Thanks for the great advise. The union insists on being at the meeting and so they will be.
I will document the decisions and Ad infractions today, just to have them in my tool box if I need them.
The rest of the school promotes college and career readiness, and all of the other programs allow the coaches and artistic directors the necessary freedoms to acquire such. Not the theatre wing, however. Students in the band and orchestra are college and career ready with the discipline of their art firmly established by their music teacher. There is some student leadership in the instrumental program, however, the teacher is the decision maker on strategy, concert music choices and overall process. The coaches, the same. The assistant coach is just that; the coach is in charge, the team manager,one student and not 9.The coaches together choose the teams at tryouts and establish the strategies of the game season and game schedule. So, when scouts from colleges come to watch, the coaches, students and parents are confident they have a solid program in place, that is administrated by the experts, the coaches and not the students.
Ten years ago, the program was rigorous and relevant, due largely to the director at the time. I was asked to implement the same courtesy.
Thanks for your help.
Kate
------------------------------
Kate Caton
Berkshires Theatre
Lanesborough, MA
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2017 05:30
From: Kate Caton
Subject: drama club authority issues- your advice
Hi,
I was hired by admin to place structure and revitalize a program that was left vacant by my predecessor due to a variety of reasons. My AD and the students along with 5 other adults cobbled the show together last year after the D resigned and the entire experience was described as a disaster. The students felt empowered by their take over, despite the shows' poor execution and expect to do the same this year. I was asked to take charge of this after school issue and develop a strong program as it was in years' past.
My AD, a recent graduate of the high school, was the director last year and now I am asked to take that role. This is not sitting well with him. Also, he maintains friendships with the students and is hired as a perm sub in the district. He also takes a few stipends for extra work.
When I attempt structure, meeting protocol and kind discipline, I get kick back, not from the cast, but the club's exec board. Two students quit the board, and 2 students dropped out of the cast. They have all been replaced. The new cast seems fine with the structure and the show is on track.
Now it seems they have gone to the principal and I am being called into a meeting with the students on the board, and the AD, so the" confusion" can be alleviated.
My Ad has refused to comply to my requests that were discussed weeks ago. He choses to do "what he wants" and not take direction from me. He does not come to rehearsals and leaves me in the dark as to where he is and what he plans to do.
What advice can I get from you all before I go into this meeting on Friday? The union is aware, yet I am not sure I want to have a rep in there with me, ( I'm in the role 5 weeks) yet I do feel a mutiny may be on the horizon. I am not so sure the principal has my back, as this is her third year and likes the AD and seems guided by whatever the kids want....despite what she asked me to create when hired.
Kate Caton
Music and Theatre Instructor- K-12
Director, Drury Stage Company
"Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do it well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest." Charles Dickens "David Copperfield",