MNprov Program Director
Arneshia Williams
Program Director
Arneshia Williams’ love for education and the arts was cultivated by skilled educators and leaders. These leaders built spaces that held expansive understandings about learning. Boosted by such environments, Arneshia explored education through an integrative lens, championing an appreciation for how each person shows up in their humanity.
Arneshia is excited to join the MNprov team and looks forward to supporting social emotional needs through safe, supportive and creative education play.
“Allow students to be safe enough to be curious.”
Founders Merge Skills In Theater And Special Education
Kelly Kautz is an innovative, national board-certified special education teacher with more than 20 years of experience. She holds a BS degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from the University of Idaho, and an MS in Special Education from Portland State University. Kelly completed the Autism Certificate program through Hamline University in the spring of 2005.
Kelly's interest in using applied improv to meet students' social, emotional and communication needs began in 2016, when she received a grant from the Minnetonka School Foundation to provide improv classes to her students. In 2017, Kelly started the Minnetonka High School improv club, creating an inclusive space for students to enjoy improv together. During the summer of 2018, Kelly attended a week-long improv camp for educators at Indiana University.
She and Michael Bruckmueller founded MNprov in 2019.
Michael Bruckmueller
Co-founder and Teaching Artist
“It’s a sneaky way of teaching.”
Michael Bruckmueller is a teaching artist with more than 25 years of experience in theatrical improvisation. He holds an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Minnesota Duluth. In addition to being a co-founder of MNprov, Michael works as the Director of Education at CSz Twin Cities, is an adjunct professor at St. Catherine University, and is a freelance coach and instructor.
Michael has facilitated Applied Improvisation workshops for the Autism Society of Minnesota, 3M, Cargill, Target, US Bank, Land O’Lakes, General Mills, United Healthcare, Comcast, and many more businesses and organizations.
He and Kelly Kautz founded MNprov in 2019.
“Through improv at school, I saw my daughter come out of her shell. She became more animated and funnier than I had ever seen her. It’s almost like I got to know her for the first time.”
—Parent
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