Meet our Star-Studded Staff!

Shortcuts
Click on a shortcut listed below to be taken directly to the section you would like to view.
Leadership Staff
Administration & Operations
Academics
Culinary Arts
Dance
Digital Arts
Literary Arts
Musical Theatre
Instrumental Music Program
Studio Arts
Theatre Arts
Vocal Music Program
Leadership Staff
Richard L. Fosbrink
Dr. Kelly Lombard
Dr. Debra Lehew
Nadine Dunn
Anna Very
Administration & Operations
Gregory A. Beal
Adam Barbee
Alex Boyd
Walter Boyd
Christina Branch
Shirley Brynda
Rebecca Black
Cologero Coppola
Gary Farrell
Amber Hinkle
Harleyrae Geary
Susan Maskarinec
Donna McCoy
Sheri O' Leary
Kathy Parello
Jason Pratt
Mya Ras
David Simpson
Alicia Schmidt
BethAnn Utz
Academics
Amanda Bateman (English)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8011
Justin Calderone (English)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8007
Gretchen De Lopez (Spanish)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8006
Chris Estadt (Mathematics)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8016
David Graham (Science)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8014
William Kobily (Science / Math)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8018
Christina Krahn (English)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8024
Lindsey McDivitt (Science)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8019
Andrew Murphy (Social Studies)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8015
Paige Parshall (Seminar)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8042
Julianna Ruzbacki (Social Studies)
412-646-1718 Ext. 8036
Taylor Sandsmark (Physical Education / Health)
412-646-1718 Ext.
Dance
Tracey Casciato
412-646-1718 Ext. 8039
Award-winning choreographer, Tracey Casciato is the head of the Dance Department here at Westinghouse Arts Academy. She has taught in the industry for over 30 years while co-owning/directing her own dance studio and competitive dance team.
Mrs. Casciato is extremely well-versed in all styles of dance. While she currently teaches mostly juniors and seniors, you can find her observing and overseeing all dance classes, choreographing performances for school productions, or working at her studio, Studio G Dance Center. Tracey has taught dancers who have gone on to be professional dancers and performers for theme parks, cruise ships, and equity stages. Miss Tracey is overjoyed to be returning for her third year here at WAA!
Stephanie Tolbert-King
412-646-1718 Ext. 7004
Stephanie Tolbert-King has 13 years of professional dance training and 11 years of experience teaching and choreographing. She has training in a diversity of styles from modern to ballroom. She graduated from Eastern University with a BA in dance. Her teaching assistantship experience in higher education includes Temple University, Drexel University, and Eastern University. In 2013, she was awarded a full tuition scholarship from American Dance Festival, Durham, NC. Her choreography has been recognized by internationally renowned adjudicators at several American College Dance Festivals. Her choreography credits include Philadelphia and Wilmington Fringe Festivals, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers present Inhale Performance Series (Philly), WAXworks (Brooklyn), Amalgamate Artist Series (Manhattan), American College Dance Festival (Penn State and Hofstra University), 7Midnights Physical Research (Manhattan), That Which Connects: Camden’s Festival of Dance, and Ground for Sculpture (NJ). Stephanie has performed in pieces originally choreographed by Isadora Duncan, Michel Fokine and Dr. Kariamu Welsh. She choreographed/performed as a company member for 2 seasons with MM2 Modern Dance Company and Introspective Movement Project. She was Site Director and dance teacher in New Orleans for 3 years with Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective, as well as First Position Dance Arts and Academy of Social Dance (PA).
Stephanie was a full-time lead dance teacher at Success Academy Charter Schools, the largest and highest-performing charter school network in NYC. Her other dance teaching credits include The Harvey School, a private, college-preparatory school in Katonah, NY, Ridgefield School of Dance, and Conservatory of Dance, Wilton, CT. In 2020, she became the Dance Program Director at MVP Camp in Honesdale, PA, where she founded the dance program. Stephanie is the founder and artistic director of TK Dance Lab, a dance company and virtual platform that connects artists across area codes, and uses dance to advocate for equity and social change. In 2021, Stephanie received a residency with Mignolo Arts in Metuchen, NJ, where she prepared and presented her full-length work, Algorithms, AI & The Machine. Stephanie is certified with the NAAADT (National Association of American African Dance Teachers) to teach Umfundalai, a contemporary-African dance technique founded by Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Stephanie was also the Founding Dance Teacher at Catalyst Academy Charter School, where she founded the dance program, curated 5 arts showcases independently, developed a dance club for scholars with additional investment in dance as an art form, and provided scholars with quality dance education as part of their curriculum.
