Our Staff

Allison Morrissey, Director of Development

Allison holds a BA in dance and drama for University of California, Irvine and is in her last year of the Master in Nonprofit Leadership and Management program at University of San Diego. She has served on the programming committee of Rising Arts Leaders and is currently a Collette Murray Scholarship recipient with Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has worked throughout Southern California both as a teaching artist/education professional and in development and fundraising for organizations such as the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Musical Theater.

 

Araceli Huerta, MSW, Family Services Manager

Araceli Huerta is an Associate Clinical Social Worker, who holds a B.A. in Human Development and an MSW in Social Work from California State University San Marcos. Araceli  has more than 7 years of experience working with under-served children, youth, and families.

 

 

Josue Cortes, B.A., M.S.W.

Josue is an associate clinical social worker for ASB providing mental health and wellness services for students and parents. Josue brings his experience of business, dance, and mental health to ASB. Josue received his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California with a clinical focus in Adult Mental Health. 

 

 

Christine Zaccarelli-Taylor, Academic Manager

Christine Zaccarelli-Taylor received her B.A. in Psychology and teaching credential from the University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada, and special education credential from the University of California, Irvine. She has over 35 years of teaching experience in Canada, South Africa, and California. For the past 27 years, she has taught in the Escondido Union School District.

 

Ivan Corona, Academics Program Manager, Middle – High School

Ivan received his Masters in Non-profit Management and currently leads the middle and high school academics and college-career readiness programs.

 

 

Karla Navarro, Teaching Artist/ Dance Program Manager

Karla Navarro received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from San Diego State University. She was born in San Diego, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Prior to joining A Step Beyond, Karla was involved in Harmonium Prime Time after school program, The SDSU Educational Opportunity Program, the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty Leadership Camp (Research Study), and the American Ballet Theatre and Movement Research Intensives in New York City.

 

Casey Flores, Teaching Artist

Casey received her B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies and a B.A. in Dance from University of California Berkeley.  Casey led and taught youth development programs for the EDD from 2009 – 2014 and currently teaches with local dance studios in San Diego.  Casey founded the Emerging Artist Collaborative, dances professionally with various San Diego choreographers and most recently choreographed  for Shared Spaces at Performing Arts Workshop in Encinitas.

 

 

Nhu Nguyen, Teaching Artist

Nhu Nguyen began her professional dance career at eight in Vietnam. She worked with HBSO, Vietnam for roughly 7 years while pursuing her education at Vietnam’s National School of Dance and Choreography. Since her migration in 2012, she has been involved with transcenDance Youth Art Project, A Reason to Survive, and A Step Beyond. In 2017, Nhu Nguyen was named the Outstanding Graduate in Dance, completing her BFA in Dance and minor in Visual Art.

 

 

Roxanne Rojas de Blanco, Teaching Artist 

Roxanne Rojas de Blanco is a California-based dance-artist and teacher.  She is a Teaching Artist at Arts for Learning San Diego, an Affiliate of Young Audiences, a Dance Artist at Omo Aché Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Co., she studied Third World Development Studies at the University of California, San Diego, and Bilingual Elementary Education at San Diego State University.

 

 

Heather Glabe, Teaching Artist 

Heather Glabe is a California-based dance-artist and teacher. She holds a BFA in  Dance and a BA in Communication from UCSB, and an MFA in Dance from  CSULB. Though Heather now resides in Encinitas, she danced within San  Francisco and LA communities before relocating to SD County in 2013. Heather has taught dance for such institutions as CSULB, CSUF, SDSU, UCSD,  American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensives in Orange County, and, most recently, A Step Beyond.