Jefferson Fietek has nearly 20 years directing and arts education experience in the Midwest.  He is in his seventh year as Theater Department  Chair at Anoka Middle School for the Arts in Anoka, Minnesota and co-founded Young Artists Initiative (YAI) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. YAI's primary focus is bringing arts education to low-income and at-risk youth. 
He served 8 years as YAI's Artistic Director.  Besides his work in theater, he has worked tirelessly to create school environments that are safe and inclusive for all students.

He has been awarded the Ordway Center's Education Award for Community Commitment, the Anoka-Hennepin District 11's TOP Teacher Award 
and the Senator Allan Spear Award for Community Commitment.