Merely Players

J. Hannah Fry began her teaching journey in Washington over a decade ago in 2011 with endorsements in Theatre Arts and English Language Arts. Over the past twelve years, she has added a third endorsement (History) to her certification, received WA state’s professional licensure, and received International Baccalaureate certification in teaching IB Theatre Arts Standard and higher-level courses. As an advocate for the arts, she now holds the position of Department Head for the Visual and Performing Arts program at her school. Courses she has taught for multiple years include the following: Theatre Arts, IB Theatre Arts SL/HL, Technical Theatre, Honors English LA, Contemporary Social Issues, and Law and Society.

"Relatable and adaptive. As an educator and mentor, I fully believe that if I cannot build a solid relationship with my students then I cannot meet them where they are and, in the end, help them to succeed. Teaching, as with theatre, is a collaborative art. Relationships which are built on communicating with each other with empathy, understanding, and trust are key. I also believe that I am adaptive to each of my class's needs and styles, and within that class, each of my students has a different learning style as well. Improvisational theatre and training has created this cornerstone in my teaching style and I fully believe that my undergraduate degree in Theatre supports my successes as a teacher - not only in content, but also in delivery."

- NFHSE Washington State Theatre Educator of the Year 2022-2023 - Washington State PTA Outstanding Educator Award May 2021

J. Hannah Fry completed her Bachelor of Arts from Rollins College with a major in Theatre Arts, emphasis in Theatrical Design and Technology, in 2009. She received Honors within the Major, graduating Cum Laude and receiving numerous department accolades and awards. After working professionally for a year in acting and design contracts throughout the Southeast US, she decided to pursue her master’s degree to instill a passion for theatrical arts in future generations. J. Hannah Fry completed her Masters in Teaching from Northwest University where she graduated with Highest Academic Honors (4.0 GPA) in 2011.

She has been a mentor teacher to three student teachers who have gone on to teach in Washington state, making an impact not only with the hundreds of students who have developed under her instruction and direction but also impacting professional educators her have collaborated with her. When she began teaching at her current school, the theatre program only served a handful of students in a single theatre course. Under her direction, her program has blossomed to serve more than 90 students each year in Theatre, Technical Theatre, and IB Theatre courses as well as cultivate theatrical passions in more than 110 additional students through extra-curricular theatre. She directs and produces three productions per year (two plays and one musical) and a student showcase at the end of the school year. These are not easy feats, as she not only acts as the director, but also as the scenic designer, lighting designer, costume designer, and choreographer for these productions. Audience engagement has increased triple-fold in the past decade, and the budgets for these three productions have also increased to meet student interest and need. Her district's theatre programs are 100% self-sustained through each school’s respective theatre box office – i.e. they do not give the programs any money to produce the productions. She is proud to recognize student achievement and honor the art they create, and approximately 30 students are inducted each year into the International Thespian Society.