The Academy

The Academy at MoCA Westport supports the community by providing learning opportunities for all ages. The Academy is committed to programming that fosters a growth mindset in its participants, while blending visual arts, music, wellness and academic themes throughout its wide array of course offerings. Our goal is to help our students perceive art, music, themselves and the world around them more clearly, and to enhance sensory awareness that connects us to the world around us.

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The Academy

Faculty & Staff

Anne Greenberg

Director of Education

As a mother of two teenage girls, former classroom teacher, and elementary school assistant principal in New York City, Anne Greenberg brings extensive knowledge and experience to support students and teaching staff at MoCA in her role as Director of Education.

Colleen Thomas

Head of Educational Development

Colleen is an educator who advocates for elevating partnerships between arts organizations and their communities. She has worked as a teacher in traditional classrooms as well as several museums where her dedication for developing impactful lessons continues to grow. She is thrilled to partner with her colleagues at MoCA to build dynamic and inclusive programs that enrich the lives of our students

Erika McGhee

Erika is an artist and DIY enthusiast who loves art as it relates to many forms. She has taught Pre-K children for fifteen years, and has taught art history for three years along with other enrichments such as chess and yoga. Holding bachelor degrees in Jewelry and Metals, and another in Early Childhood Education, Erika is currently pursuing her Master’s in Illustration.

Nell Waters

Nell is a Westport & Brooklyn-based painter and art educator with over 20 years of experience. Nell was also a leader of the ArtSmarts program for many years in the Westport Schools. She taught and helped lead two programs at Westport Arts Center: SmilowArts, bringing healing art workshops to patients at Yale-New Haven Smilow Cancer Center, and the SpecialArts, providing art classes for children with special needs.

Amy Chaple

Amy is a seasoned teacher with international experience. She taught in both Poland and Turkey before moving to Westport 13 years ago. She holds a BA from Babson College, and an MA in International Education from Framingham State University. She is passionate about art and has worked with artists, galleries and public and private collections. Working at MoCA Westport gives her the opportunity to blend both of her passions, teaching and art.

Agata Tria

Agata is an accomplished and award-winning artist, exhibiting her soft pastels in the United States as well as Europe. Her style is mostly minimalistic nature portraits emphasizing color and composition. She creates in a diversity of mediums including acrylic/oils, pastels, glass, resins and wood. She currently resides in Weston, CT and earned her Master’s degree from the European Academy of Arts in Warsaw, Poland.

Lisa Stretton

Lisa has over 18 years of experience teaching and supporting students in several public schools throughout Connecticut. She has a BA in Communications from Boston College, MS in Special Education from LIU and a Professional Certification in Interior Design from Fairfield University. Lisa is also the founder of Real Art Real Artists, an online artist directory that establishes connections between artists and their local communities.

Saxton Thaler

Saxon is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, earning his BFA in 3D Animation and minor in Storyboarding. He also works as a freelance graphic designer and motion media artist. His hobbies include drawing, tennis, and karate.

Kristen Young

Camp Director, Kristen Young brings extensive experience as an arts administrator and musician to MoCA. She is also a violinist and dog lover.

Mercedes Arensberg

A graduate of Columbia University’s Visual Arts program, Mercedes is an artist focusing on paintings, sculptures and installations of different types—video and sculptural. She is fluent in several languages, including Spanish, French and Italian.

The Academy at MoCA Westport supports the community by providing learning opportunities for all ages. The Academy is committed to programming that fosters a growth mindset in its participants, while blending visual arts, music, wellness and academic themes throughout its wide array of course offerings. Our goal is to help our students perceive art, music, themselves and the world around them more clearly, and to enhance sensory awareness that connects us to the world around us.

Refund Policy: To ensure the optimal experience, we schedule our teachers and purchase our materials in advance. As a non-profit organization, cancellations make it challenging for us to manage our enrollments and plan for programs. Tuition refunds made by request are available up until five business days prior to the start of the program, any registration fees incurred shall be the responsibility of the registrant upon cancellation.

There are no make-up days available for missed days due to illness, family obligations, etc.

Once a program is underway, if a class day or full program is canceled due to concerns of staff or participant exposure to COVID-19, no refunds will be issued. There will be no refunds for days canceled due to weather concerns however, where possible, credits will be offered.

Classes are transferable to another participant with 48 hours notice. Contact Colleen Thomas at colleen@mocawestport.org with any questions or to change a class participant.