Our Team

  • Dr. Sandy Chafouleas

    “Dr. Sandy C”

    CO-FOUNDER

    Director, Educational Psychology

  • Emily Wicks

    CO-FOUNDER

    Director, Puppetry Education

  • Molly Ferreira

    IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATOR

  • Dr. Jessica Koslouski

    RESEARCH COORDINATOR

  • Molly Ferreira

    Emily Iovino, PhD

    Jessica Koslouski, PhD

    Lucie Lopez

    Kimmia Lyon

    Thanks to past team members:

    Brandon Barzola

    Jannell Brown

    Sophie Hall

    Nicole Muthoni

    Matthew Sorensen

    Rabbecca Torres

    Michael Weiner

  • Thank you to our school and community partners, who have contributed to the development and testing of FYBS:

    Leticia Denoya

    Dionne Johnson

    Cassandra Rowett

    Cristin Tilki

    Erin Trudeau

    Bridge to Success (BTS) Community Partnership

    East Hartford Public Schools

    Natchaug Elementary School

    North Windham Elementary School

    Waterbury Public Schools Early Childhood Education Program

  • FYBS Video Cast & Crew

    Created by: Sandra M. Chafouleas & Emily Wicks

    Executive Producers: Sandra M. Chafouleas & Emily Wicks

    Original Characters & Stories by Yanniv Frank

    Education Content Specialists: Emily A. Iovino & Sandra M. Chafouleas

    Scripts

    Staff Writers: Sarah Nolen, Yanniv Frank, Emily A. Iovino, Sandra M. Chafouleas

    Script Consultants: Heather Asch, Emily Wicks, Sophie Hall

    Story Consultant (Ep. 10 Chillax in My Head): Phoenix Leigh

    Puppet Design & Build

    Character Designers: Yanniv Frank, John Cody

    Lead Puppet Builder: John Cody

    Additional Puppet Builders: Jonathan Little, Faye Dupras, Honey Goodenough, Heather Asch, Sarah Nolen

    Costumer: Sarah Lafferty

    Additional Costumers: Kaitee Tredway, Honey Goodenough

    Pre-Production

    Supervising Producer: Heather Asch

    Art Director: Sarah Nolen

    Producer: Sarah Nolen

    Digital Set Designer: Juan G. Santos

    Storyboard Artist: Sarah Nolen

    Prop Master and Lead Set Builder: Amanda Gibson

    "Nico" Prop Art by: Yanniv Frank

    Set Builders: Faye Dupras, Sarah Nolen

    Puzzle Art (Ep. 9 Be a Kind Helper): Vince Broelmann

    Casting Director: Sarah Nolen

    Casting Assistant: Roxanna Myhrum

    Production

    Studio: Media Arts Center, MACFilms.RED

    Supervising Producer: Heather Asch

    Director: Sarah Nolen

    Director of Photography: Luke Geissbühler, Jimmy ODonnell

    1st Assistant Director: Leah Schneider

    Puppet Captain: John Cody

    Puppet Wrangler: John Cody

    Assistant Puppet Wrangler: Heather Asch

    Additional Puppeteers: Heather Asch, Yanniv Frank, Sam Kendall, Sarah Nolen, Anthony Sellitto-Budney

    1st Assistant Camera: Rob Curtin

    DIT / Media Manager: Mark Russell

    Sound Engineer: David Curtin

    Script Supervisor: Yanniv Frank

    Prop Master and Scenic Builder: Amanda Gibson

    Key Production Assistant: Matthew Sorensen

    Production Assistants: Jannell Brown, Genna Beth Davidson, Aly Doyle, Sophie Hall, Faiza Hussein, Sam Kendall, Anthony Sellitto-Budney

    Craft Services Supervisor: Jessica Koslouski

    Production Accountant: Emily Wicks

    Talent

    "Nico": Cedwan Hooks

    "Mena": Jimmica Collins

    "CJ": Stoph Scheer

    "Dance Teacher": John Cody

    "Ice Cream Salesperson": Jimmica Collins

    "Darnell" : Yanniv Frank

    "Brianna": Heather Asch

    Voice of "Nico" - Spanish: David Barrera

    Voice of "Mena" - Spanish: Elvira López

    Voice of "CJ" - Spanish: Alejandro Uribe

    Voice of "Dance Teacher" - Spanish - Xavier Coronado

    Voice of "Ice Cream Salesperson" - Spanish: Luis Javier

    Voice of "Darnell" - Spanish: Mauricio Ocampo

    Voice of "Brianna" - Spanish: Graziella Soberani

    Music

    "Theme Song" Music Writer, Arranger, Vocalist, Producer: Ethan Hanzlik

    "Theme Song" Music Production Advisor: Louis Hanzlik

    Post-Production

    Post-Production House: Luminous Creative Agency

    Video Editors: Mark Russell, Sarah Nolen, Devin Zuba

    Visual Effects: Francisco Tang

    Illustrator: Steve Bermundo

    Post Production Manager: Bryan Roberts

    Production Accountant: Sandra M. Chafouleas

    Spanish Translation: Jessica Koslouski, Marline Reynoso-Vasquez, Ivette Roberts

  • Produced by Sandy Chafouleas and Emily Wicks 

    Animation production by Alopra Studio 

    Sound production by Submarino Fantástico 

    Story development by Emily Wicks, Molly Ferreira, & Sandy Chafouleas 

    With assistance from UConn student digital media and design team: Elijah Carini, Tatyanna Kelly, Kathryn Markey, & Nicholas Sanzone 

    Voice acting by Jimmica Collins as “Mena”, Cedwan Hooks as “Nico” & Soph Scheer as “CJ” 

    Theme song written, performed, & produced by Ethan Hanzlik 

    Episode instrumentals written by Molly Ferreira, produced by Ethan Hanzlik 

    Copyright © 2025 University of Connecticut, licensed by FYBS & Co. See https://feelyourbestself.collaboration.uconn.edu/terms-of-use/ for legal terms.