Katie Lebhar Black-Bowling is a veteran arts educator with over 30 years of experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre, a MA in Theatre Directing and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Curriculum Design.
Katie has served Episcopal School of Jacksonville in numerous roles, including theatre teacher and director, Performing Arts Department Chair, and currently Director of Fine Arts, overseeing a comprehensive visual and performing arts programs at all three campuses. She was named Florida Theatre Teacher of the Year in 2006 and Florida Arts Administrator of the Year in 2021, and has presented widely on arts education, curriculum, and program development.
In May of 2024, Katie was ordained to the diaconate after discerning a call to more deeply unite her love of the arts with her vocation in the Church. She is a part of the teaching team for Theological Arts on the Munnerlyn campus and leads PreK and Kindergarten chapels at the Beaches campus. Ms. Black-Bowling believes deeply in the power of the arts to form faith, community, and imagination.
Mark S. Zimmerman, Visual Arts Department Chair
Mr. Zimmerman leads the photography program and is the Visual arts department chair, brings a global perspective shaped by his extensive exhibition history. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design and the University of Florida, Zimmerman’s work has been shown across the United States and internationally, including exhibitions in China and Spain. His accolades—including Best in Show at Climate Gallery in New York—underscore his professional credibility. In the classroom, he challenges students to think critically about image-making while grounding them in strong technical foundations.
Ms. Krueger has been part of the Episcopal community since 1999. With a BFA in visual communication from Jacksonville University and 25 years of classroom experience, she brings both expertise and deep institutional knowledge. A working artist specializing in colored pencil, watercolor, and acrylic, Krueger’s work is visible throughout Jacksonville. Her multifaceted life as an artist, singer, and distance runner models balance and passion for students.
Madison Schott, Middle School and 9th Grade 3D Art
Ms. Schott is a ceramic artist known for pushing the boundaries of functional ceramics. Her work challenges traditional notions of craft, blending fine art sensibilities with accessibility and use. Exhibited nationally and regionally, Schott brings a contemporary, research-driven approach to clay, inspiring students to see ceramics as both expressive and intellectually rigorous.
Rebecca Campbell, Upper School Draw, Paint and Print
Ms. Campbell holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the University of Florida and has exhibited her work both regionally and nationally. Her artistic explorations of nature, femininity, the subconscious, and the surreal inform her teaching, encouraging students to pursue meaningful, concept-driven work. Her experience as an artist-in-residence further enriches her classroom practice.
Bob Kirk, Upper School Ceramics
Mr. Kirk is a ceramic artist whose career has been shaped by a deep commitment to aesthetic principles and the exploration of wood-fired pottery. A 1991 BFA graduate in Ceramics from the University of North Florida, Kirk built his first wood kiln in Atlantic Beach in 1998 and went on to co-found Atlantic Beach Pottery in 1999, where he helped establish a nationally recognized residency program. His international experience includes wood firing in Echizen, Japan, where he later taught master workshops and collaborated with renowned potters Fujita Tomio and Oya Uichiro. In addition to teaching at ESJ, Mr. Kirk currently works from his home studio, built in 2015–2016, continuing to explore a wide range of materials and firing techniques.
Andrea Bottin, Middle School and 9th Grade Photography
Ms. Bottin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. As the owner of Andrea Bottin Photography, she has extensive experience in family, portrait, real estate, and branding photography. With more than a decade of teaching experience spanning grades K–12, Andrea has taught a wide range of visual arts courses, including Upper School Studio Art, 2D & 3D Art, and Comprehensive Art Portfolio. Ms. Bottin is passionate about creating a structured yet inspiring classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and empowered to grow as young artists. She believes that helping students discover and develop their own creative voice builds confidence, motivation, and a deeper investment in learning. Through both technical instruction and imaginative exploration, Ms. Bottin encourages students to embrace creativity, take risks, and view mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. She is excited to share her passion for photography with the ESJ community and inspire students through creative expression.
Greg Hersey, Director of Instrumental Music (Percussion Specialist)
Mr. Hersey is a percussionist and educational artist who continues to make his mark in the music industry. Greg is an active member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, as well as the Percussive Arts Society, regularly attending the annual PAS International Convention. He holds a master’s degree in percussion performance from the University of North Florida School of Music . He has studied with renowned instructors Charlotte Mabrey, Kevin Garry, Danny Gottlieb, and Benjamin Wiseman. Greg actively performs for musical theater productions, BayKings Band, local musical acts, orchestras and various schools as a guest clinician and artist. Greg has competed in the Guitar Center Drum Off and was 1 of 30 semi-finalists nationwide, representing the state of Florida and southeast region. He has also been a grand finalist in the Blue Man Group Drum Off in Orlando, Florida. Greg also has been featured in a full length episode on the drumming podcast “Drumeogab” hosted by Seamus Evely. Most notably, Mr. Hersey was chosen to be a keynote clinician for The Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) which is the world’s largest drum and percussion event.
