“Speranza” means “hope” and whether or not you were prepared for an Italian lesson today, you’ve gotten one! The Italian word was adopted as the name and calling card for Speranza Theatre when a group of young New School for Drama graduate students were looking to name their newly minted theatre collaboration. In search of a word carrying meaning, that rolled off the tongue, some Italian words...

As I walked into my classroom at Columbia High School the morning of January 28th of this year, I noticed a call notification on my phone: NJSCA. I knew I wouldn’t be able to answer it until after my morning classes, but I had an oddly positive feeling. I tried to tamp down expectations, and got absorbed in my teaching. In that way, I got to enjoy the tremble of excitement a second time when I...