This is when Ms. Calicchio got awarded for the best choreograph for Footloose the Musical in 2025. (photo from IMS Google Sites)
Ms. Calicchilo is a theater arts teacher who works at Iselin Middle School. She is a really good actor and has acted in lots of plays. She graduated from Kean University’s B.A. in Theater with Teaching Certification program in 2021. Outside of teaching, she performs, choreographs, and directs at community theaters across NJ.
Panther Press- Hello, how are you doing today?
Ms. Calicchio- I’m good. How are you?
Panther Press- Great, so what do you teach, and what grade do you teach?
Ms. Calicchio- I teach theater arts, and I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
Panther Press- Have you always wanted to be a theater arts teacher, or did you just change your mind?
Ms. Calicchilo- When I was younger, I wanted to become a Rockette, but I was too short, so I became a teacher to show the importance of theater.
Panther Press- When did you start teaching at IMS, and how many years has it been?
Ms. Calicchio – I started teaching in 2021, so I have been teaching in Woodbridge for four years.
Panther Press – Ok, what is your favorite part of your job?
Ms. Calicchio- My favorite part of my job is being able to teach students something new, and being able to witness how they feel about learning something new, and accomplishing something new, and goals that they thought they could not achieve.
Panther Press- So, please tell us more about your passion for theater and why you love it so much?
Ms. Calicchilo- The reason I love theater the most is that it allows you to escape from real life and become fully immersed in the character.
Panther Press- Wow, interesting! So now that we have learned a little bit about you, how might you describe yourself?
Ms. Calicchilo- I am organized, energetic, and I would say that I am determined.
Panther Press – Do you participate in any after-school activities or outside events? If so, please provide more information about it.
Ms. Calicchilo- Outside of teaching, I perform, so I was just in Legally Blonde, and I played Elwood’s so I always am performing, and I direct and choreograph for Colonia High. I am also the adviser of the drama club.
Panther Press– That’s nice! So, can you tell us how you feel about teaching at IMS?
Ms. Calicchilo- I love teaching at IMS because I think that the environment with the students and teachers is welcoming, and everyone wants to succeed, and I do like it here with the different events.
Panther Press- So, how do you feel about your students? Are they hard to handle, or is it pretty easy?
Ms. Calicchilo- They are hard to handle depending on the day, especially when students don’t want to work, but as a teacher, we have to find ways to make them feel welcomed and comfortable in our class to encourage them to do their work to the best of their ability.
Panther Press- What would you do on a typical day after work?
Ms. Calicchilo- A typical day after work, I go home, I usually watch Grey’s Anatomy, the best show ever, and I would go to rehearsal if I have rehearsal that night.
Panther Press- That’s nice, now what is your greatest accomplishment, and what are your goals for the
summer?
Ms. Calicchilo- My greatest accomplishment well, I don’t feel like I have one moment that I can think of. I have had a bunch of really cool opportunities, but one that I would say is that when I was in high school, I performed in Carnegie Hall twice in New York City.
Panther Press- Awesome. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Ms. Calicchilo- No, I just think that the arts are very important in our schools and that we should continue to support them.
Panther Press- Thank you for your time.
Ms. Calicchilo- You’re welcome!