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2024-2025 INSTRUCTORS
Ashlee Watkins,
Floyd JAM Director
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,
JAM Instructor
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,
JAM Instructor
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
Chesley Mercado,
Little Ear Worms Instructor
Chesley Sigmon Mercado, Ed.D., MT-BC has many years experience sharing music with people both young and old. She was department chair and professor of music therapy at Georgia College & State University for the past 19 years. Her primary instruments are flute, fiddle, guitar and piano. She is passionate about sharing music with others and the friendships that form , the joy it brings, and the learning that takes place in a non-threatening fun environment. Chesley recently moved here with her dog Bella to be closer to her family who are long-time residents of Floyd County.
Elizabeth Linkous,
Blue Ridge Strings Instructor
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,
Collaborative Storytelling Instructor
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).
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Jordan Thompson,
Intermediate Ballet Instructor
Jordan Thompson began her training at Vostrikov’s Academy of Ballet in Winchester, VA from ages 3-17. She studied Vaganova classical ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and modern. She has performed lead roles with VAB and Virginia Youth Ballet such as The Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Clara, Arabian Queen, Dew Drop, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker among many other roles. She was able to share her love of dance as a teacher from 2016 to 2018 at TAP ETC! in Front Royal, VA, where she taught advanced ballet, pointe, and jazz. As an instructor, Jordan's teaching philosophy centers around fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment for all learners. Her studio welcomes students of all abilities and experiences, with a focus on cultivating a deep sense of joy and appreciation for the art of dance.
Paul Tremblett,
Computer & Robotics Instructor
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.
Valerie Moran,
Teen Theatre Instructor
Valerie has volunteered for many years at The June Bug Center and has been a big part of bringing theatre to young, aspiring actors in our community. She helped start our Acting Out program and has played a crucial role in keeping our young actors growing!
Theda Anderson,
Broadway for Kids Instructor
Theda McCutchan Anderson is a Floyd native who loves the performing arts! She was active in theater and dance throughout high school and college and has participated in community theater off and on over the past two decades. An avid fan of both Disney and classic Hollywood musicals, Theda hoped to encourage a similar love in her three children by enrolling them in classes at the JuneBug Center when they were young. The whole family now takes classes and volunteers after school and during the summers. Theda hopes to help the next group of Floyd youngsters discover an appreciation for theater by instructing the Broadway for Kids class. Additionally, Theda enjoys reading, specialty coffee, planning trips (and then taking them!) and coaching the Floyd County High School Forensics (public speaking) team.
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Brian Sallade,
Improv for Kids Instructor
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,
Beginner Ballet Instructor
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.
Jovie Jeppson,
Lego Club Instructor
Jovie is excited to be joining the June Bug as the Lego Club instructor! She is a senior at Floyd County High School and has been involved in June Bug Programs since she was 7 years old. She is an energetic and creative instructor who will guide students as they learn STEAM principles through fun and creative activities!
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Jovie has already completed a college level course in education and hopes to one day be a Theater Teacher. She loves watching kids gain confidence and make friends through the awesome June Bug after school programs. She started as an after-school participant, transitioned to volunteer, and now is thrilled to be an instructor! She is also passionate about the friendship and fun that can be had through June Bug programs!
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She wants the kids who sign up for Lego Club to be ready to have fun, use their imagination, make friends, and create! See you at the June Bug!