Alexander Hernandez, Middle School Instrumental Music (Woodwind Specialist)
Mr. Hernandez had the good fortune of growing up on the Gulf Coast of Florida, where he took full advantage of all the wonderful musical opportunities for which the area is so well known. Coached and mentored by some of the greatest performers and innovators from the Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie Bands from the time he was in seventh grade, he enjoyed an early and illustrious introduction to jazz. These local legends passed on their work ethic, as well as their passion to inspire future generations, so Alex went on to complete two majors at the prestigious University of North Florida School of Music: Classical Performance (clarinet) and Jazz Performance (saxophone). Alex is now an established classical clarinetist and has performed with several ensembles including the First Coast Opera and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He performs locally and internationally at festivals including Jazz a Vienne, Umbria, and Montreux.
Carolyn Wells ’03, Director of Choral Music
Ms. Wells teaches Honors Chorale, Concert Chorale, Middle School Chorale, Treble Ensemble, Men’s Ensemble, AP Music Theory and sponsors the service club Music for a Cause. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Education in Choir and Piano from the University of Florida and her master’s of Music Education in Secondary Choral Education from The Florida State University. Prior to her current position, she taught middle school choir in Duval Public Schools and was the treble choir director at the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus for six years. She has presented sessions for teachers at the Georgia Music Educators Conference, the Florida Conference for Independent Schools, and UNF. In 2013, she was nominated for Teacher of the Year at Oceanway Middle School and was chosen as one of the top 15 Teacher of the Year finalists in Duval County. In 2019, she was awarded the Timothy Award at Episcopal. In 2021, she finished serving a two year term as the Florida Vocal Association’s District Chair, coordinating All-State, Solo and Ensemble and District Music Performance Assessment for the county.
Dr. Dominique Edwards Clance, Accompanist and Music Instructor
Dr. Clance is a music educator, pianist, conductor, and scholar with more than 15 years of experience teaching and leading music programs across K–12 schools, higher education, and community arts organizations. She currently teaches 6th grade music, and serves as the accompanist for all of our choral and theatre programming. She holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida, a Master of Arts in Piano Performance from Florida Atlantic University, and a Bachelor of Music in Piano from the University of Florida. Throughout her career, she has directed choral and orchestral ensembles, taught courses including AP Music Theory, piano, music appreciation, and musical theater, and served in leadership roles at Saint Edward’s School, Oak Hall School, Santa Fe College, and the University of Florida.
Dawn Maldonado, Director of Dance
Ms. Maldonado teaches the upper school dance classes and oversees the school’s extensive dance programming on all campuses. She grew up in Jacksonville, and moved to Los Angeles to work as a professional dancer, model, and actor in Los Angeles for nearly 10 years. While in Los Angeles, she graduated from Saint Mary’s of California with her Bachelors in Performing Arts. Maldonado was a principal company member of the Antelope Valley Ballet. She graduated from Hollins University with her Master of Fine Arts in Dance in 2017 after relocating back to Florida. She has been teaching dance and choreographing for more than 20 years. She has won several awards for her choreography, and had a piece selected to perform at the National High School Dance Festival in 2018.
Some of her credits include Nickelodeon’s Victorious, recurring sketch comedy appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Mikey Day, over 20 music videos with artists such as The Plain White T’s and My Chemical Romance, films such as Walk Hard: A Dewey Cox Story, national commercials for brands such as Coca-Cola, and KIA, national tours with Radio Disney, and has worked with prestigious choreographers such as Anne Fletcher and Michael Rooney. She trained primarily during this time at the EDGE Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Margie Haber Studios, and The Groundlings Theater and is a member of SAG/AFTRA.
Andrea Hagan, Middle School Dance Teacher and Assistant Dance Director
Ms. Hagan began her dance training in Jacksonville, Florida and has taught and choreographed at many studios and schools across Florida and Georgia such as Dansations Performing Arts Center, Grace Conservatory, Atlantic Coast Dance Studio, Lavilla School of the Arts, the University of Florida, the Accotink Academy, Landrum Dance Team, and Project S.L.I.D.E. Andrea was the lower school dance director at Episcopal School of Jacksonville for 4 years before becoming Episcopal’s Middle School Dance Teacher and Assistant Dance Director. She also works with Upper School, choreographs for the Annual Dance Concert, and Upper School Musicals. After graduating college with a BA in Sociology she continued her dance education by attending workshops/festivals such as Tap Kids, Tapestry, Tampa Bay Tap Fest, and the Broadway Teachers Workshop. Andrea has won numerous awards for her choreography at competitions including Tap Choreography Award from Platinum Dance Competition and Choreography Pick from Artists Simply Human. She is also currently part of a professional dance company Rhythm Theory Tap Ensemble, that performs and travels all over Florida.
