AATE 2025 National Conference

Michelle Gram Giesen has worked at the Toronto District School Board in Canada for 16 years, as an elementary teacher, drama specialist, integrated arts teacher, librarian, and presently as an Arts Teacher Mentor with the board. She is an actor, puppeteer, voice actor, and the founder of Story Drama Suite, providing drama education workshops, consulting, presentations, classes, and parties for educators, children, and theatre practitioners. Michelle holds a BFA Honours from York University’s Creative Ensemble/ Devised Theatre Program, and a B.Ed. from OISE/UofT. She has studied various drama techniques and teaching styles and facilitated conference sessions centered on using Story Drama to explore themes such as mental health, social justice, environmental stewardship, bullying, Indigenous education, and more in Canada, the USA, Europe, and New Zealand.