TEACHER ’ S PROFILE
TEACHER ’ S PROFILE
“ I REALLY WANT TO TEACH ACTING BECAUSE I LIKE THE PROCESS .”
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Poetry
44 THE KEYSTONE MAGAZINE
and hums aren ’ t things which you get , they are things which get you . And all you can do is go where they can find you .” And there she was sitting at the local high school in her hometown watching a production of The House of Pooh Corner , from which this quote is taken , when it found her . “ I remember very distinctively sitting in that dark theatre with my whole little 5 year old body resonating with this overwhelming feeling – resonating with an absolute knowing , and I remember thinking , I want to do that . I want to act , and make plays !” said Chloe Keller with an expression that can only be described as the same joy she felt sitting in that high school theatre knowing for the very first time that she belonged to the world of theatre . Yes , Keystone ’ s founding middle and high school Drama teacher was born for it , and it found her .
TEACHING TO EMPOWER But it would seem that destiny had only revealed part of Ms . Keller ’ s plan . There was another part yet to find her . And it did , just after she graduated high school . Before beginning university , Ms . Keller taught drama at an independent private school in Maine . The Head of School knew her acting repertoire , and asked her to join as a Drama teacher though she was not trained to teach . “ When I told the Head of School that I knew nothing about teaching , her only response was “ You ’ ll be great !” Once again , just from instinct , I started teaching . I had no training . I went into that school on the first day knowing nothing , teaching whatever I could think to teach , and I walked out having very seriously fallen in love ,” smiled Ms . Keller .
Her love for both drama and teaching drama continues to this day . To avoid the dilemma of having to choose between a career in theatre , and teaching drama , Ms . Keller taught acting , but never passed up a chance to get on stage , or direct or produce plays . But it is perhaps the teacher in her that she loves more , “ I really want to teach acting because I like the process ,” Ms . Keller said , adding , “ It is an interesting process for me to teach my acting instinct to someone else who does not already know from instinct how to act . This means that I have to teach students to follow their own instincts . This leads me to what I like best about being a Drama teacher – showing people their own highest potential . I love it .” More than anything else , Ms . Keller loves the self-realization – the moment that a student sees the potential she sees in them .
“ Theatre is an incredible tool . Teaching it is so little about theatre itself , and more about using it to empower children to find within themselves that aspect of themselves they all secretly hope is there , and don ’ t dare to wish for ,” Ms . Keller explains . She recalls an instance about one of her students in the U . S . whose reticent teenage years were transformed through a single play . As she remembered this student ’ s transformation from being a reclusive shy teenager to a person with confidence who could get up on stage , and even perform a solo number , Ms . Keller ’ s eyes welled up with joy .
She reiterates that teaching theatre is about helping students develop emotional intelligence , empathy and sympathy . Students will also learn self-confidence , effective communication , good eye contact , optimum use of their own voice , and eloquent speech . “ None