Lauren Fofana
Founder/ Executive Director
Lauren Fofana attended Virginia State College, an HBCU, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Education in Ann Arbor. Lauren is a recognized leader in the community who advocates, through planning and execution, opportunities for students to succeed academically. She is especially passionate about helping families whose finances interfere with getting the professional academic support that under performing students need and deserve in order to thrive and add value to their communities. Founded in 2003, S.T.E.P. Academics’ state-certified educators have provided academic support services to the most vulnerable student population in many K-12 public schools, protective women’s shelters, and with students who are entangled in the Juvenile Court system.
Paul Kwame Johnson
Artistic Director/Acting Teacher
Mr. Johnson has 50 years of experience as an actor, writer, director, mime, and artistic director in professional youth and community theater. A former student of Tony award winner Wilford Leach and Obie award winner Marvin Felix Camillo, as well as “Players Workshop” founder and director Clay Stevenson and Shirley Kaplan he holds an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College and is a William Henry Danforth scholar in educational theater. He co-founded Youth Theater Interactions, Inc, with James P. Hill and Turhan von Brandon in December of 1973 and served as its founding artistic director until 2003. He is a five-time Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts director including directing productions at Alice Tully Hall and Lincoln Center Out of Doors all of which were productions presented by Youth Theatre Interactions, Inc. Mr. Johnson was the Head Scriptwriter for “Scoops Place” a segment of the PBS and NBC television series “Infinity Factory”. He has also been published in “Ebony Jr.” magazine. Mr. Johnson has been awarded the Keys to the City of Detroit and a High Commendation from the city of Los Angeles for his work in theater in those cities. Founder and artistic director of The YTI Mime Time Players (1976-1992), Mr. Johnson’s company was the first professional mime company composed entirely of African- American and Latino mime artists ever to perform in concert at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and conduct national tours. In 1988 The YTI Mime Time Players were admitted into the Mid-Atlantic States Touring Consortium of the National Endowment of the Arts becoming the first African-American Mime company to be so honored. Mr. Johnson has taught theater and mime in South Africa, the Caribbean (Jamaica and Barbados) and in Hong Kong.
In 1989 he founded the “Intimate Realities” Teen Touring Drama Company of YTI which has now continued to produce touring presentations for the past thirty years and he continues presently as the Director of this Company. In 2015 he directed the New York premiere of “American Moor” written and performed by Keith Hamilton Cobb who won the 2015 Audelco award for “outstanding solo performance” for his role in this production. In 2016 Mr. Johnson was inducted as “A Living Legend in the Arts” in the City of Peekskill by that city’s board of education for his work in drama with Peekskill’s student population.
Currently, Mr. Johnson continues to serve with Youth Theatre Interactions, Inc. on their drama faculty and serves as “guest faculty” for the Sarah Lawrence College Theatre and Civic Engagement department. He is also the Elementary, Adult and Teen Theatre Director for the Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh, New York where he oversees the TDYCC Adult Acting Company and the TDYCC Teen Acting Company. The New York State Council of the Arts Independent Review biography states of Mr. Johnson, “… Mr. Johnson is one of the most highly sought-after teachers of theater in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.”
Mr. Johnson’s father, James Gilbert Johnson, was an original Tuskegee Airman and the Meteorology Instructor for the 99th Pursuit Fighter Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen. Mr. Johnson’s daughter, LaShaan Dearcy Hall was appointed by President Barack Obama as the United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York in 2016. She is the first African-American woman to hold that position in the history of New York State.
Jessica Parris
African Dance Teacher
Jessica Parris love for dance began at the age of 5, while attending Thomas Pullen, a performing arts school in Maryland. Once I reached 5th grade I began taking Ballet, Tap, Jazz, African and Hip-Hop classes. I continued dancing in high school, and throughout my college career at Salisbury University, where I studied Psychology and dance. After graduation I began dancing in musicals with the Tantallon Players group, where I performed in The Color Purple, The Wiz and Guys & Dolls. My dance career continued as I was accepted on 2 semi pro dance teams the Lady Eagles and the Bombsquad, where we performed at multiple football and basketball games. In 2011, I began teaching dance to children in a various dance studios, and have been teaching and choreographing for ages 4- adult ever since.
I have recently started a new company of my own, I am She-The Brand LLC and Sexy She LLC, where I empower women to feel confident and sexy through teaching fun and flirty dance classes.
