Leeton High School teacher Cass Wynan chosen for Bell Shakespeare 2021 Regional Teacher Mentorship

Leeton High's Cass Wynan has been chosen by the Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company as one of 30 recipients of the 2021 Regional Teacher Mentorship, a program that provides teachers from regional, rural and remote Australian schools a year-long mentorship with the award-winning company.

Miss Wynan will travel to Bell Shakespeare's Sydney headquarters for specialist training in the innovative, active teaching of Shakespeare, collaborate and network with teachers from other regions, and learn how to train others in their newfound knowledge and skills.

On their return to school, teachers receive ongoing support from Bell Shakespeare artists and staff as well as access to in-school and in-theatre programs to support their continued development.

"My goal is to engage and provide students at Leeton High School with a new understanding and appreciation for Shakespeare and the theatre," Miss Wynan said.

"I would love to extend this experience and engagement to the Leeton community with collaborative opportunities and performances in the future.

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"I was really excited to find out I had received this scholarship. I'm really looking forward to taking part."

The fully-funded scholarship will help Miss Wynan bring what she learns at the intensive, four-day training sessions in Sydney back to Leeton High.

She said having the chance to network with the other chosen teachers from across the country would also help her to grow and learn.

"I'll network with other teachers, developing and sharing ideas and techniques on innovative ways to teach Shakespeare, specifically to my drama students at Leeton High School," Miss Wynan said.

The concept of learning and even teaching Shakespeare can be a daunting one.

However, through the mentorship, Miss Wynan will be able to show her students how the writings of William Shakespeare are still relevant in the modern world.

She although Leeton High was a regional school, its creative and performing arts teachers continually aimed to provide students with first-class learning and performance opportunities.

"(In 2021), we are running our Shrek the Musical, which our students at Leeton High will perform in," Miss Wynan said.

"I'm a big believer in that just because you attend a regional school, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on big opportunities.

"Being part of this mentorship program will allow me to expose our students to new opportunities."

Bell Shakespeare artistic director Peter Evans said the company was constantly inspired by the drive and determination of regional teachers in their work, despite the many challenges they face.

"2020 was a difficult year for everyone in so many ways, but one constant throughout the upheaval was education," he said.

"Helping teachers to invigorate their students' experience with the ideas and language of Shakespeare - especially in areas that don't always have access to reliable internet, a permanent library, or a network of local teachers with whom to collaborate - is a privilege.

"Teachers come away from the experience with the confidence to implement new approaches in the classroom and lesson plans that include more active and enlivened methods of teaching."

Miss Wynan also thanked the community for its ongoing support of the school's creative and performing arts department.