Jason Robert LeClair has his Masters in Art Education from the University of Florida and is an Honors graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts. He has been teaching the art of theatre in all aspects since 1999. Working in professional theatres as technical director, community theatres as artistic director and consultant, as well as high schools across the state. He was President of the Rhode Island Theatre Education Association from 2010 – 2014. As Director of International Thespians Troupe 7444, Mr. LeClair continues to work in the realm of arts education at Beacon, RISD, and on the national level as a teaching artist for the EdTA and Thespian conferences. As of August 1, 2021 he is honored to take on the responsibility as Rhode Island Chapter Director.
Teaching Experience
Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education Department 2013 - Present
• Teach Critical Studies in Art at the Pre-College Grades 11 & 12
• Instruct Steampunk Fabrication Lab Grades 8 – 12
• Instruct Movie Masterworks: Hollywood Make Up Grades 8 - 12
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts – Visual and Theatre Arts 2007 – Present
• 2007 - 2016 Taught Drawing and Painting using traditional and non – traditional methods
• Teach all eight theatre courses within the Major's curriculum
• Instruction and development of afterschool technical theatre program
• Thespian Troupe Director
Saint Mary Academy -Bay View 1999 - 2007
• Designed and built scenery for all shows from 1999 – 2007
• Taught six theatre classes spanning grades 6 - 12
• Developed Shakespeare and Technical theatre courses
• Faculty advisor/Director of technical theatre crew (25 to 60 students)
Mount Saint Charles Academy Summer Arts Woonsocket, RI 1992 – 2014
• Taught Theatre and Visual arts to grades 4 - 10
Professional Memberships and Offices
Rhode Island Theatre Education Association President 2010 – 2014
• Hosted New England Drama Festival 2013
Member of the Educational Theatre Association 2009 – Present
Member of National Art Educators Association 2009 – 2017
Event/PD Courses Taught/Moderated
EdTA National Conference 2019 - Comedy Stage Fighting
EdTA National Conference 2018 - PDI (Illustrating Moving Stories) and Fight Choreography - Brawling
EdTA National Conference 2017 - PDI (SketchUp Free CAD for the classroom) and Bladed Combat
International Thespian Festival 2017 - Bladed Stage Combat and Scars, Burns, & Wounds
EdTA National Conference 2016 - Flipping Out! - Flipped and Blended Learning in the Theatre Classroom
Blended Learning and the Theatre Classroom EducationCloset.com STEAM conference Summer 2016
Arts Integration and STEAM Conference Arts @ the Core: Blended/Flipped Learning Winter 2016
RI Charter Conference The Core Importance of the Arts 2015
EdTech RI SketchUp in the Classroom 2014
RI Charter Conference Educating Artistic Thinkers 2014
In Service PD (Beacon) Use of Weebly as a Classroom Tool 2014
Providence Rotary Club Artistic Thinkers 2013
Woonsocket Rotary Club Artistic Thinkers 2013
Awards
Motif Magazine People's Choice Award - Best High School Performance 2017 for The Addams Family Musical
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Artistic Direction of The Three Musketeers - International Thespian Society/EdTA Rhode Island Chapter Select
Semifinalist Rhode Island Teacher of the Year 2016
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts District Teacher of the Year 2015
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Technical Direction of First Encounters of the Quirky Kind - International Thespian Society/EdTA Rhode Island Chapter Select 2014
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Technical Direction of The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza - Franco Coli Award 2011
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Technical Direction/Design of The Diary of Anne Frank - Technical Merit Award at Rhode Island Drama Festival 2010