.png)
2026-2027 INSTRUCTORS
Floyd JAM Director
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Musical Theatre for Teens
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Blue Ridge Strings
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Collaborative Storytelling
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
S.T.E.A.M Programs
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Finn Sparger
Drama Society
.jpg)
Teen Newsroom
Floyd JAM
ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS
Ashlee Watkins
Having grown up in a musical family in New South Wales, Australia, Ashlee is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter whose powerfully unadorned vocals exhibit a refreshing directness of expression reminiscent of Maybelle Carter, Molly O’Day, and Hazel Dickens. She has been awarded a number of blue ribbons from fiddlers’ conventions around the Southeast for her folk singing and old-time banjo and guitar playing, and in 2022, she completed a Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship with Floyd County master musician Mac Traynham. Ashlee has an enthusiastic appreciation for many kinds of music that she loves sharing with others!
Andrew Small
Currently serving as the Artist-In-Residence for the Crooked Road - Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, Andrew Small is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and composer who holds a master’s degree in music performance from Yale University. He has performed around the world with artists including Sierra Hull, Mandolin Orange, and the North Carolina Symphony, and he performs in the house band for the PBS television show Farm and Fun Time as a member of Bill and the Belles. Andrew’s original music has been featured on recordings, podcasts, and the PBS documentary film, Rock Castle Home, and he was awarded first prize in the bluegrass category at MerleFest’s 29th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. An avid performer and proponent of traditional music styles from the Blue Ridge region, Andrew’s old time string band The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee won first place at the 85th Annual Old Fiddlers' Convention in Galax, VA and he performs old time, bluegrass, and country music in the duo Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small
Cassidy Shelor
Cassidy grew up immersed in live music--ranging from rock, bluegrass, classical, and country. As a young violin player she was classically trained and soon felt the pull of old-time music when she was a student in the JAM program in Bryson City, NC. Playing Appalachian fiddle music quickly became an important ingredient in life for Cassidy--going to fiddler's conventions, learning regional tunes and building community with other musicians. Cassidy's experiences as a violin/fiddle teacher and her journey to old-time Appalachian music leave her very excited for the opportunity to be an instructor in the Floyd JAM program
Elizabeth Linkous
Elizabeth Linkous is an active free-lance violinist and maintains a private studio. She has certification with the Suzuki Association of the Americas in violin instruction. Her goals are to provide students with the tools and technique of violin playing and help them find their unique musical voice to express themselves through their instrument. Elizabeth has been with the June Bug Center, teaching the BRSp rogram since it started in 2017. She currently performs with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Roanoque Baroque, Symphony of the Mountains, Wytheville Community College Festival Orchestra and previously with the New River Valley Symphony at Virginia Tech, Valley Chamber Orchestra at Hollins University and the Radford University Festival Orchestra. She was an instructor for Bluefield College’s Fine Arts Community School and assistant teacher for the Roanoke Symphony’s Salem after-school strings program. On her free time, she enjoys time with her family, being outdoors horseback riding, gardening and raising farm animals.
Chris Bolduc
Chris received his BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Sculpture and Painting. He has exhibited around the US and lives and works in Check, VA. His artwork spans multiple mediums; including ink, color pencil and paint. He works with several community organizations to bring the joy and depth of collaborative storytelling to kids, teens and adults through table-top role playing games (Dungeons & Dragons).
Paul Tremblett
Paul has worked for 25 years in the telecommunications industry. He spent a couple of years writing software for the television advertising industry and then left there and worked for Vonage. After he and his wife moved to Floyd in 2007, he worked at the corporate research center at Virginia Tech for seven years, and then worked three more years from home for a company in Canada. He is the author of three books that have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, and Spanish and that deal with computer programming and software development. He has written numerous articles for technical publications.
Jeff McCoy
​Jeff McCoy brings over 20 years of experience in theatre arts education and directing. He served as the head of Theatre Arts at Pulaski High School, where he guided countless students in honing their craft both on stage and behind the scenes. Jeff has directed numerous productions, including Mary Poppins last summer, and also worked as the producer for Wizard of Oz. His passion for teaching and dedication to fostering young talent make him an invaluable part of our team.​​
Brian Sallade
Brian has had a love for comedy and acting for as long as he can remember. He began performing improv as a student (now graduate) at the College of William and Mary. Continuing his journey, he studied at the iO Theatre and The Second City in Chicago. He has been performing and teaching in Virginia since 2015 at comedy clubs, businesses, and festivals such as the Roanoke Comedy Fest, 2nd Best Fest (Richmond), Williamsburg Comedy Festival, MAGfest (National Harbor, MD), and Floyd Fest. His favorite improviser is his three-year-old daughter who keeps him on his toes daily.
