Leslie Van Leishout holds a BA in Theatre Education with six teaching endorsements, as well as a Masters of Educational Leadership and a Principal Certificate. She has taught theatre in California, Utah, Washington, and Illinois working with preK-college student. Leslie has more than 30 years of experience working with diverse organizations including the Vancouver Film School and the Washington Shakespeare Festival. She is currently the Theater Education Coordinator in the Department of Theater and Dance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE)
Leslie was the Co-Chapter Director of Washington State Thespians (an Educational Theatre Association affiliate) and Thespian Troupe Director for River Ridge High School. She is a member of the EdTA’s Advocacy Taskforce and Individual Events Adjudication Rubric Committee for EdTA.
Leslie was inducted into the EdTA National Hall of Fame in September 2013. She was named to the Washington State Thespian Hall of Fame (2010) and was a Golden Apple Award Winner (2012, Washington State). Her department at River Ridge was twice named Outstanding High School Theatre by EdTA (2004 & 2012).
Leslie worked from 2001-2011 with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State; writing Arts Learning Standards, Grade Level Expectations, and Assessments. Leslie is currently a member of the Theatre Writing Team for the National Coalition for CORE Arts Standards (NCCAS) which is producing the next generation of Theatre Arts Standards for the nation.
Leslie is the mother of six grown children and has been married for over thirty years to James A. Van Leishout