CHIEF GUESTS
BARBARA COLACIELLO
For over two decades, multi-faceted artist Barbara Colaciello has produced and performed socially engaged theater that contributes to vital conversations in the Jacksonville community. Through partnerships with Northeast Florida cultural institutions, collaborations with local performers, and dialogue with a diverse range of students and audiences, Colaciello engages the community in examining complex issues in much more nuanced ways than our local and national discourses often allow. She received her BFA from Rider University and earned her Actor's Equity card at the age of 20. Shortly after her undergraduate studies, Barbara worked with pop artist Andy Warhol for six years at the Factory as the Advertising Director of Warhols’ magazine, Interview Barbara's original one-woman play, "Life on the Diagonal," debuted at Theater Lab in New York City in 2008. In 2020, she received an Art Ventures Individual Artist Grant to create "Open Heart(ed)," a site-specific solo performance piece exploring caregiving and women's heart health. As the Founder and Artistic Director of BABS’LAB, a training and performance artistic hub in Jacksonville's CoRK Arts District, Barbara produces monthly Story Slams and community events. As a creative strategist Barbara works with individuals from a wide range of professions, from writers to lawyers, from artists and educators to business leaders to hone their message, enhance their strengths motivating clients to develop their decision-making communication, and presentation skills. Additionally, as the Artistic Director of Florida Theatre’s Untold Stories, a live storytelling series that offers a platform for Northeast Florida residents to share their unique and inspiring experiences. Now entering its’ fourth season, Barbara casts, coaches the speakers, and hosts the quarterly story evenings. You can listen to the Untold Stories podcast at WJCT.com. 
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PRINCIPAL NONGONGOMA MAJOVA-SEANE
Nongongoma Majova-Seane brought a philosophy and passion grounded in the African concept of Ubuntu, or human kindness, to Stanton College Preparatory School. It is the idea that humanity is interconnected and that “I am because we are.” As a child growing up in Soweto, South Africa under the reign of apartheid, Majova-Seane was inspired by the impact her father, headmaster of a school, had on the lives of young students. Majova-Seane began her career in education in 1987 as a middle school math and science teacher. After earning a master’s degree in Mathematics Education and a certification in Educational Leadership, she moved through the leadership ranks of several middle and high schools in the Duval County Public School system. During her career, Principal Majova-Seane gained a reputation as a thoughtful and charismatic leader. When Majova-Seane became principal of Stanton College Preparatory School in 2010, one of her first responsibilities was to become familiar with the school, its stakeholders, and the community. Stanton had a highly rigorous academic tradition, College Board Advanced Placement (AP) programs, and a dedicated magnet for International Baccalaureate (IB). Majova-Seane’s challenge was to maintain the tradition of high expectations while increasing access for students in the neighborhood and district-wide. Having served as principal of two challenge schools prior to joining Stanton, she was already passionate about inclusion. She was eager to extend Stanton’s reach beyond dedicated magnet middle schools. She is one of 11 recipients of the 2018 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership Principal Majova-Seane created a new sense of community by approaching all stakeholders with warmth, kindness, and compassion. Described as both firm and loving, students have nicknamed her “Mama Majova.” 
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