K-12 Committee

The K-12 Thread

It is with with great excitement and enthusiasm that I pen this article, my first Texas Theatre Notes article as the TETA K-12 Committee Chair. It is an absolute honor to serve the K-12 Membership. It is a true blessing to be surrounded by so many amazing theater educators, who never cease to learn and to inspire.

TheatreFest 2015 “Together Toward Tomorrow” was truly about collaboration and togetherness. Our Board of Directors, our committees and our convention staff are truly remarkable. They are skilled professionals whom are truly passionate about the future of this organization and what it offers our teachers and students. It was amazing to see so many working together to make this convention one of the best yet! I am filled with admiration and gratitude to all that made TheatreFest 2015 a success.

TheatreFest is a time to see old friends, to meet new friends, to absorb professional learning opportunities and most importantly, to share ideas.

Middle School Madness is a workshop I look forward to every TheatreFest. I was utterly excited about the attendance we had for the Middle School Madness workshop this year. There were over 100 people in attendance! This year, I taught a brief basics of sewing lesson that I do in my classroom. The costumer in me emerged and I realized that TETA is like one big piece of fabric, made up of small strands of thread: the Board of Directors, the committees and staff members that help manage this organization, and you, the membership. We are the threads that make up this organization. As I sat through some remarkable presentations by fellow educators, something became very clear: we are stronger together.

TETA has many “strands” or “threads” that collaborate year-round to serve the membership. These sections within the Organization are led by some of the best theater educators in the state. You can find a listing of the “threads” that make up the TETA Organization on our website: www.tetatx.com.

Did you know?
So far this school year, TETA has 1274 Active Members.
1090 of those members are a part of the K-12 membership.
That means K-12 makes up approximately 85% of TETA’s general membership!

The goals of our K-12 Committee are:

1. To support and further the aims and objectives of TETA, Inc.

2. To serve you, our membership. We work as a liaison between the K-12 Membership and the TETA Board of Directors.

3. To promote the continuation and establishment of theater arts programs in elementary and secondary schools across Texas.

4. To promote and maintain the professional development opportunities provided through TETA; which allow for enrichment and collaboration among members of all levels of theatre in Texas.

5. To collaborate with the CAPS, C/U and the Curriculum Committee.

6. To provide new teacher support.

7. To encourage high professional standards of preparation and practices for elementary and secondary school teachers and directors, and to seek recognition and support of these standards by teacher training institutions and local, state, and federal governments.


What does the K-12 Committee do?

At TheatreFest: The K-12 Committee works as convention staff members, we present workshops, set up the K-12 Table, promote SummerFest, attend interest meetings, business meetings and All-Convention Events.

At SummerFest: The K-12 Committee operates, manages and programs the event. We schedule workshops, manage a donation station for members, prepare food, hotel and entertainment options for our members.

During the year: The K-12 Committee maintains an open line of communication with all members via social media and email. We also serve as a source for teachers who are looking for resources for their curricular and/or extra-curricular programs.


I am delighted to introduce our new K-12 Committee. The members of the K-12 Committee are some of the most creative, passionate, hard-working individuals I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Here’s how you can contact them:

Sara Schochler – K-12 Past Chair: k12.pastchair@tetatx.com

Gena Lea Smith – K-12 Chair-Elect: k12.chairelect@tetatx.com

Maggie Rodriguez – K-12 Secretary: k12.secretary@tetatx.com

Cody Moore – K-12 High School Interest Chair: k12.hsinterest@tetatx.com

Claudia McCotter – K-12 High School At-Large: k12.hsatlarge@tetatx.com

Laura Alexander Wilson – K-12 Middle School Interest Chair: k12.msinterest@tetatx.com

Justin Elliott – K-12 Middle School At-Large: k12.msatlarge@tetatx.com

Davina Fangman – K-12 Elementary Interest Chair: k12.eleminterest@tetatx.com

Beth Wallace – K-12 Elementary At-Large: k12.elematlarge@tetatx.com


You can also contact us via the following Facebook pages. Just post a question/concern and we will be happy to answer/address it for you:

• SummerFest Friends

• TheatreFest Friends

In the coming months, the K-12 Committee will work hard to prepare for SummerFest 2015 in Austin. I promise that the K-12 Committee will do everything we can to make this SummerFest the BEST yet! Join us at St. Edwards University July 31 - Aug. 2, 2015.

We encourage you to share your best lesson in a workshop session at SummerFest 2015. Workshop proposals forms are online now! Early Bird Registration is available ($90). Register early for this special, discounted rate and receive a SummerFest 2015 T-Shirt! Just visit: http://www.tetatx.com/conventions/summerfest

Please know that the K-12 “thread” serves YOU. Our passion is the needs of our members. We are fully committed to supporting you and in turn, supporting our students and the future of this organization. We are here to ensure that your voice is heard. We strive to listen to your suggestions and to make things better at every meeting, every workshop, and at every convention. Please do not hesitate to contact your K-12 Committee members any time!

Let’s continue to weave together our talents, our voices and our passion for educational theater! Together we are stronger!

Wishing you a marvelous spring semester and successful UIL OAP season. We look forward to seeing you at SummerFest 2015!

Jenae Glanton

K-12 Committee Chair
TETA Board of Directors
k12.chair@tetatx.com