Leavata Johnson
Vocal Teacher
LEAVATA JOHNSON has been a featured soprano soloist at Carnegie Hall, the Spoleto Festivals in Italy and Charleston, South Carolina, Melbourne Festival in Australia, as well as notable collaborations with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She is internationally acclaimed for her signature role as Serena in Gerswin’s Porgy and Bess. Miss Johnson has performed in distinguished opera houses throughout Europe, including in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Augsburg, the Deutsches Theater in Munich, the Rome Opera House, the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Italy, the Opera National de Lorraine in Nancy, France, and many more. Miss Johnson studied at Juilliard and Mannes College of Music in New York City and taught voice and concert preparation at the internationally renowned Boys Choir of Harlem Academy and the Girls Choir of Harlem Academy for nine years. Also noted for her deeply moving performances of sacred music, Leavata Johnson is one of today’s leading interpreters of African American Spirituals. Miss Johnson has a rich history and wishes to spend time working with students who have a sincere desire to grow vocally.
Sofia Gonzalez
Sofia Gonzalez is 23 years old, and was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She attended New World School of the Arts High School in Miami. She has trained in all forms of dance but especially enjoys contemporary, ballet, hip-hop and composition; Sofia was recognized as a Youngarts Finalist for choreography in 2018 with her piece titled, “Variation of a Tango”. In 2022, she graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she majored in Dance. In 2023, Sofia joined Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company and Nathan Trice Rituals Dance Company, both based in New York City. That same year, she started teaching Ballet for the Misty Copeland Foundation. Sofia loves working with kids of the younger generations and passing down her knowledge of dance. She has also ignited her passion for music. Sofia has been writing, singing, recording and performing her own music. She released her debut EP called “Cursed” at the end of March 2022. Sofia has released music every year since then. She is a storyteller through her art in every facet and is excited to continue challenging herself and to inspiring others.
Ballet Teacher
De'Anna Thomas
On-Site Administrator
De'Anna Thomas received her B.A. in English from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY and a MFA in Creative Writing(Poetry) from Spalding University, Louisville, Ky.
Ms. De'Anna had a professional acting career for over twenty years in plays and films. From 2011-2013, as a Poet/Playwright, she performed her 10min poetic play "Scratching the Surface," and had a staged reading of her One Act play, "Dear Uncle Langston" performed in The Puzzle: Marble's Festival of New Work. Ms. De'Anna has also hosted Poetry Workshops in correctional facilities in the 90's and more recently in 2017 with school-age children at Gloria's House, Bronx, New York.
Coming to S.T.E.P. Academics' Performing Arts Saturday School (P.A.S.S.) with an extended background in Performing Arts and Social Services, Ms. De'Anna has worked in myriad of settings and populations with infants to young adults. Thomas was an After School Director where she implemented various art forms to nuture young minds. She was introduced to Performing Arts as a child where she received dance instruction from Lucille Beard's Fine Arts Workshop, and later Drama & Performance from Andora Hodgin's Total Theater for Youth. Therefore, as an On-Site Administrator, Ms. De'Anna can carry out Ms. Fofana's vision as she reflects on her own experiences as an excited learner and budding performer.
Yvonne “Ev” McFall
Artistic Advisor/ Founding Artistic Director
Yvonne “Ev” McFall was introduced to the performing arts at an early age and refined her artistic talents as a student. Though singing remains her passion, dancing became her daily exercise, teaching dance became a profession and acting brought her inner voice to the surface. Ev went on tours with main-stream artists, interviewed a variety of “industry people” on both radio and television, and created/hosted events as a supervisor for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. As a counselor for New York’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) she provided daily support and encouraged individuality. In June 2020, she earned her Masters Degree in Education from Hunter College as she completed the Teaching Fellow Program and is currently teaching high school in New York City.
As the Artistic Director of STEP Academics & Arts, she is honored to work along the side of Lauren Fofana with the guidance of Paul Kwame Johnson, her coach/ mentor. As an educator, student and mother her responsibility is to pass on knowledge gained to anyone willing to receive it. Understanding the future belongs to the next generation and she is looking forward to their journey ahead. Ev is overjoyed for the staff, teachers, partnerships and most importantly the students. “Our children should always be the reason why we push through challenges and strive for progression. STEP Academics was founded by a growth mindset and STEP Arts is an extension that life is truly limitless”