Fine arts teachers swap positions

By Janet Jacobs

June 20, 2008 10:03 pm

— Fine arts teachers from around Navarro County are skipping around, taking advantage of some open positions and new opportunities.
Elaine Hand, who wore a whole closet full of hats at Corsicana High School — theater and theater technology teacher, debate teacher and sponsor, One-Act play sponsor, and UIL coordinator — is heading to Navarro College to teach speech. She was with Corsicana High for 23 years.
She admits that her duties had gotten a bit out of hand, mostly because she chose to take on all the activities.
“Over the years, it just sort of mushroomed,” she said. “Honestly, a lot of it was my doing.”
As she prepares to become a grandmother, Hand said she’s hoping for a little more free time on the weekends, instead of shuttling debate students around the state.
“It’s amazing to me to think I’m going to just be in one subject area,” she said, laughing.
Meanwhile, Cran Dodds, a bulwark of local theater productions for years, is leaving Mildred High to go to Corsicana High to head up the drama department. Steve Ramsey is also leaving Mildred High for Corsicana High, to teach speech and debate, according to Dr. Keith Moore, Corsicana High School principal.
“The number of students will dictate the expansion of each program, but now they can focus on each one,” Moore said.
Hand said she’s pleased with the choices. In the past, she couldn’t recruit students for the drama or debate classes because she didn’t have room for more. Now, the programs can expand to serve more students, she said.
“I feel like these kids are my babies,” she said. “I don’t want to leave them with just anybody.”
Corsicana High School band director Chris Lewis is also leaving, to be replaced by Michael Williamson, 39, who is coming from Austin ISD’s Anderson High School, although not directly.
“I took a year off,” Williamson explained, adding that he spent his sabbatical touring the western United States and London, England.
“It was expensive, but I loved it,” he said.
Williamson is returning to teaching and band directing because he enjoys the work, he said.
“I missed the teaching,” he said. “When I interviewed (in Corsicana) and met the people, it just seemed like a great place.”
In addition to seven years at Anderson High School in Austin, Williamson also spent five years teaching in Pflugerville.
Williamson will be the head band director for Corsicana High School, and will co-teach at Drane Intermediate and Collins Middle School, along with two as-of-yet-unhired directors.
Former Drane band director Bill Anthony is heading to Rice High School to replace Patrick Faircloth, who’s also leaving.
“I think we’re going to be real pleased with him,” said Tom Herrin, principal at Rice High.
In Blooming Grove, band director Terry Lovett is leaving, while Tommy Ray, formerly of Waco’s University High, will be picking up that baton.
In Frost, Tamera Montgomery, a Frost Elementary School teacher, will be taking on the pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade music program, and the high school UIL One-Act play duties, according to Becky Melton, Frost Elementary principal.
Montgomery has done some directing, but will be fairly new to the high school UIL scene, Melton said.
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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com

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