Kelli LeVan
Kelli Knight LeVan is thrilled to be able to share her love of ballet with the students at the June Bug Center. Kelli received her extensive dance training at Northampton Dance Studios and performed for the Tidewater Dance Theatre. In addition to ballet, she has experience in other dance styles including tap, jazz, and lyrical. While in high school, Kelli attended the Governor’s School for Visual & Performing Arts at Radford University. In college, she was a Singer/Dancer in The New Virginians, the renowned musical ambassadors of Virginia Tech, and toured Virginia and surrounding states representing the University. Over the years, Kelli has performed many roles as a dancer and won numerous regional and national dance competitions. Her most recent performance was as a featured dancer in Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical with Summer Musical Enterprise at The Moss Arts Center. Kelli has been dancing since age 4 and brings 50 years of training, experience, and passion for dance to her class. She believes that everyone can benefit from learning to dance and her goal is to teach the basics of ballet and artistic expression while sharing her joy for dance.
Kelli is a wildlife veterinarian who lives in Blacksburg with her husband and their 3 bunnies. In her spare time, she volunteers at The Lyric Theatre and with the Virginia Tech Equine Program. She and her husband enjoy traveling and Kelli checked off her 60th country visited this year on a trip to Patagonia.
S. Moriah Collins
S. Moriah Collins is excited to be joining the June Bug Center team this spring as a Lego Club Instructor. A Southwest Virginia local and Radford University alumna, Moriah holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and an Associate of Applied Science in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
She brings a diverse background working with children who require a wide range of support, and her experience has reinforced the powerful role play has in helping children explore and understand the world around them. Through hands-on, curiosity-driven learning, Moriah is passionate about helping students discover foundational elements of science in a way that feels joyful and engaging. She is dedicated to fostering a love of learning and inspiring her students to become lifelong learners.
​
John X Volaitis
With over four decades of media production and editorial experience, John Volaitis brings a broad, practical perspective on modern storytelling to the classroom. His journalism and broadcasting work includes close editorial collaboration with major news networks such as ESPN, Fox News (LA) and Sky News UK.
In the podcasting and digital media space, Mr. Volaitis has produced extensive content across national and local platforms. His work ranges from co-productions with Condé Nast & The Informed Pregnancy Podcast to community-driven journalism with the local Floyd Main Street podcast.
In addition to his editorial and broadcast experience, Mr. Volaitis has had a 45-year career in the music and entertainment industry as an engineer, mixer, producer and composer. His commercial media credits span major film, television, and advertising projects, alongside recording collaborations with artists including the Rolling Stones, P!nk, and David Bowie.
Committed to youth mentorship and media literacy, he previously taught music production to inner-city high school students, equipping young creators with technical skills and practical industry insight. He looks forward to guiding students as they develop critical research, interviewing, and editorial skills.
Finn Sparger
Finn Sparger (they/them) has been obsessed with theatre since they were 7 years old. They began their teaching and directing journey when they were 15 years old, and fell in love with theatre education.
Finn has a degree in theatre with a concentration in teaching artistry and education, and a minor in youth justice from James Madison University. They also recently graduated from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London with their Master’s degree in applied theatre with a concentration in community and youth theatre engagement.
You may remember Finn as a previous Acting Out teacher, or from their performances with New River Theatre Guild. Finn performed in And Then There Were None and Godspell, and stage managed Little Shop of Horrors.
Finn is so looking forward to teaching and directing the teenagers this year, and with a show based on books they love so dearly!
Lilli Shelton
Lilli Shelton is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, born and raised in Floyd County, Virginia. Lilli's music is steeped in the old time music traditions of southwest Virginia, and her passion for local history and culture has heavily informed her musical journey. Lilli has spent years learning styles and repertoire from local musicians and tradition bearers, and emphasizes this in her teaching. Her goal in sharing and teaching this music is ensuring that the next generation has this crucial outlet to build connection and community; something that is increasingly lost in our world today.