Dani Moreno-Fuentes, education coordinator for The Academy at Ocala Civic Theatre, has been chosen as Star-Banner/Florida Credit Union Amazing Teacher of the Month.
Moreno-Fuentes uses the magic of theater to build life skills and bring out the best in her students.
“A theater workshop is the perfect setting to teach social skills, conflict resolution and empathy,” Moreno-Fuentes said.
Forest High School junior Walter Oathout, 18, who is autistic, is one of Moreno-Fuentes’ students. Walter shines when he’s practicing theatrical improvisation exercises like “Wolf Are You Ready?”which requires a quick wit and imaginative response to the instructor’s questions about a make-believe and acted-out activity.
Walter has been involved in productions including “Beetlejuice Jr.,” “Property Rites” and “The SpongeBob Musical” as part of the classes.
Walter’s mother, Tara Oathout, is impressed by the effect Moreno-Fuentes‘ instruction has had on Walter.
“After seeing the profound impact Dani and the academy had on my son, I began volunteering at the theater to support a community that truly embodies inclusion,” Tara Oathout stated in an email.
She said the classes have “opened a world” for her son and have made a “night and day” difference in his behavior.
Tara Oathout described the setting of the classes as a “safe place.”
“My involvement in scenic painting, grounded in my background in theater and design, led to the opportunity to teach tech classes and join the academy’s summer program, ‘Art for All,’ as the scenic designer and a scenic design teacher,” Tara Oathout wrote.
“In my own classroom, I aim to reflect the empathy, patience and care I learned from watching Dani teach. She has an extraordinary ability to reach students in any circumstance, especially those who might otherwise be overlooked, fostering confidence, creativity, and genuine talent,” Tara Oathout stated.
“In doing so, she builds a better future for her students and for the community as a whole, because the world will always benefit from more empathy, more understanding, and more people like Dani,” she stated.
Walter’s father, Floyd Oathout, is also involved and actively supports his son’s efforts and accomplishments with OCT.
The Academy at Ocala Civic Theatre offers after school, weekday and weekend classes and workshops on theater arts. Acting skills, dancing and character development, technical skills like makeup and lighting, scenic art and sound design are some of the areas of study, according to ocalacivictheatre.com
The Academy 2026 Winter Spring session offers classes for youths ages 6 to 12, teens ages 13 to 17, and adults 18 and older.
“Play Space: Creative Movement,” for children ages 6 to 8, explores theatrical movement.
“Theatre Unplugged,” for students ages 9 to 12, is an eight-week class “individually tailored” for each student to “use their wildest imaginations and collaborate to create, write and perform” their own small group performance, according to the website.
“Act Up: Homeschool Edition” and “Act Up Afterschool Edition” for students ages 9 to 12, are classes where where students can explore “acting skills, techniques and theater terminology“ and perform pantomime and improvisation, the website states.
Additional classes include “Go Into Your Dance” and “Tech Lab” for students ages 9 to 17 and “Theatrix: Adult Classes for age 18 and up” featuring scene study, musical theater and improv, the website details.
Classes are held at OCT and at Academy West at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, the website states.
Tuition per term generally ranges from $75-$125 per class and some are free. Most classes are limited to 15 students. Full details are available at the website.
Moreno-Fuentes has an extensive background in the theatrical arts and has worked in the profession in New York, Miami and Los Angeles. She has been associated with OCT for 20 years.
Moreno-Fuentes, OCT education coordinator since 2023, said she believes teaching theater technical skills also can inspire students to pursue interests in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.)
“Theater and theater education are not just about the performing arts. Science, technology, engineering, and math are integral parts of a theater and its productions,” Moreno-Fuentes wrote in an email.
“STEAM is incorporated through the design and building of sets, light design and operation, costume design and construction, prop design and creation, sound design and operation, and projection designs,” Moreno-Fuentes stated.
The Amazing Teacher program, sponsored by Florida Credit Union in partnership with the Star-Banner, recognizes educators whose compassion, creativity and dedication inspire us all.
Teachers are selected monthly, recognized locally, and entered for a local prize and be entered for national level recognition and prize awards.
Do you know of an Amazing Teacher? Nominations can be made by anyone. Please visit ocala.gannettcontests.com/Florida-Credit-Union-Amazing-Teachers
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Meet the Florida Credit Union/Star-Banner Amazing Teacher of the month: Dani Moreno-Fuentes
Reporting by Andy Fillmore, For the Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
