FVHS has named their 2024 Teacher of the Year, Paige MacGovern, a theater arts teacher of 19 years.
MacGovern teaches beginning, intermediate, advanced and proficient levels of both the onstage theater arts and the backstage technical theater. On top of that, she spends countless hours on her after school theater program, advising the drama club and putting together two mainstage productions, each with nearly 100 cast and crew members. In 2023, she introduced a summer theater program, Fly Be Free, in which elementary students and her high school counselors help put together a show in a week.
“I love seeing students create and come out of their shell and become comfortable with themselves,” said MacGovern. “Whether it be in tech theater when they have their projects come to fruition or when an actor in beginning theater grasps a character and gets invested in it… It’s just fun.”
Among her students, MacGovern is known for her high standards. She constantly pushes her students to do their best possible work both onstage and backstage. Whether it be giving them a character outside of their comfort zone or making sure they find the most efficient way to move setpieces onstage, MacGovern’s students experience huge growth as they rise to the challenges she gives them.
One of the strongest parts of the FVHS theater program is the bond that MacGovern facilitates between her students. Her up-on-your-feet, unconventional class environment allows students to grow close to each other, making them comfortable enough to create and work together in and out of school.
“In all of my classes, we spend a lot of time getting to know each other, so they feel comfortable sharing, creating, communicating and collaborating,” said MacGovern. “That in itself creates a family. People make friends with folks that they probably would have never made friends with.”
MacGovern found her passion for theater at her small town high school, where her love for her teacher inspired her to pursue a career in theater education. Attending college at East Carolina University, MacGovern learned how much she enjoyed teaching young students and allowing them to build a passion for theater. Her love for the subject and the hard work she puts in has inspired a new generation of theater educators.
Senior Madelyn Smith is pursuing theater education in college because of MacGovern.
“She inspired me to love theater again and taught me to love the technical side as well,” said Smith. “The way she creates an inclusive and engaging environment is something I hope to replicate as a theater teacher someday.”
MacGovern winning FVHS’ 2024 Teacher of the Year demonstrates her devotion to her students, program and the countless ways she pushes and inspires students to grow as both theater artists and people.
