Open Forum

 A successful teacher learns to manage their administration-both at the site and district level. Your goal is for your administrator to work for you by publicizing your shows, articulating your vision to parents, and being your department cheerleader in the community. If you/your students look good, your administration looks good. Sometimes working from the outside (beyond your administration) in is the best course of action. 

I          Have a clear vision for your program and share it with students, department chair, site and district administrators, and school board. Call it the XYZ Theatre Department Strategic Plan. 

II         Regular communication with site and district office is crucial to a successful partnership. It may be sending an email whenever your students-and alumni-are in the news, inter district mailingsof show fliers, easy access to your season brochure (on your website, on hand at district events), speaking at a school board meeting-both as an agenda item and in the public comment section and making in person appointments. This does not all need to come from you. Train key parents, students, alumni, and fellow teachers to speak for your program. 

III       Have your student leaders schedule 3 times a year appointment with your principal. This is the time to invite them to your show, banquet, and your events. Principals have a much harder time saying no to students than to teachers. Schedule the appointment via the administrative assistant.         

IV        Anytime you make an appointment to speak to an admin you need to come in with an agenda and lead the conversation. Follow up with a thank you note, email, etc. Leave them with a handout that outlines your talking points.

V         Take time to learn about theatre advocacy. It is the key to using data, facts, and national statistics to speak to the most theatre challenged administrator. Advocacy is a long game and should be part of your curriculum in all classes as well as with any students involved in your program. Use the facts found at https://www.americansforthearts.org/advocate and https://schooltheatre.org/advocacy/. 

VI        Elevate the status of your program on campus or community. Look at the large/high profile/successful programs on your campus. What are they doing that makes them work?

VII      Get on a district committee and get to know district level administrators and be seen in the district. Learn about the culture of your district. Get to know the communication channels in your district and send them season/production/award information. 

VIII     Get involved in your community-choose two things in the next year and volunteer. This will get you and your program out and known. Maybe ask a parent to do this too (or instead of you if necessary). Volunteer your kids to assist with community events. Have them publicize your shows and events at their volunteer duties. (Ideas include school board elections, bond work, community event committees, high profile performing events) 

IX        Nominate kids and parent volunteers for everything you see. Get kids to participate in any area events-and national events ( Young Art) , one-act writing contests, theatre advocacy contests. They will eventually win and the PR will be priceless (and you're preparing them to be future theatre supporters and advocates) 

Be relentless in educating your administration. We don't give up on kids, so why should we give up on the people who should be our biggest supporters. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon and YOU can change the culture so you will be able to go into the theatre and teach/direct while others are fighting the big battles for you.

 A successful teacher learns to manage their administration-both at the site and district level. Your goal is for your administrator to work for you by publicizing your shows, articulating your vision to parents, and being your department cheerleader in the community. If you/your students look good, your administration looks good. Sometimes working from the outside (beyond your administration) in is the best course of action. 

I          Have a clear vision for your program and share it with students, department chair, site and district administrators, and school board. Call it the XYZ Theatre Department Strategic Plan. 

II         Regular communication with site and district office is crucial to a successful partnership. It may be sending an email whenever your students-and alumni-are in the news, inter district mailingsof show fliers, easy access to your season brochure (on your website, on hand at district events), speaking at a school board meeting-both as an agenda item and in the public comment section and making in person appointments. This does not all need to come from you. Train key parents, students, alumni, and fellow teachers to speak for your program. 

III       Have your student leaders schedule 3 times a year appointment with your principal. This is the time to invite them to your show, banquet, and your events. Principals have a much harder time saying no to students than to teachers. Schedule the appointment via the administrative assistant.         

IV        Anytime you make an appointment to speak to an admin you need to come in with an agenda and lead the conversation. Follow up with a thank you note, email, etc. Leave them with a handout that outlines your talking points.

V         Take time to learn about theatre advocacy. It is the key to using data, facts, and national statistics to speak to the most theatre challenged administrator. Advocacy is a long game and should be part of your curriculum in all classes as well as with any students involved in your program. Use the facts found at https://www.americansforthearts.org/advocate and https://schooltheatre.org/advocacy/. 

VI        Elevate the status of your program on campus or community. Look at the large/high profile/successful programs on your campus. What are they doing that makes them work?

VII      Get on a district committee and get to know district level administrators and be seen in the district. Learn about the culture of your district. Get to know the communication channels in your district and send them season/production/award information. 

VIII     Get involved in your community-choose two things in the next year and volunteer. This will get you and your program out and known. Maybe ask a parent to do this too (or instead of you if necessary). Volunteer your kids to assist with community events. Have them publicize your shows and events at their volunteer duties. (Ideas include school board elections, bond work, community event committees, high profile performing events) 

IX        Nominate kids and parent volunteers for everything you see. Get kids to participate in any area events-and national events ( Young Art) , one-act writing contests, theatre advocacy contests. They will eventually win and the PR will be priceless (and you're preparing them to be future theatre supporters and advocates) 

Be relentless in educating your administration. We don't give up on kids, so why should we give up on the people who should be our biggest supporters. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon and YOU can change the culture so you will be able to go into the theatre and teach/direct while others are fighting the big battles for you.