Ashlynn Hayes joined the Athens Drive High School faculty at the beginning of the 2015 - 2016 school year. She has since produced many successful mainstage productions for Athens Drive and is currently working on the next!
Before joining Athens Drive, she earned a Batchelor of Arts in Theater at ECU. After graduation she worked professionally in theater for 4 years, with extensive experience in directing and producing shows, and in set design and stage management.
Mrs. Hayes' classroom / office are in trailer #6 on the north side of the school. Her email address is ahayes3@wcpss.net.
Mrs. Hayes' Teaching Philosophy
At the heart of my teaching philosophy, I believe that in theatre education, one must ultimately consider that the subject at hand is the student. Each relationship and learning process is unique when approaching the performing arts. Theatre is a practical and collaborative art form in which every person can learn from others. Therefore, every person involved, including but not limited to designers, directors, actors, & technicians, has their own unique technique to their craft. As an educator, I view myself as an enthusiastic collaborator with each and every one of my students, be it in the classroom or on stage. It is my greatest accomplishment to share my passion for theatre arts with these students and join them in their quest for self-discovery within the safety-net of our program guidelines. Moreover, I seek to not only support students in their theatrical quest, but also to support them as they grow into independent and functional members of society.
While it is necessary to have some lectures and note taking in theatre courses, I find that students are more likely to succeed in a classroom environment that is filled with dynamic discussions and hands on learning opportunities of the course materials. Interactive classes force students out of their comfort zone and challenge them to succeed, effectively enhancing their self-discipline. Then, the subject matter becomes more exciting for everyone involved, including me as the instructor. Keeping interaction with students at the forefront of my teaching philosophy, all of my classes feature participation as a fundamental component of my overall grading system. My grading system counts daily assignments as 50% of the total grade. Major and Minor projects are considered 30% and 20% respectively. In assessing my students, I provide detailed rubrics for projects that are geared toward making the evaluation process as transparent as possible. This also helps to limit my subjectivity on projects. By incorporating these high standards for daily assignments, I am able to scaffold my lectures. Thus, I am able to work with one on one with students and provide more individualized opportunities for growth.
I believe that, in its essence, theatre is the truest exploration of the human condition. Therefore, I believe that the good theatre is the ultimate showcase of teamwork. Collaboration is the root of exceptional theatre. As such, collaboration should be inspired by the instructor and constantly cultivated and encouraged. To quote Constantine Stanislavski, “In spite of my great admiration for individual splendid talents I do not accept the star system. Collective creative effort is the root of our kind of art. That requires ensemble acting and whoever mars that ensemble is committing a crime not only against his comrades but also against the very art of which he is the servant.” In other words, regardless of our own abilities, we must work together to create something bigger and better than ourselves.
With that, I believe that good theatre stems from learning how to truly listen. One must be observant and curious of the world around in order to become adaptable. Though the arts are often times an exploration and extension of ourselves, we must extend professional curtesy to those around us regardless of our own beliefs or leanings. In my classroom, it is imperative that we display respect for everyone regardless of differences in personality or artistic leanings. Those just beginning their theatrical journeys must feel comfortable in their surroundings in order to explore themselves with confidence and grace. That begins by me, as the instructor, creating a safe-zone for students. In order to create this safe space, I believe in organization and following protocol. Classroom expectations are gone over on day one and students are expected to follow these guidelines at all times. In my class, students will receive constant constructive feedback. Constructive feedback, both positive and critical, is imperative for growth in the theatre. In order for this to happen, we must have open discussions. In this way, all students have the ability to grow with each other and learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It is important to note that, as humans, we tend to learn from adversity much quicker than from accomplishments. Therefore, I believe in making mistakes. Be it right, be it wrong, BE IT BOLD!