Stephanie is now a full-time dance faculty member at Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School, where she is excited to be educating both dance majors and other arts majors in the dance department. Her current coursework includes Core 3 and Core 4 Ballet/Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap and Intro to Dance, and includes technique, choreography, composition, improvisational techniques, and performance.
Digital Arts
Jon (Rob) Shultz
412-646-1718 Ext. 8017
Alea DelPrete
412-646-1718 Ext. 8010
Emily Newman | Digital Arts & Studio Arts
412-646-1718 Ext. 8009
Jon (Rob) Shultz’s design aesthetic revolves around a pinch of a retro flair mixed in with a bit of an art-deco and industrial influences. His work ranges from graphic design to product and mixed media design to painting and sculpture. Shultz has worked with major brands/clients including Harley-Davidson, Coca-Cola, Playboy, Littlearth, RUE 21, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Spencer Gifts, REI, Hobie, Eyetique, and MTV. His work has evolved and has taken front and center on a world wide stage. His work for bands including Nine Inch Nails, Front 242, Depeche Mode, and The Clark’s helped cement his gutsy, industrial edge. From the runways of New York Fashion Week to showrooms and stores all over the world, Shultz’s creations have sold in the millions. Now an instructor at Westinghouse Arts Academy, Shultz has found a great home where he brings a cornucopia of experience and a lifetime of real world success.
Emily Newman was born in Singapore, raised in London, and settled in Pittsburgh about 10 years ago after years of living and traveling all over. Since then she has taught art extensively in Pittsburgh all the way from elementary to collegiate levels. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Bard College in New York, her Master’s of Fine Arts from CalArts in Los Angeles, and her Master’s of Art Education from Chatham, here in Pittsburgh. She is a Fulbright Scholar and has shown her work internationally, most recently in 2022 at the Mattress Factory Museum in Pittsburgh where she displayed a wide array of works in video, interactive sculpture, and screenprinting. She is a recent recipient of a Heinz Endowment grant, Newman is using to make socially engaged artwork with Russian families recently scattered across the world in response to the war in Ukraine. Her work is located directly at the intersection between digital and studio and she is excited to work with students across those disciplines while teaching at Westinghouse.
Culinary Arts
Chef Evelyn Sussman
412-646-1718 Ext. 7006
Chef Evelyn Sussman has been teaching Culinary Arts since 2007, working in high school and adult programs, as well as with special needs students to help them acquire the skills needed to successfully gain and hold employment in the food service industry. Chef Sussman’s educational journey began upon completion of her Associate’s in Culinary Arts with a certificate in Pastry. Continuing their culinary education, they received their degree from Virginia Tech in Human Development and a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education. Chef Sussman also holds a Culinary Educator Certification through the American Culinary Federation. Their work experience ranges from simple quick, service locations to country clubs to high-volume food establishments. During her time as an educator, Chef Sussman won multiple awards including the Idaho Potato Commission’s Innovative Culinary Educator Awards and the Award for the Effective Use of Technology in Culinary Education through Rational. She is always interested in growing her Culinary toolbox at summer conferences. When they’re not at Westinghouse Arts, Chef Sussman also works in food service and catering.
Instrumental Music Program
Travis Rigby
412-646-1718 Ext. 8032
Click to Email
Travis Rigby is an educator, music director, composer, arranger, and orchestrator. He holds a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from Trinity University. He received a Pennsylvania PK-12 Music teaching certificate and maintains an active membership in PMEA, ASCAP, and SCI. His music is published by T.U.X. People’s Music. Mr. Rigby is active in the theater community as a music director. This is Travis’s fifth year teaching at WAA.
