Any teacher with an interest in theatre integration, implementing theatre course offerings, or starting a new theatre program will take away from this session a toolkit that will help accomplish that goal. An update on the status of theatre education in Arkansas and the role theatre plays in the fine arts requirements of Arkansas’s Standards of Accreditation will be provided. The experiences of Arkansas teachers who have built successful programs will be shared, and discussion will include suggestions such as these:
justifying the establishment of a new theater or dance program, including using it as a means of accomplishing the district’s Title I/ESSA plan goals (student learning, school culture, student engagement, parental involvement)collaborating with community organizations, civic clubs, or businessesproducing a school play on a tight budgetestablishing after-school theater programshosting or participating in a one-act playwriting or production contest, speech and drama tournament, Poetry Out Loud or other eventstaking advantage of Arkansas Arts Council Arts in Education roster and grant programs
Presenter of both sessions, Hannah Sawyer, has taught theatre for fourteen years, currently at Little Rock Central High School, is a member of the Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association, and performs and directs on a variety of community theater stages in central Arkansas.