First, I am very pleased to hear that the Arizona Department of Education even has a CTE-Performing Arts Program Specialist. You are way ahead of most states! Too many states have their heads stuck in the sand about what that looks like. But, yes, regardless of state, there certainly is a lack of (dare I say the word) ‘standardized’ training for high school tech theatre students. ETCP is well recognized but it’s a bit “TMI” for student who are only(?) operating a fly system. And as someone has mentioned, USITT’s eSET is an awesome new program, but it is geared more towards college students, although it could still be applicable to high school vocational tech theatre students – if the right person is hired to teach them (therein lies the rub in many states too). It’s also my understanding that USITT is working on reaching out to high schools. In the meantime I’ve found that I have had to create my own training programs, not only for theory, but for safety (something not recognized by a lot of school district administrations!). In particular I developed a training program, tracking system, and safety rules, for students using the fly system. PRESETT has a certification in high school theatre management, which could be suitable for juniors and seniors who were vocationally inclined and looking for a way to make a living in tech theatre. For the scene shop – have a look at your school’s woodshop CTE requirements and use those (such as training and tests on all power tools). I’m a lighting designer by training and trade, so I’ve created a lighting workshop, but that’s only one aspect of tech theatre. So I’ve also had industry professionals come in and do trainings and workshops. For instance I’ve had a ETCP rigger come in and teach my students how to use the fly system, and I’ve had a local sound engineer come in and teach about the theory (physics!) and practice of sound. It’s true that there are no industry standard certifications at the high school level and people seem to piece-meal their programs together. There are also textbooks out there about tech theatre, but they are few and far between. Several copies of “The Stage and the School” was given to one high school theatre I was managing when it was built, but the administration never hired a tech theatre teacher to utilize it, let alone insisted on any sort of theatre program sadly. If you google “school theatre” or other similar phrases some book ideas come up. So, all this is to say that I have no solutions either, but that I am glad that this conversation is happening, as I think the tide is changing, as more and more districts build these state-of-the-art theatres on their high school campuses and only then discover they don’t know how to run them. I think through our continued discourse a solution will arise, which will lead into action.
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Elizabeth Rand
Founder and Executive Director
www.PRESETT.orgWoodinville WA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2016 13:39
From: Robert Waller
Subject: Industry-recognized Professional Certifications for "Technical Theatre" Students
My name is Robert Waller. I am the Arts Education Specialist and CTE-Performing Arts Program Specialist for the Arizona Department of Education.
Recently, the Arizona State Legislature implemented new requirements related to CTE funding. Specifically, for CTE programs to be eligible for state funding, they must include opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized professional certifications (for example, ASE Certification for students who complete an Automotive program.) As the Specialist for Arizona's CTE-Technical Theatre programs, I have encountered more than a few stumbling blocks in meeting this requirement for Arizona's CTE-Technical Theatre students. Currently, a group of CTE-Technical Theatre teachers are examining the appropriateness of the NCCER Core Curriculum certification as well as the USITT eSET certifications.
Do you happen to know of any other industry-recognized professional certifications that might be appropriate for Technical Theatre students?
Thank you in advance for your assistance and information. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
All the best,
Robert Waller, M.Ed.
Education Program Specialist/Title I
Arts Education Specialist
Highly Effective Schools Division
Arizona Department of Education
Mailing Address: 1525 W. Jefferson Street, Bin 32 | Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Office Address: 3300 N. Central Avenue | Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Phone: (602) 364-3015 | Email: <maskemail>Robert.Waller@...</maskemail><<maskemail>Robert.Waller@...</maskemail>>
http://www.azed.gov/art-education