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We are excited to welcome new staff members to CAPA This year! See below for details:
Pro Tech Lighting: Rianne Lindsay
"My name is Rianne Lindsey, and this is my first year of teaching! I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Point Park University where I began my professional career as a lighting designer. Over the past decade, I have worked with various local theatre and dance companies, as well as schools and educational camps. Recently, I worked with the students of Colfax K-8 to bring Into the Woods Jr. to life in May of this year. I also lit the stage for the campers at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill for our production of Something Rotten Jr. in July. I'm extremely excited to be working with the ProTech students in our Lighting Design course, and I cannot wait to apply what we've learned onto the stage this school year!"
Pro Tech Sound: Pan Pan Gou
Pan-Pan is a sound designer and composer whose work spans theater, games, films, opera, and dance. A recent recipient of the Chautauqua Theatre Sound Design Fellowship, Pan-Pan was also named one of two finalists for Emerging Sound Designer at World Stage Design 2025. Some of her upcoming design credits includes City theater ’s “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” and Pittsburgh Opera’s “Time To Act.”Outside of the theater, she sound designed the VR game “Pittsburgh Glass Center: Virtual Glass Blowing,” which received Golden Place at the 2023 International Serious Play Award and is currently in classroom use at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Pan-Pan received her Master’s degree in Sound Design from Carnegie Mellon University.
HS ELA/ Social Studies: Darlene Schmitt
"This is my 20th year of teaching in public schools. I taught in Michigan, and Virginia in public education. 2025 marks the beginning of my fifth year in Pittsburgh Public Schools. I previously taught at King and Westinghouse. I also have two years experience at Wesley Spectrum teaching English.I have 3 adult children Jonathan- 25 (East Lansing, MI), Emily 23(Long Beach, CA, and my youngest, Aaron 20 (He is starting this year off with a NAHL team in Amarillo, TX.) In my free time I enjoy skiing, travel, and watching my son's Junior hockey team when they are aired on-line."
HS ELA: Carrie Verdi
Mrs. Carrie Verdi is excited to join the Pittsburgh CAPA staff and is looking forward to contributing to its vibrant community of artists and scholars. She proudly brings 23 years of experience in Pittsburgh Public Schools, including 17 years teaching at the high school level. Mrs. Verdi has served as a Clinical Resident Instructor, Curriculum Writer and Literacy Coach, but finds her true passion in the classroom. Over the course of her career, she has demonstrated her dedication to helping students grow academically and creatively, while building strong connections both within the classroom and beyond.
Dance Department Chair: Ericka Morton
Ericka, a Pittsburgh native, is a 2020 graduate of Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) high school. Expanding on her passion for dance and dance education, she is a 2024 graduate of Slippery Rock University with a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography and was awarded the distinguished title of Outstanding BFA Dance Major for her graduating class. She is currently pursuing her M. Ed Pre K-12 Dance Teaching Certification at Point Park University. Ericka has also been a Guest Artist here at CAPA as well as a long-term substitute for the 2024-2025 year for the Dance Department for the middle and high school programs. She is so excited to be stepping into the role of Department Chair and allowing for her unique experience with this department as a student, faculty member, and now as a leader to allow for her to take this department to new heights!
Ceramics: Jaclyn Harris
Jaclyn (she/her) received her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2015. She has continued her art education at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pilchuck Glass School, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Jaclyn has 10+ years of experience working with various art nonprofit organizations, teaching ceramics and glass, and mentoring artists in the Pittsburgh area. She also maintains a private ceramics and glass practice in her warehouse studio located in Charleroi, PA.
Musical Theater (Vocal): Joseph Dangerfield
Joseph Dangerfield has lived and worked professionally as a composer, conductor, and pianist in Italy, Germany, Russia, China, Holland, Canada, and the United States. He is the recipient of awards, including the Aaron Copland Award, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra's Composition Prize, and others. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the Russian Federation and Holland, and loves teaching and talking about music and theater, and experiencing new cultures.
HS ELA: Elizabeth Hammond
My name is Ms. Hammond or Ms. H, and I am the new English 1, English 1 CAS, and English 2 CAS teacher at the high school. I have been with the district for about three years, teaching at Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8 and Pittsburgh Arlington K-8. Prior to teaching, I studied English Literature, Culture, and Film alongside Gender Studies at Pennsylvania State University, and then English again at Pittsburgh University. In my free time, I enjoy reading, skiing, golfing, and painting. I am so excited to begin this school year and getting to know the students here at CAPA!
MS ELA: Amber Cosette
Ms. Cossette is so grateful to be starting her first year here at CAPA as a 6th and 7th grade English teacher. This is her 11th year teaching middle school. Ms. Cossette earned her Secondary Education and English degrees from Syracuse University, and then she went on to teach at various middle schools in Boston, MA as well as Houston, TX. During the summer, Ms. Cossette spent her time reading mysteries and exploring her new neighborhood. When Ms. Cossette is not teaching, she loves to stay active by performing musical theater, competing in gymnastics, or practicing dance. Ms. Cossette can’t wait to see all the amazing things her students will accomplish this year
Literary Arts Substitute: Reed Agnew
Hello! My name is Reed Agnew. I began my career as a magazine writer and have worked as a TV comedy writer and producer for over 20 years. I was given this opportunity in my early years by writing short stories that caught the attention of Hollywood literary agents and studio creatives. I have written for a handful of TV shows including Wilfred (FX), Crank Yankers (Comedy Central), Drawn Together (Comedy Central), and Son of Zorn (FOX), which I also created. I am the recent founder of MADE HERE, a Pittsburgh collaborative that has just finished post-production on Sticks, a pilot/short film based on the story by George Saunders. Everything I have done started with the writing of imaginative and engaging prose. I grew up in Pittsburgh (my favorite place on earth) and am thrilled and honored to be teaching at CAPA where helping students find their voice and grow as writers is as important and meaningful as anything I've ever done.
We are also excited to welcome Ms. Heather Amper and Ms. Sarah Ricketts, both PPS veterans, to our Middle School Math Team!
Join as as well is former CAPA graduated Emir Hardy, who will be teaching in our vocal department, and Amanda Patsy in our Musical Theater Department.
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