Burn
Brae Staff 2010
(Partial Listing)
We believe we have the finest staff of any camp in the tri-state area...and beyond!
Owner/Director: Lisa Kasser started Burn Brae Day Camp in 1981 and has been the Owner and Director ever since. She majored in Theater and Dance at the University of Michigan and has starred in productions in the United States and Canada and appeared in a two person off Broadway play on PBS. In the early ’80s Li sa was the Associate Producer of Channel 17’s Dancin’ on Air. She has also taught and directed children’s theater. Lisa attended camp throughout her childhood and teenage years and continues to find enjoyment and inspiration in camp life everyday! She has one daughter who has attended Burn Brae since the age of two months.
Assistant Director: Tami Spoll comes to Burn Brae from a very experienced and well-rounded theatrical and administrative background. She studied Theater at Baylor University in Texas and worked for several years at the American Family Theater at the Kimmel Center as one of their top administrators. When she is not at Burn Brae, she teaches Theater and English to high school students in the Norristown School District.
Office Administrator: Barbara Shore has been the Office Administrator at Burn Brae for the past 20 years. She enjoys working at camp part-time in the winter and full-time in the summer. She says that the best part of her job is looking forward to every summer and watching the children grow and mature.
Camp Advisor: Martin Gilbert has a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Widener University and a Doctorate in Psychology from Widener. He is a school psychologist with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and is an out-patient psychologist for children and adolescents in Doylestown, PA. Martin also served the community as a fire fighter, an EMT and a CPR instructor.
Art Instructor: Chelsea Schryver received her B.F.A. from theTyler School of Art and has taught two and three-dimensional art at Cheltenham Art Center, Abington YMCA and George Washington High School. For the past four summers, she has worked as an Art Counselor at summer camps.
Head of Ceramics: Emily Paulmier is a ceramics teacher at Temple University and Tyler School of Art. She is a very accomplished artist and potter and has many commissioned works throughout the Philadelphia area. Emily has been at Burn Brae for the past five summers.
Digital Photography & Crafts Instructor: Dawn Sangmeister has a B.F.A. in Photography from Kutztown University and a Masters in Elementary Education from Arcadia University. Dawn works in the Neshaminy and Pennsbury School Districts and since 1996, she has had her own photography and design business. Dawn was a photography instructor at an overnight camp and is also experienced in teaching sewing, yearbook design and three-dimensional crafts.
Musical Theater Director: Matt Phillips-English has a B.A. in Music from West Chester University with a minor in Dance. Matt has been a director, choreographer and conductor for the past ten years in both public and private schools throughout the New Jersey and PA area for their Fall, Winter and Spring musicals. He is an accomplished pianist, singer, dancer and choral director as well as a performer and choreographer in local theater groups.
Rock/Guitar Instructor: Rich Cox is currently studying Music Education and Classical Voice at Temple University. He has been a voice, guitar and piano teacher for both children and adults for several years. He has been on European and New York tours with the City Rhythm Orchestra, performed for George Bush and Henry Kissinger at the US Constitution Center, opened for Bon Jovi and has also worked with with artists such as Patti Labelle, Boys II Men and Randy Bachman. Rich will be working along with Jay Klales in Rock Band and Guitar, as well as teaching Rock Band students the art of studio recording.
Dance Instructor: Genevieve Adams received her B.A. in Dance from Eastern University. She was a member of the Johnstown Ballet Company and has been dancing for 20 years. For the past two years, Genevieve has been the Dance Director at a prestigious private girl’s school on the Main Line. For the past several years, she has been teaching ballet, modern, jazz and swing at three local dance studios.
TV/Video Instructor: Craig DoVidio is returning for his sixth summer teaching our campers television and video production including use of cameras, editing, writing, directing and producing their very own videos! He owns Premium Studios and is also a videography instructor at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. He will be at Burn Brae with his three children.
DJ Instructor: Howie Ginsburg will be teaching our kids how to be professional DJs using his equipment and sharing his skills. He is an elementary school teacher and a professional disc jockey with All Around Entertainment.
Sports Director: Mike Blum will be returning for his seventh year as Sports Director at Burn Brae. He is a basketball and baseball coach and is a player himself. During the school year, Mike works as School Psychologist at the Upper Moreland Middle School. Mike received his B.A. from Penn State University and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Boston University. In 1994, Mike attained his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Temple University. Mike looks forward to returning to Burn Brae with his two children.
Tennis Instructor: Roger Mallery is a graduate of Germantown Friends High School and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has been a tennis pro since 1982. Roger played on the U.S.T.A. Pro Tennis Circuit for three years, coached high school tennis (girls and boys) as well as women’s tennis at Chestnut Hill College. Roger has taught tennis at Burn Brae for 18 years and has taught fitness classes for the past 12 years.
Aquatics Instructor: Dave Vengels has been swimming for over 20 years and a member of our swim staff for the past ten years. Before joining the Burn Brae staff, Dave worked as a lifeguard at the Somerton Springs Swim Club. Dave received his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and his Master's Degree in Education from Holy Family University. In the camp off-season, he is a teacher; he has taught first, sixth and eighth grades.
Swim & Yoga Instructor: Jamie Kuttner has been teaching yoga for the past seven years and is a yoga and water aerobics instructor at LA Fitness. She was an aquatics director at a local area high school swim program and has also performed on Broadway in the musical Rent.
