At East Haven High School, Ms. Kari Collins is known for her talent in both the classroom and on the stage. She teaches American Literature, Mythology, and Print-to-Popcorn, and she also leads the school’s drama club, helping students grow as readers, performers, and teammates.
Ms. Collins once attended EHHS herself before studying theater and English at UMass Amherst. Later she earned her master’s degree in secondary English education at the University of New Haven. Her love for English and drama began in high school and never faded. Today, she blends both subjects to create a space where students feel welcome, creative, and part of something larger than themselves.

Her passion for both subjects helped her decide to teach them together. She believes that English and theater share many skills and that each can make the other stronger.
Ms. Collins’ creative life doesn’t end in the classroom. Before becoming a teacher, she worked as a party princess at children’s birthday parties. That job unexpectedly helped her discover a new hobby—styling wigs. Over time, wig work became a major part of her productions. She now designs and styles wigs for every show, from simple curls to detailed updos that can take hours to finish.

One of her proudest moments came during a production of The Sound of Music, when she created an elegant wedding updo by hand. She also designed six matching wigs for Frozen, sewing a white streak into each one to match the movie’s famous look.

Even with the long hours of rehearsals, teaching, and wig-making, Ms. Collins says the work is worth it. She focuses on building a safe, supportive space where students can take risks, try new things, and feel proud of what they create.

Watching her students grow—both as learners and performers—is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. Seeing everything come together on opening night makes all the hard work meaningful.
For Ms. Collins, creativity is more than a hobby or a job. It is part of who she is, and she can’t imagine her life without it.