Miss Debbie has over 40 years of experience in dance, musical  theater, and drama. She holds a Masters Degree and a Doctoral Degree in Developmental Psychology from Temple University with a concentration in the study of developmental aspects of learning and memory in children and adults.   She has taught for Penn State, Rowan, West Chester, Villanova and Widener Universities, and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Education at Widener University. Miss Debbie is a former consultant for The Educational Information and Resource Center in New Jersey. She is also the author of 20 professional publications on topics such as teaching strategies, discipline, cognition, critical thinking, moral development and moral injury. In the past, Miss Debbie has taught our musical theater class and country line dance classes. She often teaches father-daughter, mother-son wedding dances upon request. She is the choreographer of PAMD’s annual Daddy-Daughter Dance and has been teaching at PAMD since1995. Miss Debbie was a finalist for the Widener University College Excellence in Teaching Award. She was also recognized as Parkside’s Outstanding Citizen in 2012. She is the mother of 4 PAMD alums:  Renee, Aaron, Kaylyn and Kristin.

Miss Tamera has been dancing at Parkside Academy since 2004 and teaching at Parkside Academy since 2009. She is a dedicated tap dancer who specializes in rhythmic tap. Miss Tamera has choreographed several award winning dances. In her spare time, Miss Tamera enjoys traveling to tap festivals all over the east coast. Miss Tamera graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is the Associate Director & first company dancer for the Lady Hoofers, a professional tap dance company. Miss Tamera is a proud mom! 

Miss Rachel graduated from Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School. She has completed PAMD’s 3 year teacher training course in 2019. She has assisted with all levels of classes and has choreographed for both class dances and competition dances. She won the All Star 
performer Award at Access Broadway in 2017. She also choreographs for Hedgerow Theater’s Youth Program.

We are happy to welcome Savannah back to the Parkside Academy family as our Hip Hop Juniors Dance Instructor. Savannah trained for many years at our studio and took part in our 3-year teacher training program. Savannah was also a part of the Beat Addikts United hip hop group performing in CommUNITY Dance Fest and DelAWAREness. She was a member of Parkside Performing Arts Company and performed many roles in The Nutcracker. Savannah has won numerous dance awards in hip hop, jazz, contemporary and tap having competed at Access Broadway, Breakout, and Star Power and has also won a 1st place overall at DanceXplosion’s Nationals. Savannah has studied hip-hop under Reggie Oliver, Todd and Lisa Munoz, Shannon Cooper, Cassidy Colmary, Mike Nguyen and Amanda Jean. 

Miss Sarah teaches Level 1, 2 & 3 Jazz and Modern classes. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Dance from Temple University with concentrations in jazz and modern as well as a Master's in Higher Education (M.Ed) from Drexel University. She is currently the Associate Director for Enrollment Strategy and Engagement at Thomas Jefferson University. She is an alumna of PAMD, began instructing in 2007 and developed our Modern and Intro to Modern classes. You will also find her working closely with Miss Laura as the Assistant Director of Parkside Performing Arts Company. In 2017 Miss Sarah won “Best Choreography” at PPAC’s Access Broadway Competition. Then went on to win that title again in 2023, collaborating with Ms Tamera and in 2024 collaborating with Ms Laura. She has helped lead the way to PPAC’s multiple ‘Best Debut Dance Studio’ Regional Division titles and a ‘Best Debut Dance Studio’ National Division title! In 2019 Miss Sarah choreographed a music video for local artist Marielle Kraft's song, Box, which also featured other PAMD alumni. Miss Sarah danced professionally in multiple Philadelphia Fringe Festivals as well as locally with the former Philadelphia Spinners Dance Team and So You Think You Can Choreograph as a young choreographer. She has appeared in various lead roles for PPAC and PAMD productions and performed with PPAC on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and in Walt Disney World. 

Katrina Hall is a graduate of the University of South Florida where she majored in early childhood education and minored in dance. She began dancing in 1985 at the age of 2 as a student of Miss Pamela’s. She is a 2001 PAMD & PPAC alumna and also a 2001 graduate of the PAMD dance teacher’s training course. Miss Katrina began her first pre-school dance classes in 2002 at Old Union Nursery School before relocating to Tampa, FL in 2004. While at USF, Katrina notes Gretchen Ward Warren as one of her most influential dance professors.

In 2008, Katrina moved back to PA to pursue her love of teaching dance and has been teaching at various dance studios in the region since. She teaches many genres of dance to all ages. She has taught ballet at the University of Delaware’s Fred Rust Ice Arena for several summer intensive weeks, as well as over a decade with First State Ballet Theatre’s outreach program ‘DanceWorks!’. Miss Katrina is a Rhythm Works certified instructor and is always continuing her education by taking multiple workshops and conferences per year.

Miss Elizabeth Mercier graduated from the Center for Performing and Fine Arts in 2020. She completed the 3 year teachers course program at Parkside Academy, and has worked with students of many different ages. Miss Liz has been in voice training since she was 5 years old and continues her training at her performing arts school. She won the Broadway Star for “Best Vocalist” at the Valley Forge Access Broadway competition in 2018. Recently, she has had lead performances at both her school and regional theaters around the area, such as MainStage Center for the Arts. Miss Liz plans to continue her education in college next year, majoring in theatre and minoring in business. Along with her passion for musical theatre, Miss Liz also loves dancing and the color pink.

Melissa has both her Business Management and Early Childhood Education degrees from Delaware County Community College. She also works for State Farm Insurance in the auto estimating department. Melissa was a student at PAMD for 8 years, graduating in 1998.