At World Upside Down Arts Studio, we have an amazing team of teaching artists, interns, and volunteers who help us create a life-changing experience for our students. In addition to the classes and programs we offer at the studio, we have a growing number of requests to provide teaching services at local schools, group homes, and homeschool co-ops. We are not currently offering any full-time positions but have a number of exciting opportunities for work and ministry. Check out their bios below. You have full permission to be utterly impressed! Want to join our team?
Team Members
After School Program Teaching Artists
Milca Puello
Music Teacher, Assistant Director Intern
Milca is an amazing vocalist and plays saxophone and has recorded vocals for several indie artists. She is a social media influencer and leads worship at NewSpring church. She has a BS in Special Education from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Enrique Ureña and is excited about offering classes and services to students with special needs. She teaches music classes and private voice lessons at the studio and is our in-house expert on teaching special needs students.
Abigail Aeschliman
Visual Arts Teacher
Abigail is an artist, musician, teacher, and above all, a missionary for the gospel of Jesus Christ. She developed her skills for art, music, and teaching as a missionary kid in the beautiful islands of Fiji where she was inspired to bring glory to God through art. As an art teacher, she helps students unlock their artistic creativity. She has an AS in Early Childhood Development from Bob Jones University. Abigail teaches painting and drawing at our studio.
Christy Shumaker
Puppetry Teacher
Christy has a joy and passion to teach children of all ages and to show them the love of Jesus. With over 25 years of experience teaching and directing kids’ ministries and events, she delights in understanding children’s hearts and relating to them in a fun, energized, and creative way. She holds a BA degree in Communications from Moody Bible Institute. Her motto in life: Love Jesus. Teach Children. Eat Chocolate! She teaches puppetry and crafts at the studio.
Brooke Arends
Music Teacher
Brooke is a musician and a songwriter. She plays piano, guitar, and sings. She is currently going to North Greenville University for a BS in Business with a minor in Worship Studies. She is new to songwriting, but she is always coming up with new melodies and lyrics. Brooke leads worship at NewSpring Church, Greenville campus and at her home church, Foothills Church in Seneca, SC. She currently teaches ukulele and voice at the studio.
Faith Sewell
Dance Teacher
Faith is trained in numerous dance styles including ballet, hip hop, Irish, jazz/tap, and clogging. She has also choreographed and performed in several musical theater programs. She is pursuing her BA in Elementary Education from North Greenville University. As a teacher she strives to use her passion for the arts and her love for Jesus to pour into her students to ensure they are valued, seen, and learn how to express their worth, talent, and gifts. Faith teaches dance at the studio.
Musical Theater Program Teaching Artists
Gisele Gathings
Theater Director
Gisele Gathings has performed as an actress, model, writer, composer, vocalist (Gisele TYF), talk show host, news anchor, voiceover artist, and media personality on television, radio, and film as well as the stage. Gisele’s featured vocal performances include: Kylie Odetta, SpeakEasy Jazz, Lakia Club Italy, Razz Ma Jazz Band, and Grady Hodges Group. She has performed in all of the major theaters in the upstate and is currently touring with Christian Creative Media’s production Viable. Her music project, The Journey Gisele TYF is available on all digital platforms.
Jairo Puello
Music Director
Jairo was born in the Dominican Republic and started his musical career in Puerto Rico where he graduated from seminary. He later returned to his country to be the national director of Awana Clubs International in the D.R. Of his seven music albums, these are the most popular: You are Exalted, I’ll Stay With You, Attached to You (nominated to the Cassandra Awards 2008), and On the Rock. He currently works as a State Farm insurance agent for Mahler Nunez serves on the worship team at NewSpring Church (Greenville campus), and is the music director for the musical theater program at the studio.
Emma Peters
Dance Teacher
Emma is a teacher, student, and artist dedicated to sharing her love of movement with the world. As a teacher, she strives to make each of her students feel seen, no matter their level of expertise. She is pursuing a BA in Business and Accounting with a minor in Dance at Anderson University so that she can work in the arts as a business professional. She will be the choreographer for the musical theater program for Fall of 2024 at the studio.
Taylor Hungerford
Assistant Director
Taylor is a mother, wife, songwriter, and seasoned musician with a background in vocal music education from Valdosta State University School of the Arts. She draws from her years of experience both as a worship leader and as an early childhood nanny to mentor young artists and performers. Her passion is to empower the next generation to discover their voices while truly feeling seen and valued as they step out to boldly use their gifts—many for the first time ever. She is the assistant director for the musical theater program.
Teaching Artists
Caleb Woo
Music and Theater Teacher
Through acting, music production, or design, Caleb tells dynamic, life-changing stories. He loves empowering students to experience God's design for community through art so they can tell world-changing stories of their own. He has a BS in Health Science from Bob Jones University and is woking on his MPH in Global Health from Liberty University. Caleb teaches private music lessons in voice and piano and group classes in music and theater at our studio.
Val and Bri Butov
International Latin Ballroom Teachers
Vladimir and Brianna Butov are a dynamic dance duo who specializing in dancing and teaching International Latin Ballroom dance (Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble). They have 15+ years of experience teaching children, youth, and adults from the basics to competitive dancing. They rent the studio to teach Salsa and Bachata and ballroom (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Swing, and more) dance classes to adults.
Marie Shumaker
Visual Arts Teacher
From an early age, she has enjoyed drawing, painting, and crafting, and being homeschooled provided her with opportunities and time to develop her artistic talents. Marie's love for art reflects her love for Jesus who is the Grand Creator. She delights to show her students the beauty and majesty of God through art. Marie is currently majoring in Studio & Digital Arts at Liberty University and teaches art in our summer camps.
World Upside Down Support Team
Megan Puello
Graphic Designer, Bus Driver, Counselor
Megan is a talented vocalist. She has recorded background vocals for indie artists like Jairo Puello and Charlee Buitrago. She loves to lead worship for Fuse at NewSpring church and is passionate about mentoring young artists. She is studying Front End Development at Bethel Tech bootcamp. At the studio, Megan assists with graphic design and drives the bus for our after school program, and assists as needed with summer camps.
Cassandra Puello
Customer Service Specialist
Cassandra is a ray of sunshine and brings a bundle of joy to our team. She graduated from Lee University with a BS in Public Relations. She is the best Wedding Planner, so if you're looking for someone--hire her! She loves to play volleyball, paddle board, and is a passionate dog mom! She is very active in her church community and loves to create meaningful opportunities for friendship. She assists World Upside Down with customer service support.
Guest Teaching Artists
Curly Judy
Paint Parties
Yury Largaespada, better known as Curly Judy, is the owner of Fun Art with Curly. She brings her Dominican pizazz to every paint party creating a space for students of all ages to take a break and express themselves through canvas paints. She homeschools her two children and hosts both virtual and in-person paint parties at a variety of venues in Greenville. You can book Judy for a paint event at our studio.
Amanda Espinosa
Visual Arts Teacher
Amanda has loved art her entire life. After studying painting and printmaking, she developed art programs at two elementary schools and found a new love–teaching art! Amanda has enjoyed teaching art to students of all ages in a variety of learning environments. She uses quality, multimedia materials to provide opportunities for creativity, innovation, and success. Amanda has a BA in Studio Art from Baylor University.
Kylie Odetta
Voice Over Production & Song Writing
Kylie is a professional singer-songwriter, poet, voice actress, worship leader and dog mom. She has been lighting up the local, global, and virtual music scene for over 10 years. In between her very busy schedule of touring, podcasting, creating new music, and serving at church, she partners with World Upside Down to give students classes in Voice Over production and Song Writing.
