Two CLU Students Leave Entertainment Industry to Become Teachers

(THOUSAND OAKS, CA – June 2007) – Two students currently enrolled in California Lutheran University’s School of Education left successful careers in the entertainment industry to become teachers. Harvey Laidman of Woodland Hills worked as a television and movie director for 30 years, while Melissa Webster of Oxnard worked as a writer for the popular cartoon show, “SpongeBob Squarepants.”

Laidman moved to California from Ohio in 1963 to pursue a career in the film industry. Prior to his move, he attended Kent State University and then transferred to USC where he graduated in 1964 with a degree in Cinematic Arts. He began working as a freelance director in 1975 and got his first job with the popular television show “The Waltons.” Laidman continued to work as a director for the next 30 years. He is credited in several films as well as more than 200 episodes of various television shows including “Matlock,” “CHiPs,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Hawaii Five-O,” and “7th Heaven.” He is currently enrolled in the Single Subject Credential Program at CLU and plans to become a high school science teacher.

A 1997 graduate of La Reina High School, Webster pursued theatre and dance at Chapman University where she graduated with honors in 2001. She began working in various jobs in the entertainment industry before interviewing for a position as a writing coordinator with Nickelodeon. After being selected, she was assigned to contribute to the popular SpongeBob series. She wrote for several episodes of the show during seasons four and five before leaving to pursue a career in education. Webster has enrolled in CLU’s new master’s degree program in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education, which is being offered at the Woodland Hills site this summer. The two-year program is designed for educators who want to attend school part time to hone their skills in teaching students with hearing loss. CLU is currently the only public school-based teacher preparation program in the state that focuses on teaching spoken language to children with hearing loss using today's hearing technologies.

For more information or to contact Laidman or Webster, please contact the Media Relations Office at (805) 493-3512. For more information on the new master’s degree program in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education, please contact Maura Martindale, Ed.D., at (310) 346-3886.