Colton Spurlock, Spatial Design and Technical Theatre Instructor
Mr. Spurlock has served at Episcopal School of Jacksonville since 2018 as the school’s Scenic Designer and Spatial Design Instructor, blending professional theatrical design experience with a deep commitment to mentoring young artists. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from the University of Florida in 2018, following a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Sam Houston State University in 2015. In addition to his work in education, Mr. Spurlock has contributed to professional and collegiate productions through scenic design, scenic painting, projection design, construction, and technical theatre. His professional credits include work with Asolo Repertory Theatre, Hippodrome Theatre, Tilted Windmill Theatricals, The Actor’s Warehouse, WWE NXT, and the University of Florida. He was recognized this year with an Applause Award for Scenic Design of Urinetown: The Musical.
Jono Hustis, Upper School Theatre Director
Mr. Hustis has been a member of the Episcopal School of Jacksonville faculty since 2018, where he first served as Middle School Theatre Director before stepping into his current role as Upper School Theatre Director. A passionate educator and theatre artist, he is committed to helping students develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts through both performance and collaborative storytelling.
Before joining Episcopal, Mr. Hustis built an accomplished career in New York City as a performer, teaching artist, and puppeteer. He is especially known for his work with the acclaimed Story Pirates, where he brought children’s original stories to life through improvisation, music, and live performance. In addition to his work on stage, he taught theatre throughout New York City, inspiring young artists while cultivating classrooms centered on imagination, collaboration, and joyful creativity.
Mr. Hustis earned his BFA in Acting from Syracuse University and has performed in regional theatre, national tours, television, film, and live productions, including FOUND!, Passion (featured on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center), and numerous television appearances. His professional experience, combined with years of teaching and directing, brings a dynamic, real-world perspective to Episcopal’s theatre program, where he encourages students to take creative risks, tell meaningful stories, and grow both on and off the stage.
Langdon Zimmer, Middle School Theatre Director
Ms. Zimmer began as an early education teacher, but her passion for the performing arts opened doors to begin her work in theatre education at Grace Episcopal Day School where she directed the productions. She also directed Children’s Theatre at Orange Park Community Theatre. As a mom of two Episcopal students who were heavily involved in theatre, she began as a theatre volunteer and was soon hired as a theatre adjunct, serving to assist the Upper School theatre program. In this time Ms. Zimmer continued formal training in the performing arts, pursuing professional development opportunities through the Florida Association of Theatre Education and Broadway Teachers Workshop. She became the Middle School Theatre Instructor in 2022 and is thrilled to bring her decades of practice in Theatre for Young Audiences to our community. Ms. Zimmer is known for her ability to excite middle school students of all levels of interest and ability and to create working ensembles who value the process of creation and value each other’s contributions.
Ms. Zimmer also works closely with the Summer Programs staff ensuring that arts camps are a vital part of the summer program offerings and working with younger students that reflect her beginnings as an artist educator.
Susanne Dailey, Music Director
Susanne Dailey is a dedicated music educator and musician with extensive experience teaching in public and private schools across New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Florida. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Arts in Music Education from Appalachian State University.
An accomplished accompanist, she has served as an organist and pianist in churches throughout her career and has performed with the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus at the Vatican, Carnegie Hall, and in Greece. Trained in the Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk methodologies and certified as a Kindermusik Instructor, she is passionate about nurturing young musicians and fostering an enduring love of music.
Since 2006, Susanne has served as Music Director at Episcopal School of Jacksonville, St. Mark’s Campus, where she teaches Pre-K through 5th grade general music.Her classroom is a vibrant, inclusive space built on active, hands-on learning. Students sing, move, play instruments, and perform together while building confidence and joy in music-making.
In addition to her work at St. Mark’s, she serves as a Training Choir Conductor with the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, helping young singers from across the Jacksonville area develop musical excellence, and a strong sense of belonging through the choral arts.
Susanne believes that music education plays a vital role in a child’s intellectual, emotional, social, and creative development, and she is committed to creating meaningful musical experiences that inspire joy, growth, and lifelong engagement with the arts.
