Tara Filowitz

Artist, Blogger, Concerned citizen, Educator/Teacher, Explorer, Global soul, Idea generator, Jewish, Journalist, Life mentor, Parent, Performer, Photographer, Producer, Project manager, Public servant, Student, Writer/Editor

Tara Filowitz (Arrey) has been teaching English Language Arts at Valencia High School (Placentia, CA) since 2007, and coordinating our TEDxValenciaHighSchool Events since 2017. This year Ms. Filowitz took on a new role as the Valencia High School Drama Teacher, currently directing the play, The Survivor by Susan Nanus, based on the memoirs of Jack Eisner. is a graduate of both Brandeis University (Waltham, MA) and Chapman University (Orange, CA). At Brandeis, Ms. Filowitz received a BA in Theatre Arts, with an emphasis in Dramatic Structure and Text, in 2001. At Chapman University she received both a Teaching Credential (Single Subject CLAD Credential with a focus in Secondary English - 2007) and a Masters degree in Education (emphasis in Curriculum and Foundations - 2009). Additionally, while at Chapman Ms. Filowitz was the recipient of the Tye Fellowship and the California Retired Teacher's Scholarship. Ms. Filowitz's credentials also include having worked at, and attended, the Orange County High School of the Arts/Los Alamitos High School (as a student, and later as a teacher), in conjunction with her credential in English. Ms. Filowitz has an extensive background in both Language Arts (Grammar/Writing/Literature) and in Theatre Arts (both acting and dramatic theory/history).

Teaching, theatre arts, my friends, my family, and my heritage.

"Men must live and create. Live to the point of tears." - Albert Camus "Nothing very very good or very very bad lasts for very very long." - Douglas Coupland

Academic Decathlon, Creative Writing Club Adviser, Douglas Coupland, Dramatic Text and Theory, English Language Arts, George Orwell, Holocaust Film Studies, Holocaust Studies, Judaic Studies, Literature, Mentorship, Monologue Coaching, Musical Theater, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Reality TV, Speech/Monologue/Acting Coach, Theatre Arts, Theatre History, Voice (Singing), Writing & Composition

When you want something, you make it happen. I’ve always been someone who firmly believe in the power of positive thinking – and when I decided I want something, I get it. Period. And I don’t stop trying until I do. I honestly believe every single person is capable of that kind of goal-setting, but you have to believe you can do it. Self-efficacy is one of the biggest factor in success – just the idea of believing in yourself – that’s why I always say, love yourself and everything else will fall into line after that. You also have to create the life you want, and not just allow life to happen to you. Good things happen to people who TRY. (I’m sure I can jam in a few more clichés, but I’ll spare you. During my thirteen years of teaching, I’ve completed my Single Subject Teaching Credential (Language Arts) and Masters in Education (emphasis in Curriculum and Foundations), worked at Valencia High school since August of 2007, teaching Language Arts (still waiting to teach Drama… someday!), gotten tenure, gotten moved from a rickety portable to a shiny SMART classroom with tons built in storage space, new furniture, and a TON of natural light, gotten married, bought a house, had a baby, had intestinal resection surgery, coached 4 Academic Decathlon teams who have gone on to compete at the state level, coordinated three TEDx events, and taught aproximaely 2,500 students. I learn so much from being a part of TEDx, hearing all of the incredible ideas, and ingenuity of the students at my school. The takeaway I get from the whole process was that every single person has a story to tell. Everyone is going through something. There’s always another way to look at the world, you just have to be open-minded to exploring and growing. TED expands perception via exposure to new ideas and people. I feel blessed to be a part of such innovative platform of communication. To be able to gift my students with the opportunity of a global platform makes me truly feel like I am contributing to public education as a whole, and to the world.

I'm a professionally trained, Broadway-caliber musical theater actress who has produced two demo CDs. I am also an expert on all things Brady Bunch trivia and Reality TV - used to write for a few blogs and recap shows. My current expertise is Bravo, but I dabble in MTV/Paramount and a few Fox shows - but I remain steadfast against watching anything involving a Kardashian.