher with Drama Kids since 2010. She enjoys helping students find something to love about themselves, focus on their own unique potential, and reach beyond what they imagine possible. Kimberly has recently completed a certificate course in American Literature and Culture from Harvard as well as her level 3 certification in American Sign Language. She is a Veteran 20+ year Home school Educator and began acting at age 7. Recently, she has appeared in multiple on-screen features and background roles in several major motion pictures. In her spare time, Kimberly loves to train and hike with her four dogs, read, sew (she is our resident Drama Kids Costume Designer/Seamstress), write, act, and bake.

Elyse Rodriguez
Lead Drama Teacher

Elyse has been a teacher for Drama Kids for five years. She recently graduated with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from UNCG and works as a pediatric SLP. Elyse also holds a BFA in acting from Elon University and loves combining her passions of acting and speech in her Drama Kids classroom. She is a proud Ravenclaw who enjoys spending time with her son and two dogs.

Judy Thompson
Lead Drama Teacher\Teacher Mentor

Judy has been a Lead Teacher with Drama Kids of the Triad for over 8 years. She now supports the rest of the teaching staff by serving as our Drama Kids Teaching Mentor. She is originally from Germanton, North Carolina and has been acting since high school. Judy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Math and Physical Education from Guilford College. She taught math in the public school system for many years and then entered the corporate world to work for CPA firms, finally retiring from PAYCHEX, Inc. In her spare time, Judy is involved in community theatre and has performed with the Carolina Skyline Players. However, her most important role to date is playing “Grandmother” to her two grandsons, ages 9 and 15. She is excited to be a part of our Drama Kids family and has a true desire to make a lasting difference in the lives of her students.

Daphney Cochran
Lead Drama Teacher

Daphney Cochran has been very blessed and honored to be Teaching her 10th year with Drama Kids!! And so thankful to be called
“Drama Mama” to such amazing and talented future actors and actresses!! She absolutely loves watching her drama students grow daily and shine in the Spotlight!! She graduated from Forsyth Tech in 1998 with a Child Development Credentials 1 and 2 degrees. She taught Pre-K for 20 yrs after this degree! She also pursued a childhood dream and completed her Degree in Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School in 2016!! She then worked weekends hosting princess parties while designing nails and hair at a local children’s salon!! In her spare time, she loves making precious moments and memories with her teenage daughter “Lilly” and  family!!

Nic Kursonis
Lead Drama Teacher

This is Nic’s third year with Drama Kids. He’s a Kernersville native but recently graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Media Communication. The past four years he was part of a sketch comedy group called Friday Night Live. Now that he’s back home he’s working on writing his first TV show while also pursuing a career in acting. His life was changed when his theatre teacher invested in him and he hopes to pay it forward.

Caitlin Holland
Lead Drama Teacher

Caitlin is happy to be back with Drama Kids for her 4th year. Caitlin started her love for theatre at a young age participating in children’s theatre productions for military kids overseas. After moving back to the United States, she continued to work in theatre and has a background in acting, dance, stage management, script writing, and directing. Caitlin is also the manager and children’s director for Triangle Fitness in Kernersville.

Gwen Poole
Lead Drama Teacher

Gwendolyn Poole loves many aspects of theatre from writing scripts, performing, creating costumes, set design, and teaching theatre basics. As she embarks on her third year with Drama Kids of the Triad, Gwen hopes to broaden the minds of young students to the world of theatre by building confidence, developing teamwork and camaraderie, and creating a safe space for students to express themselves creatively. Gwen also does the same with drama as the Liturgical Arts Director at her church as well as including other artistic components within the Ministry. Gwen has served as a Teaching Artist and/or Artistic Director for several Summer Camps, STEAM programs, faith-based organizations while using her degrees in sociology and drama to enhance her writing, directing, and producing short dramas. Gwen looks forward to seeing how drama will expand the minds of the students during the 2021/2022 school year.

Nicole Serrin
Lead Drama Teacher

Nicole is excited to be teaching her third year with Drama Kids! She has been passionate about theater since she was a child and feels it not only gave her a wonderful outlet to channel her creativity, it was also a fantastic way to build her confidence. Nicole is a happily
married mom of four who in her spare time likes to garden, paint, be near water, and hang out with her family, pets, and friends. She also enjoys participating in local community theater whenever she can!

Matt Adams
Lead Drama Teacher

Matt Turner Adams is a director, actor, and teacher in the Triad of North Carolina. A native of Washington DC, Matt moved to the Piedmont in the mid-nineties and has resided in Greensboro ever since. A regular in community theatre productions from a young age, Matt developed a love for directing and teaching the art of theatre upon graduating from high school. He has been on staff with the City Arts Drama Center in Greensboro since 2010 as a director and teacher, specializing in helping students see the benefits of theatre in all aspects of life. Originally joining Drama Kids in 2014, Matt is thrilled to make his return to the program after a 3-year absence. Matt married his high school sweetheart, Morgan, in 2013 and they currently live in the heart of downtown Greensboro with their son Link, and grumpy puggle, River.

Join our team! Drama Kids is seeking dynamic and fun part time teachers to meet our growing class schedule.  Please visit our Contact Us Page and submit your interest.