Students and theater educators press State Board to create theater endorsement or major

Members of the public urged the Nebraska State Board of Education on Oct. 3 in Fremont to create a subject endorsement or full degree in theater education so more teachers are trained and retained in the state.

Dan Hayes, director of theater at Midland University, told the board he has “been working on, re examining theater education, and the certification here in Nebraska for more than a year,” and brought students to show “their passion about teaching theater.”

The comments that followed framed the request as both a workforce and equity issue for smaller, rural districts. Midland University freshman Avery Hogue said the endorsement’s requirements are uncertain and “this endorsement has not been set in stone, so that leaves a level of insecurity in me and my peers for the credits we are currently working towards.” Hogue urged the board to “give us new opportunities” and to make teachers more qualified to teach theater in schools of all sizes.

Other students described pathways they want to pursue. Jenna Poole, a senior English education major at Midland, told the board some students need an endorsement while others need a full theater education degree: “Please keep in mind that both the endorsement and the full degree would be very valuable for many future educators out there.” Graduate assistant Elliot (no last name given) said he cannot get the training he needs in Nebraska and warned that students are leaving the state “to states like Iowa, Missouri…Kansas, Colorado” because Nebraska lacks a theater education degree.

Alexis Tavla, a nontraditional Midland student, argued that offering both an endorsement and a major would make Midland “a destination school for students across the nation who are passionate future theater educators.” Rusty Ruth, director of theater at Wayne State College, said surveys of his former and current students showed about “90% of those students have indicated that’s the path they would have wanted to take” — meaning a full subject endorsement.

Speakers emphasized practical details the board could consider: students asked for a 30-credit endorsement option, noted that some Midland students are transfer or out-of-state (Midland figures cited in public comment: about 11% transfer and 47% out-of-state), and said districts from Class A to D need qualified teachers able to teach theater history, communication and culture.

The remarks were made during the Board’s public comment period; no formal proposal was on the agenda and the Board did not take immediate action during the meeting. Written public comments were attached to the meeting agenda for Board and public review.

Board members and staff later continued with committee reports and agenda business.