About the Founder

Heather DeLude is an educator, teaching artist, and learning consultant who blends improvisation, social-emotional learning, literacy, and instructional design to transform how educators teach, connect, and inspire. For more than 20 years, Heather has served as an English and Theatre educator in both urban and suburban districts, helping students build confidence, communication skills, empathy, and creative voice, while empowering teachers with practices that boost student engagement and foster stronger classroom relationships.

Heather’s foundation as a performer and facilitator was shaped in Chicago’s legendary improv community. She has trained with ComedySportz, iO (ImprovOlympic), The Annoyance Theater, and The Second City Training Center, where she honed the craft of playful risk-taking, presence, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. She brings that same spirit to professional learning by creating experiences that are energizing, supportive, research-aligned, and deeply human.

Drawing from her background in improvisation, classroom and depatment leadership, and social-emotional learning, Heather designs interactive professional development for educators, school leaders, and youth-focused organizations. Her work centers on using improv-based strategies to increase student engagement, build stronger classroom communities, strengthen social-emotional skills, and support communication, collaboration, and adaptability in the classroom. Participants don’t just listen to strategies, they live them, practice them, and leave with tools they can use immediately.

Heather has dedicated her career to helping people discover voice, confidence, and connection. Her facilitation style is joyful, trauma-aware, practical, and grounded in real classroom realities. She believes that when educators feel empowered, creative, and supported, students benefit in powerful and lasting ways.

Today, Heather partners with schools, districts, arts programs, and organizations to provide on-site and virtual workshops, keynote sessions, long-term consulting, and customized learning experiences. Her work focuses on engagement, SEL, creative confidence, collaboration, communication, classroom culture, and educator well-being.