About the Instructors

Ms. Debbie Claus joins the faculty of The STARS Foundation with 40 years
of experience teaching dance in Springfield, MO. She opened her own
studio when she was just 22 years old after graduating from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Dance Education. She spent many years teaching classes in ballet, tap, and jazz at her Springfield studio.

Ms. Claus is trained in the Cecchetti method of dance instruction, obtaining certification in classical ballet in 6 of the 7 grades offered by the Cecchetti Council of America. The Cecchetti Method, as described by The Cecchetti Council of America, “is a rigorous method which pays careful attention to the laws of anatomy. It develops all of the qualities essential to the dancer: balance, poise, strength, elevation, elasticity, ‘ballon,’ etc. It is classic in its purity and clear-cut style.”

Ms. Claus has also been qualified by examination and certified to teach by
the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Dance Master of America, and Dance Educators of America. She has studied with some of the finest teachers in America, including Roni Mahler - former soloist with Ballet Russe, National Ballet, and American Ballet Theater; Patrick Crommett - Royal Winnepeg Ballet and Royal Swedish Ballet of Stockholm; and Margaret Marsh - former pupil of Maestro Cecchetti and holder of his Advanced Certificate, who was a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London. 

Kyleigh is a 23 and a Sophomore at Missouri State University. She received a violin scholarship and was 3rd chair in the Violin I section of the University Orchestra. Her focus in life has always been music, and she doesn't know what she would do without it. One of Kyleigh's favorite quotes is, "Music speaks where words cannot." 

When she began playing violin at age 10, Kyleigh immediately fell in love with it and knew it would be a part of her future. She works hard and practices constantly. She studied under Tim Daucher for 4 years and studied with Dr. David Hayes. Kyleigh also enjoyed dancing from a young age, especially tap. After a break from dance classes, she began taking clogging. She loves clogging and was excited to be a part of the STARS competitive clogging team who placed first at Nationals. The team performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. She is currently the Clogging Instructor.

Kyleigh also participates in STARS theatre productions and has had three main roles: Tweedle Dee in Alice in Wonderland and Jasmine in Aladdin, and Kathy Seldon in Singin' in the Rain. Outside of music and theatre, Kyleigh loves the outdoors and running. She runs three to four times per week and is currently training for a half-marathon. This year she will work with a flight instructor and obtain her pilot's license. Kyleigh has always wanted to be a pilot, but she also wants to have a family. Those two goals aren't very compatible, so she plans to get her license and fly on her own. She loves music and everything else she does with STARS, and she can't wait to see what fun and exciting things the future holds!

Kyleigh is also currently studying to be a Dental Hygienist.

 Jodie Woosley-Forbes recently retired from the Houston School District, teaching in the public schools for over 30 years.  She graduated with Honors and a Bachelors of Music in Education degree from the Dana School of Music, part of Youngstown State University of Ohio, and was principal flute with the University Wind Ensemble.  She traveled with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and was principal flute in the Venice Suncoast Symphony Orchestra of Florida.  She is presently Assistant conductor of the Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra and the STARS Orchestra.  She has worked with many musical groups including, "The Shortleaf Band," handbell choirs, and various vocal and instrumental ensembles.  She is the mother of two sons, Lawton and Ahren, and a daughter, Olivia, who is also a member of the Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra.  Jodie has 7 grandchildren and, like all grandmothers, she enjoys them very much!
 

Stacey grew up in a small town in central Illinois. She has always had a passion for all things creative and children, which led her to study both child psychology and photography. She has been fortunate enough to have traveled to Europe and had the opportunity to live in several places before settling in southern Missouri with her family. 

Stacey became involved with STARS in 2012, shortly after moving to the area. She has helped make costumes for several STARS productions and has been affectionately nicknamed "The Costume Lady." It is her desire to use fun art projects to instill the principles of art as well as inspire children to always think creatively

Matt was raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Houston, Texas, in 1990. He then spent two years in Spain as a missionary and learned to read, write, and speak fluently in the southern part of Spain.

It is in Spain that Matt really learned different cultures and fell in love with learning about other cultures. He graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in History with a Spanish minor. Shortly after graduating, he moved with his family to Missouri. He got his teaching certification from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, and began teaching Spanish at Cabool High School. He has also taught 6th grade math and world history. This will be Matt’s 18th year teaching. He received his Master’s degree in Educational Administration and loves the teaching profession.

Matt was married to his beautiful wife Rebecca on August 25, 1995. She is a concert pianist and very talented with music. They have been blessed with seven wonderful children. They are the proud parents of six daughters: Tessa, Madison, Hannah, Kyleigh, Abigayle, and Elleigh and one son, Weston.

Matt is currently employed as Spanish teacher at Houston High School. He is involved with family and church. He loves being in the community and serving on boards. He also enjoys every aspect of sports and recreation; especially coaching High School football. He too is learning to play percussion at The STARS Foundation. 

Elizabeth is a 2011 graduate of Cabool High School. At the age of 15, Elizabeth began professional vocal lessons at Missouri State University, which gave her the desire to pursue more training for a career in music. Immediately following graduation, she went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Musical Theatre from College of the Ozarks, graduating in 2016. It was there at College of the Ozarks that she received many opportunities to perform. Some of her favorite roles include: Cinderella in Into the Woods, Clyta Take in Four Star Country Boy, Alice Beineke in The Addams Family, and Mellie Hopper in Railway to Heaven. 

Elizabeth now resides in Branson, MO, where she works full-time as a performer at Silver Dollar City. She is also working toward a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance and Opera Studies. Elizabeth is extremely excited to have the opportunity to teach at The STARS Foundation under the leadership of her former piano teacher, Rebecca Peterson. 

Abigayle Peterson, age 17, has been a student most of her life at The STARS Foundation program. She has studied dance since she was 4: Ballet, Tap, Clogging, Tumbling, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Contemporary. She is preparing to become a Black belt in TKD. She has been in theatre productions, dance stories, and variety shows. She was the first student to dance in fire with a live audience. Abigayle plays flute and cello in the orchestra. She enjoys art classes for the social aspect, and is a huge help to the foundation with cleaning buildings, teaching, and supporting every aspect of the program. She loves teaching her kids in dance classes.

Abby loves baking. She sells her pastries at the coffee shop Mean Muggin' in Houston, MO. She hopes to have her own bakery one day that she can share with her community. She also enjoys sports, family time, roller coasters, and pickles.

She has 6 siblings and is currently hosting exchange students from Poland and Japan.

Brandie Smith is the Martial Arts Instructor for the Stars Foundation. She is currently a fifth degree black belt in the World Youn Wha Ryu Association. She started the martial arts journey in 2009 and earned her Instructor Certificate in 2011 and her Black belt in 2012.

Her day job is a librarian for the Texas County Library.

The Training Principles: Be Polite, Be Patient, Be Alert, Be Brave, Do Your Best, Respect Yourself and Others.

Brandie welcomes everyone to come try Grandmaster Hans Martial Arts.