Greg Cardino
Greg was in his late thirties when he finally decided to become a teacher. His Bachelors degree is from Monmouth University in Speech-Drama and Education. Greg put himself through school in New Jersey working as a professional entertainer up and down the Jersey Coast. When he graduated in 1970, he continued to perform as a musician and singer and then came to Daytona Beach. As fate would have it, Greg became involved in the nightclub business at the Aku Tiki Inn Traders Lounge which he managed for eighteen years. He loved being a professional performer with the group know as "The Better Way". They were a very versatile show band who enjoyed performing good dance music. In 1987, Greg grew tired of the full time night life and decided it was time to get started on the teaching career he had planned since college.
Greg has always been a "people" person, and at ease communicating with others. While running his night club business, he thrived on performing and being around people. Being in the business community afforded Greg many opportunities to work in more lucrative areas, but none appealed to him. When the time came in his life to make a change, teaching seemed the most logical and meaningful career for him to pursue. The opportunity to work with talented, impressionable young people and help them aspire to a possible career in the arts appealed to Greg the most. Greg is currently the Unified Arts Coordinator at Mainland High School where he also teaches Video and Television Production.
Greg still performs weekly as an entertainer and has no desire to stop. Performing is how he expresses himself, and it serves a form of therapy for him. He still writes original music, and also auditions on occasion in the Orlando area for various acting parts.