Debbie Kippley

Chief Creative Officer/ Co-Founder

    Deborah Bowers Kippley has a 44-year history of teaching in the arts.  After graduating form Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska with a BA in Art Education and Elementary Education she toured for a year with a repertory theater company, Covenant Players, based in Southern California.  As an undergraduate she performed a non-major flute recital.  She received a Masters Degree and a Doctorate in Administration, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.    
    Her 29-year public schools teaching career includes 13 years as an elementary art educator in Omaha Public Schools and she started the elementary art program in Papillion La Vista Public Schools in 1992 teaching there for 16 years. During that time she achieved National Board Certification in 2001 and worked on the writing team for the Nebraska K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Frameworks document (1994-1996).
    She founded the Papillion La Vista Arts Network (PLAN) in 1998 and this organization received 501 c 3 status in 2003 under her direction.

Jackie Fowler

Co-Founder

   Jackie Fowler taught elementary music at Trumble Park Elementary for 25 years.  She received her degree from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.  
    Jackie is a co-founder of The Papillion La Vista Arts Network (PLAN) and has been with us from the very beginning.  Each summer she would creatively choose music to complement all of our plays.  

Brian Guehring

Director / Playwright

    Brian Guehring is the Playwright in Residence and former Education Director at The Rose. He developed the theater segment for the Every Single Child program,  drama and dance education outreach for every single child in over 71 local schools each school year (reaching over 27,000 students). His original play “The Super Adventures of Pyramid Man and Dr. Nutrition” and his adaptations of  “Where the Red Fern Grows” and “Old Yeller” won AATE Unpublished Play Project Awards.  His script “The Bully Show” was honored at the Kennedy Center’s  New Visions/New Voices symposium.  Brian also received a playwriting fellowship from the Nebraska Arts Council for his original script “King Chemo.” His plays have been produced by professional theaters for young audiences in Kentucky, South Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia, in addition to productions by schools, universities, and community groups.
    He earned his MFA in theater for young audiences from the University of Texas at Austin. Brian is currently serving on the national board of directors and executive committee of Theater for Young Audiences/USA, the United States Center for the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ), and a national membership organization that strengthens the artistic and cultural impact of theatre for young audiences by empowering, connecting and inspiring our members - thereby fostering a global appreciation of the field’s excellence.  Brian has written and directed the plays performed at Arts Camp since   2000.

Sue Gillespie-Valker

Choreographer

    Sue Gillespie-Valker is the Director of Broadway at the Rose and Resident Choreographer at the Rose Performing Arts for Children and Families.  Sue has well over 20 years teaching and choreographic experience.  She recently was awarded "Best Choreography" for her piece "Crawl", with dancers ages 8-11. She is a well-known professional choreographer and actor in the Omaha area.  Most recently, "Annie", "The Wizard of Oz", and "The Little Engine That Could, "Le Petite Rouge", "Disney's High School Musical"   and  “High School Musical II”  at The Rose Theater.   Sue holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  She is the mother of Claire and Parker.  In 2004, Parker was diagnosed with autism.  Since then, Sue has been a warrior for better services and treatments for autistic kids/adults and, has started  Nebraska's 1st dance class for students within the autism spectrum.

Anna Howard

Kaitlan Scates-Pettiford

Assistant Director

Music Director and Composer

    Anna Howard graduated from Hastings College with a bachelor's degree in Education and a Christian Ministries minor with an elementary endorsement K-8 and theater 7-12.  
 She is currently working at St. Thomas Lutheran Church as their Children's Ministries Director.    
    Anna has been a part of the Papillion La Vista Arts Network (PLAN) from its inception, first performing, then working wherever she was needed.  She directs, stage manages, constructs props, costumes, and choreographs. She currently directs the winter plays.  She adapted the script for Snow Queen and wrote Tales of Malawi from African Folk tales.  Each year, Anna is excited to see old and new cast members grow and have fun during rehearsals and performances.

Kaitlan Scates-Pettiford holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Hastings College and teaches music at Lothrup Elementary School in Omaha. She also instructs Kindermusik and beginner piano at Crash Bang Boom, teaches voice at the Rose Studio, and serves as the music director of Bloom Brigade.

Kaitlan has been writing poetry since elementary school and composing since college. She enjoys how lyrics and music can intertwine to convey something more profound than they seem. ​

Kaitlan is also a proud wife and mom of two humans and two kitties.

Ben Howard

Resident Handyman

    Ben Howard graduated from Hastings College with a degree in BioChemistry and Molecular Biology.  He was a part of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a Professional Men’s Music Fraternity.  He is also a  2nd-degree black belt in Hapkido.  He currently works for Shyft Solutions as a DOD contractor in computer development.    He has been with the Papillion La Vista Arts Network (PLAN) since 2007.  He enjoys musicals and woodworking, which makes him an asset to PLAN.