Bebe Alexander, Visual Art Instructor
Ms. Alexander is an artist, educator, and arts advocate who has inspired young creatives at Episcopal School of Jacksonville for more than two decades. As the St. Mark’s Campus art teacher and curator of the acclaimed A Vision for Art exhibition, she is passionate about fostering creativity, confidence, and self-expression in children. Drawing on her background in fine arts and education, Bebe believes the creative process helps students develop resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Through her teaching and community engagement, she continues to make a lasting impact on Jacksonville’s arts and education landscape.
Emma Theus, Dance Instructor
Emma Theus is a dedicated dance educator, choreographer, and performer with extensive experience training and mentoring dancers of all ages. She comes to the St. Mark’s Campus after teaching dance and serving as a choreographer at Linda Dobbins Dance in AL where she instructed more than 300 students in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and musical theatre while fostering both technical excellence and artistic growth. Her passion for dance education led her to create and implement a preschool curriculum aligned with National Dance Education Organization standards, helping build a strong foundation for young dancers.
In addition to her teaching career, Emma performed as a member of the University of Florida Dazzlers, the official dance team of the Florida Gators, where she represented the university at athletic and community events while training at an elite level. Her background combines performance experience with a commitment to developing the next generation of dancers through positive mentorship and creative instruction. Alongside her dance accomplishments, Emma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Florida.
Sarah Hartley, Music Director
Ms. Hartley is a music educator and pianist with more than 15 years of experience teaching and working with music programs and organizations. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music from the University of North Florida and is certified in Orff Schulwerk through the American Orff Schulwerk Association, a nationally recognized approach to music education that integrates movement, singing, speech, and creative play.
Prior to joining Episcopal, Sarah taught private piano lessons for more than 12 years and served as an adjunct instructor in the Music Department at the University of North Florida for six years. Her diverse background as an educator and performer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her work with students.
Sarah is passionate about fostering musical growth, creativity, and confidence in young musicians. Through engaging, student-centered instruction, she encourages exploration, collaboration, and a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts.
Weatherly Donald, Lower School Theatre Specialist
Ms. Donald is a passionate and dedicated theater specialist in her 12th year at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. A proud alumna of the school herself, she brings a deep-rooted love and personal connection to her role every day. Ms. Donald holds a BA in Performing Arts from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Master’s Degree in Education from UNF.
From her earliest days as a student walking these same halls, Mrs. Donald has spent twelve years guiding young performers in building confidence, creativity, and collaboration through the magic of theater. Her students explore storytelling, character development, movement, and public speaking in a warm, supportive environment where every child feels seen and celebrated. Ms Donald is also a playwright and often writes the performances that grace the stage at the Beaches Campus.
She remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to the place that shaped her and is committed to helping every child discover the joy and power of finding their voice on stage.
Meredith Matthews, Visual Art Instructor
Ms. Matthews is an artist, educator, and arts advocate with more than a decade of experience inspiring creativity through learner-centered visual arts education. Since 2023, she has served as the Visual Arts Instructor at the Beaches Campus of Episcopal School of Jacksonville, where she fosters artistic exploration, technical skill, and creative confidence in her students. Previously, she was a Petway Teaching Artist Fellow with Cathedral Arts Project, designing and leading arts-integrated instruction for elementary and middle school students. Her career also includes teaching high school art and graphic design, museum education at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and MOCA Jacksonville, and more than a decade as a practicing professional painter.
Ms. Matthews holds a Master of Arts in Art Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Florida. She is an active leader in Jacksonville’s arts community, serving on the Board of Directors for Art with a Heart in Healthcare and the Exhibits Committee for the Beaches Museum. Her work has been featured in exhibitions, public art commissions, and professional publications, reflecting her commitment to nurturing creativity, artistic excellence, and lifelong learning through the visual arts.
Lexie Bristol, Dance Instructor
Lexie Bristol is a passionate dancer, educator, director, and choreographer specializing in contemporary and modern movement. During her time at Florida State College at Jacksonville, she was a dedicated company member, teaching assistant, and student production assistant with danceWORKS. She received her BA in Christian Ministry from Colorado Christian University and continues to unite her passion for the arts with her desire to serve. Her choreography has been showcased at various prestigious events and venues, including the Amelia Island Dance Festival, Disney Performing Arts, Midland University Benefit Concert, and the Florida School of the Arts Annual Concert, among many others.
As a dance director, Lexie has made a lasting impact in both educational and professional settings. With over a decade of experience in private school dance education, including at JCDS and now at ESJ, Lexie has developed comprehensive curricula for students aged 2 to 18 and led a thriving after-school enrichment program featuring over 15 classes in diverse dance styles. She is proud to have coached a National Championship Dance Team, performing across North Florida for five successful seasons. She is also the Owner and Director of Three Hearts Dance (THD), a project-based company creating dance films and performances for dancers of all ages.