Literary Arts
Genna Malatino
412-646-1718 Ext. 8025
Click to Email
Genna Malatino received her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University with a major in English, a minor in Technical Writing with concentrations in Media Writing, Rhetoric and Writing, Creative Writing, and Professional Writing. During her time at Penn State, Genna worked for Penn State Learning as a Writing Tutor and serviced students, PhD, candidates, as well as professors. After her undergraduate degree, Malatino went on to pursue a master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University and completed a program in Literary and Cultural Studies. During that time she worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for a freshman English course with students who studied English as a second language. After studying at CMU, Genna decided to pursue teaching full-time and got a master’s degree in Teaching: Secondary English from Chatham University. Professionally, Genna has worked as a copywriter for an educational firm located in New York City, as an instructional designer for an educational firm that focused on curating content for institutions in higher education, and as an Academic Counselor for students of varying disciplines and degree levels. Genna has had a wide array of experiences in writing and education, and brings that knowledge to the classroom at WAA.
Musical Theatre
Nicholas Lenz | Head of Musical Theatre Department
412-646-1718 Ext. 8041
With nearly two decades of unwavering commitment to Musical Theatre, Mr. Lenz’s journey has been marked by excellence, innovation, and an unyielding dedication to fostering inclusive artistic spaces. His journey in Musical Theatre began in Pittsburgh, where he trained and performed with institutions like Pittsburgh Musical Theatre and Stage Right! School for the Performing Arts. His quest for artistic excellence led him to Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Currently, he is diligently pursuing a Master of Education in Advanced Teaching from the University of the People, further solidifying his commitment to the craft of education.
Notable productions under his leadership include titles such as “Into the Woods,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Seussical: The Musical,” “All Together Now (2022 Gala),” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and most recently “Godspell.” His artistic vision has not only brought acclaim to the program but earned regional recognition. Under his leadership, Westinghouse Arts Academy’s numerous nominations and impressive 11-time award recipient of the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre (please see the Musical Theatre Program overview for a complete list of awards received)
Central to Mr. Lenz’s philosophy is the creation of inclusive and nurturing artistic spaces. His classrooms stand as a refuge, embodying diversity and inclusivity by warmly embracing all individuals, especially those from the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. In his unwavering commitment to fostering acceptance and inclusivity, he ensures that students from all backgrounds not only feel welcomed, but genuinely valued.
Studio Arts
Austenne Gniadek
412-646-1718 Ext. 8026
Makenna Wingrove
412-646-1718 Ext. 8027
Emily Newman | Studio Arts & Digital Arts
412-646-1718 Ext. 8009
Emily Newman was born in Singapore, raised in London, and settled in Pittsburgh about 10 years ago after years of living and traveling all over. Since then she has taught art extensively in Pittsburgh all the way from elementary to collegiate levels. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Bard College in New York, her Master’s of Fine Arts from CalArts in Los Angeles, and her Master’s of Art Education from Chatham, here in Pittsburgh. She is a Fulbright Scholar and has shown her work internationally, most recently in 2022 at the Mattress Factory Museum in Pittsburgh where she displayed a wide array of works in video, interactive sculpture, and screenprinting. She is a recent recipient of a Heinz Endowment grant, Newman is using to make socially engaged artwork with Russian families recently scattered across the world in response to the war in Ukraine. Her work is located directly at the intersection between digital and studio and she is excited to work with students across those disciplines while teaching at Westinghouse.
Theatre Arts
Rebecca R. Lustig | Head of Theatre Arts Department
412-646-1718 Ext. 8040
Vocal Music Program
Anna Very | Dean of Students
412-646-1718 Ext. 7034
Anna Very graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. Certified in K-12 Music Education, Miss Very has taught in both middle and high school settings in North Carolina, American Sāmoa, and north central Pennsylvania. She has taught a variety of music courses, directed multiple musicals, and coached students all the way to state festivals. She also serves as the staff director for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, a summer camp that provides students from all over the world with an opportunity to work on their chosen art with leading professionals in their field. At Westinghouse, she has dedicated her time to creating a strong vocal program with core values focusing on community, positive and safe spaces, innovative musicianship, and a commitment to excellence.