Shows
Brave Voices in Education - The PodcastSculpted by Purpose: Healing, Leadership & Art with Ayesis ClayHow do we reclaim our purpose when the system pushes us to the edge?In this soul-stirring episode, Ayesis Clay—educator, playwright, and founder of Sculpted Clay Productions—joins Craig Aarons-Martin to explore what it means to live, lead, and liberate through story and self-awareness.🎙️ Topics include:The real cost of burnout in educationStorytelling as a path to liberationHow leaders can model vulnerabilityReimagining schools as spaces for healingBlack women reclaiming their narratives in education✨ This episode is a love letter to the brav...
2025-06-2538 min
KeyBARDPerforming at the Intersection of Arts and Education with Ayesis ClaySend us a textJoin host Thembi Duncan as she sits down for the very first episode of KeyBARD with Ayesis Clay, a distinguished educator, theatre practitioner, and nationally sought-after keynote speaker.Ayesis shares her insights on the creative process, working with incarcerated youth, the biggest challenges of the US education system, and her unique approach to professional development, the Reignite Leadership Mastermind and School Development Series. Educators, artists, and other smart people will enjoy this thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between the arts, education, and social impact!Want to be a...
2024-03-2958 min
Writing Black JoyConnecting to your inner world through your storiesToday I talk with Ayesis Clay who is (among other things) an extraordinary playwright, poet and theatre professional as well as an educator and founder of Sculpted Clay Productions, where she uses innovative theatre-infused residencies and professional development workshops to help schools create trauma-sensitive, social-emotional focused learning environments for teachers and students.
Ayesis and I talk about using memoir to connect with your inner world - and we also talked about performing and how that has impacted her view of memoir.
Definition of memoir and the different ways of writing your story and moments from...
2024-02-2237 min
Art Works for TeachersCurtain Call: Using Theatre Strategies for Teacher PDSend us a textIn today's episode, theatre educator and working actress Ayesis Clay shares how theatre can be used as a mechanism for teacher healing and professional development. We explore the continuum of burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma (they aren't all the same thing!) and specific ways you can address each of these in and through theatre practices. Ayesis also shares about her upcoming retreat in Puerto Rico for teachers and a behind the scenes look at her PD sessions.
2023-09-2135 min
The ClasStars PodcastEpisode 110: Conversation with Ayesis ClayAyesis Clay is a distinguished arts educator and multidisciplinary theatre artist. With over 17 years in education, she has written and developed curriculum for Prince George’s County Public Schools (one of the top 25 largest school districts in the nation), the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, and many local and regional theatre companies. She has held many school and district leadership positions including Theatre department chairperson for the largest magnet program in the district, chairperson for the Prince George’s County Schools Theatre Advisory Board, and served as Co-Founder and Co-Director of the PGCPS Honor's Theatre Ensemble (2014-2018).
Ayesis holds a Bach...
2023-07-1433 min
Writing Black JoyOn stage with Ayesis ClayThis week we have with us Ayesis Clay - poet and playwright extraordinaire and so much more. Find out why she never actually considered herself a playwright - despite the fact that she has been writing plays since she was in primary (elementary) school, and hear her read from a current work in progress - A Million Tiny Ways.
Ayesis Clay is a master teacher, multidisciplinary theatre artist, and educational consultant. She has developed theatre arts curriculum for Prince George’s County Public Schools, the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, and many local and regional theatre companies. She...
2023-07-0548 min
The Resilient Teacher PodcastCompassion Fatigue: The Cost of Caring for Teachers with Special Guest Ayesis ClayDid you know that teacher burnout and compassion fatigue are very different experiences? Teachers in the field are dealing with a lot, yes, but how can we tell which it is? Compassion fatigue refers the outcome that teachers experience when they absorb the trauma or the emotions of others while helping and supporting them.Most teachers are empathic, which is really a key component of connecting and developing relationships with our students and colleagues. However, there is a downside if you are not protecting yourself and that results in compassion fatigue. That's why I had to bring...
2022-12-0644 min
Unlock Your Teaching PotentialWhy do you want to be a teacher? How to reconnect to your “why” and how to heal yourself of teacher burnout through art and play. A conversation with Ayesis Clay.Have a question for the show? Text us here!How has your journey into education changed over time?More importantly, how has this path changed YOU as a person and an educator?Do you feel safe being vulnerable enough to reflect upon and express the truth of your experience?As an educator, you don’t always feel as if you have the time to process your emotions, and oftentimes you push it down and just ke...
2022-10-2035 min
Beautifully Unbalanced (Formerly Thym 4 Tea with Mikita)The Power of Self-Care: Carly George on Healing from TraumaHealing is the key to everything."I just really want people to know that everything that they need is inside them already."Carly George is a self-love coach and trauma specialist who helps women to heal from their childhood trauma and to practice self-care in a way that is healing.This is Carly George's story...Carly George is a woman who helps other women heal from trauma. She began her journey of helping others when she realized that the official health system wasn't helping people in the way she...
