Conservatory Director/Arts Magnet Coordinator/Instructional Staff Developer

Pamela A. Richardson joined the SLECA family in 2021. She is currently celebrating her 27th year in education.  Before joining the conservatory, Richardson served as the first African-American President of the Pinellas County Music Educators Association (PCMEA) from 2018 to 2020.  She also served on the board of the Florida Music Educators Association(FMEA) as the World Music Awareness Chair.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bethune Cookman University in Music Education, a Master's from Nova Southeastern University in Educational Leadership, and is working on a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership at NSU.  She has presented at the district, state, and national levels on various topics in music education.  In 2015, she was the Elementary Music Teacher of the Year and, in 2017, she was the first African-American Coordinator of the Elementary All-County Honors Music Festival.

Her responsibilities at the Conservatory include running the arts magnet, coaching teachers in arts integration, and overseeing the arts departments that make up the Conservatory. She believes that ALL students have a level of artistry inside themselves and that it is up to us (educators) to create the environment necessary to bring it out and develop it!

Performing Arts: Dance Department

Tricia Harper has been dancing since the age of 2. She grew up at a dance studio in Lakeland, FL. She joined a dance company in St. Pete College-Co-Motion Dance Company. Mrs. Harper continued dancing at the University of South Carolina, where she was a dance company member. She has been teaching for the past 26 years; the last 15 years at Jeanne Lynn Dance Studio teaching Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theater Jazz, Strength and Conditioning for all the competitive level dancers, and Leaps and Turns /progressions. Mrs. Harper's favorite style to teach is lyrical and jazz. Lyrical allows you to connect your movements with the words to tell a story. Mrs. Harper enjoys choreographing for solos as it allows her to create the specific strengths of that particular dancer.  She loves seeing the growth of her dancers from year to year. Mrs. Harper shares her passion for dance with all the students at Sandy Lane Elementary Conservatory for the Arts. 

My name is Aubrey Santana! I recently graduated from St. Petersburg College with my associate's degree and I am furthering my educational studies in Pre K - 3^rd grade, early childhood education. I started dancing when I was 4 years old and have had a love for the sport ever since. I am so excited about joining the Arts team at Sandy Lane this year! I can't wait to teach students the love of dance and the importance of arts integration! 

Performing Arts: Music Department

Toni DePass – Elementary Strings Teacher

Ms. Toni DePass brings over a decade of experience as a dedicated and dynamic music educator to Sandy Lane Elementary Conservatory for the Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Florida State University, where she specialized in double bass, and has spent her career committed to making music education both accessible and meaningful for young learners.

In addition to her classical training, Ms. DePass has an extensive background as a youth rock band coach, leading after-school and summer programs that emphasize collaboration, stage presence, and songwriting. She blends classical and contemporary influences to create a vibrant, student-centered classroom where creativity, teamwork, and self-expression thrive. Her lessons often go beyond the notes on the page, helping students discover their own musical voices through ensemble work and hands-on engagement.

In recognition of her impact, Ms. DePass was honored by Marquis Who’s Who in America in 2023 for her contributions to music education in the State of Florida. She is excited to continue inspiring the next generation of musicians at Sandy Lane Conservatory for the Arts, nurturing a lifelong love of music in each of her students.

Visual Arts Department

Devon Jacques has been teaching art for 15 years.  She has a Bachelor's degree in fine art from Jacksonville University, with a concentration in Painting.  At the Lane, Ms. Jacques has led several of her students to numerous awards from various art shows in the district. Several of these works have been on display around Pinellas County.   

Tara Cassman has been teaching visual art since 2016. She holds a Bachelor's degree in fine art with a concentration in photography from Columbia College Chicago. After spending the past year at home with her baby, she is eager to return to the classroom and share her passion for art. Tara is thrilled to be joining the Sandy Lane Arts team!