Leslie L. Chekin

Mountain View is a small alternative public high school that serves approximately 170 diverse, older students from traumatic and lower socio-economic backgrounds. Most of the students are English Language Learners. Mountain View offers few electives and has never had a performing arts program. This grant will support the building of a theatre program in collaboration with GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, D.C., and other community partners. The project will be led by Leslie Chekin, ESOL teacher, and math instructors with theatre experience. Through this project, students will build their literacy and math skills while also having the opportunity to incorporate elements of their culture and language into performances, experience a secure environment for academic and imaginative risk-taking, and enjoy a community vehicle for sharing their accomplishments.