2022-09-1337 min
SEL in EDU012: Celebrating SEL Day 2022In this episode, Craig and Krista speak with Dr. Anthony Martin, the Director of School Resources and Support for a K-12 district in central CaliforniaDr. Lori Stollar, the Director of Partner Success at Resonance Education and retired administrator with expertise in educator mentoring and curriculumAyesis Clay, the CEO and founder of Sculpted Clay Productions, an organization that empowers educators EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:What's your SEL superpower?How do you work with educators and students to put a focus on SEL as part of who they are and wh...
2022-08-0656 minSEL in EDU011: Re-Igniting Creativity in Classrooms to Boost SEL and Positive School Culture with Ayesis ClayEPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:Telling your story can empower others to find their voice.Our young people need brave spaces where the adults will listen empathetically and actively to what they believe they need to thrive, especially in identity matters.Unicorn teachers celebrate and are completely invested in each student's diversity and uniqueness, pushing them to believe in their own individual magic.Compassion fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Burnout carry similarities but show up differently for educators.Everyone can find freedom by tapping into their “magic”--authentic connections or authentic networks, gratitude, intentional self-care, and creativity.EPIS...
2022-06-1847 minBeautifully Unbalanced (Formerly Thym 4 Tea with Mikita)Ayesis Clay- Recognizing The Symptoms Of Compassion FatigueCompassion Fatigue is something that is rarely thought about when it comes to our educators. If you have kids or grandkids, a blended family then you know that our children spend more than 8 hours with our kids. However it's just not our kids it's children from all different backgrounds, and economic classes and they come with the stress of the world. These educators take on those children's hurts, and fears. They too become fatigued with the weight of challenges that come with being an educator.Join in the conversation with the Ayesis Clay Educator, Actor, and F...
2022-05-0435 min
Beautifully Unbalanced (Formerly Thym 4 Tea with Mikita)Ayesis Clay - Compassion FatigueAyesis Clay is spilling tea on recognizing burnout, identifying stressors, as well as tips and tools you can use to help you heal from compassion fatigue. Are you an educator, nurses, counselor or caregiver? Maybe your the friend the friend everyone goes to and shares their problems. Compassion Fatigue is real and sometimes hard to recognize.
Transcript:
Mikita - So was acting always your love, has it always been a passion.
Ayesis- Indeed. It was, it was well, okay. All right. There was that one time that I wanted to be a ballerina unicorn slash , oceanographer, but that didn't really...
2022-05-0335 min
The Calvin Nellum PodcastPutting Teachers First (feat: Ayesis Clay)Hello Family!Link to podcast: https://bit.ly/2XWukDOWe BACK!! I know it's been about a month, getting my life together. Thank you all for being committed to the podcast and being avid listeners. Ayesis Clay is an actress, director, and teaching artist. Her original productions, Standing on the Edge and Sculpting Clay or How I Became Mother of Unicorns (solo show), have toured locations across the US. Ayesis is an inaugural member of the Assistant Director Fellowship for People of Color (Adventure Theatre) and has directed for schools, theaters, and community organizations. Ayesis b...
2021-10-2854 min
The Different Ability® PodcastTeacher Secondary Trauma and Burnout with Ayesis ClaySend us a textAyesis Clay is a unicorn (former) teacher and that's an understatement! She shares her story of becoming a teacher and working in the education system for many years. Ayesis talks about how secondary trauma and burnout became her reality as a teacher.Ayesis was not only an incredible teacher, she in an incredible artist through and through! Writing a play was therapy for her AND lucky us, she shared a sneak peek of her performance in today's Episode! She is performing for the first time ever and audio version of her...
2021-07-2153 min
Own the MicrophoneTalk to the Pains of the People On this week's episode of Own the Microphone, Bridgett McGowen welcomes actress, teacher, motivational speaker, and founder of the Sculpted Clay Theatre Company, Ayesis Clay. Bridgett and Ayesis discuss Ayesis' teaching career, secondary traumatic stress, what Ayesis would say to her past self, how to deal with imposter syndrome, and more! Own the Microphone With Bridgett McGowen. Talk to the Pains of the People Guest: Ayesis Clay 1:20 A little bit about Ayesis Clay. 6:00 Finding the courage to write and perform a solo show about her life experiences.
2021-07-0130 min
Honestly WellThe Importance of Play with Ayesis ClayHave you stopped playing? As adults, we are often told that play is not important, or worse that it's too silly! In this episode, Marisa Faye BCHN MPH is joined by Ayesis Clay owner of Sculpted Clay Productions. Ayesis works with teachers, and professionals, who are burned out to help them find their creative playful voice once again. You'll walk away from this episode with encouragement and an idea of where to start with including play into your life. Check out Ayesis' upcoming 30 day challenge at https://www.sculptedclayproductions.com/writetobeheard/. --- Send in a voice message: https://a...
2021-05-0537 min