During the Jan. 10 public-comment period, a group of educators, theater directors and advocates urged the State Board of Education to amend Rule 24 to allow subject endorsements in theater and speech rather than only supplemental endorsements.

Al Koontz and others told the board that changes to Rule 24 in prior years have restricted the ability of Nebraska teacher candidates to earn a subject endorsement in speech or theater, forcing some prospective teachers to leave the state for certification. "Any Nebraska kid who dreams of becoming a teacher of theater or speech essentially must leave the state to do so," Al Koontz said.

Brooke Phillips, a high-school theater teacher and co-chapter director for Nebraska Thespians, described a shortage of certified theater teachers and said last-week staff turnover left a high-school program without leadership during a festival. "Nebraska is facing a critical shortage of theater teachers," Phillips said, urging the board to create a theater endorsement so schools can hire teachers with specialized training.

Multiple presenters — including retired teachers, university educators and local directors — described the benefits of theater education (confidence, collaboration, communication skills) and supplied the board with letters and petition materials. Several speakers attributed part of the problem to the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s theater program being closed by the Board of Regents and said that change has reduced local pathways to certified theater teachers.

Speakers recommended a subject endorsement level that would mirror other arts fields (45+ credit hours) and urged the board to move forward with a Rule 24 amendment so Nebraska colleges can create degree programs and the state can retain theater education candidates. The board did not vote on Rule 24 at the Jan. 10 meeting; public-comment testimony was submitted to the record for future consideration.