Innovations Academy (IA) Performing Arts teacher Natasha Starbuck-Smith has not only raised two children at Innovations Academy, but she also created and raised our beloved Performing Arts program that currently includes in-school instruction, an after-school option, and a community theatre that offers alumni, parents, and others a place to perform together. Cameos are to be expected: Natasha herself was recently “Juror #11” when we performed ‘12 Angry Men’. Learn more about what Natasha loves about IA, a tuition-free public charter school in San Diego serving K-8 grades, and about her passion for performing arts!
Please tell us about your background and how you found Innovations Academy.
I grew up in England, where I danced and acted from a young age. I went to college to study performing arts, and later worked professionally as an actress/dancer/choreographer. When I first came to America, I danced with a small, contemporary dance troupe for a while before I jumped back into acting. I choreographed for several local high schools and community theaters, and I eventually landed a full time staff position at a small, local professional theater, just north of Boston. One of my duties was running our children’s theatre program. It was a very busy theater, with a great community. It’s also where I met my husband. We eventually made the decision to move out to Los Angeles.
When 9/11 happened, my husband decided to join the Navy Reserves, a move which I strongly supported. Eighteen months later, just before our daughter’s first birthday, he was deployed to the Middle East. His military service eventually had him stationed in San Diego, and three months after the birth of our son, we moved to San Diego. After living in LA for so long, I loved the laid back vibe of San Diego, and we quickly settled into our new location.
I knew I wanted to find something a little different from a traditional school for my daughter. A good friend recommended Innovations Academy to us. We went to an info session/tour and immediately loved the philosophy, and the teaching style. It was a thirty minute drive from where we lived, but it was worth it. She thrived at Innovations, loved her teachers, got excited about going to school, and even though there was ‘no meaningless homework’, she would be so engaged by what she was learning in class, she would come home and want to keep learning about it.
I became the room parent for her class. I would come in and teach a little dance class here, help with a presentation, performance, or an after school class there, and eventually, another staff member, who also had a child in the same class, talked to Christine about bringing me on to establish a performing arts exploration class. And, the year that my son started kindergarten at IA, I began teaching Performing Arts here. He’s now a high school sophomore!
What began with little more than six donated scenery flats, has grown into a vibrant, and thriving performing arts department. It’s a program that benefits the whole school community with an incredible performance space and endless possibilities. I am incredibly proud of and humbled by this opportunity to enrich the lives of my students and their families.
What is your role at Innovations Academy? What’s the best part about it? What’s the biggest challenge?
I’m the Performing Arts teacher. The best part is I get to work with so many great students, not only on a day to day basis, but year after year. Classroom teachers will have their students for one, maybe two years max. I get the privilege of seeing them grow and change year after year. Of course, that’s tough when they get to 8th grade and we have to let them go! But, so many of them come back and visit, and that’s amazing.
The biggest challenge? Hmm..my schedule is very busy. In the space of a week, I get to work with almost every student in the school, plus the extra curricular things I work on. But, I love what I do, and I feel very lucky that I get to teach something so amazing to so many students.
What do you LOVE about Innovations Academy? What sets it apart from other schools?
I love that our school has such a strong community. I love that one of our founding cornerstones is social emotional learning and wellness (long before the pandemic made people realize the importance of such a thing). I love that our school really focuses on helping students understand positive methods of conflict resolution and self advocacy. And, I really love that our staff and leadership are constantly thinking about how we can help our students really achieve their goals, academically, socially and emotionally.
Tell us about some of the programs you’ve helped with and/or created for Innovations Academy.
Well, of course there is the Performing Arts Department. I have also created the after school performing arts performances for elementary and middle school grades (Innovations Academy Performing Arts).
Over the last two years, we’ve also introduced the IFCT (Innovation Family Community Theater– check out the website at theifct.info). The IFCT is a community theatre that provides not only affordable, high quality theatre productions for families and the community to come and experience, but it is also a way for families to get on stage and experience the joy of performing together. The IFCT is preparing for its third year, and building strongly. Our recent spring family show was Snow White. The cast included 22 students, 6 parents, 2 alumni, and 1 teacher, along with other community actors. We also partner with the MET High School to provide a performance experience for many of our alumni students. Sometimes I have a role– I think it’s fantastic when the students can see me perform. It allows them to see that I’m willing to do the very thing that I’m asking them to do!
What are some events you enjoy at Innovations Academy?
I am involved with many of the school social events. I work with the 8th grade to develop the much anticipated, annual Halloween Haunted House (hosted by the Performing Arts Department) at the Halloween Carnival. I help support the annual school talent show, and the family and middle school dances. And, of course there’s the junior, and senior performing arts shows. The junior show auditions in September, and performs in December. The senior show auditions in January and performs in early May.
How do you help students powerfully create their lives?
By helping them develop the skills and the confidence to find their voice, present their ideas, and challenge the boundaries of what they think they can do – in a safe, non judgemental space; to try something new, maybe not succeed every single time, but to know that it’s okay that they can try again; that they never have to stop learning; that they can step out of the box, and back in; and that a mistake can very often take you in a new, creative direction that you never expected.
There are great social emotional learning activities and opportunities at Innovations Academy. How is this reflected in your teaching?
Very often, I get these shy, quiet students who are not confident. It’s really wonderful to see them blossom and realize that, if they are willing to step out of their comfort zone, they can do some amazing things! I have quite a few students that insisted that they have terrible stage fright. With lots of encouragement, they get on stage and realize they are actually really good.
What is something you wish you knew at age 19?
That life is going to throw some pretty crazy things at you. You can get through it, and you will be okay.
Fun Facts About Natasha:
- We have 6 cats, 2 dogs, 1 turtle, and we turned our swimming pool into a pond…so we have A LOT of fish!
- I LOVE tea! And, I drink a lot of it! But, I think most of the students know that. When my daughter is home from college, we love to go out to tea at a fancy tea shop.
- My husband works on all of the after school shows with me. He’s amazing! He builds all of the sets himself. And, he’s so incredibly supportive. All of his time is volunteered!
You can find out more about Natasha and other teachers here on our website. Check out more about our small, tuition-free K-8 and enroll today!
About Innovations Academy:
Innovations Academy is a tuition-free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in San Diego, California. Our small school values a hands-on, inquiry-based education with high academic standards using self-expression, compassionate connection, and purposeful learning. Our new modern campus is intentionally designed with curiosity and exploration in mind. Join our innovative school today! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Find us at innovationsacademy.org.