This story ran on page 01A NEWS of ThisWeek, Bexley edition on 07/01/2004.

HOLSCLAW NAMED BHS THEATRE DIRECTOR

By INA HORWITZ-WHITMORE
ThisWeek Staff Writer

The Bexley Board of Education Monday night named J. Scott Holsclaw as the new theatre director for the 2003-04 school year.

Holsclaw, who has taught for the past 20 years, including 10 years at Westerville South High School, will receive a salary of $57,956 and a one-year contract.

Holsclaw replaces Todd Adam Decker, whose contract wasn't renewed by the board after two school years.

Holsclaw taught in 1982-83 at The Mayan School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and in the Westerville City School District from 1983 to 2004.

Holsclaw began meeting earlier this summer with theatre students and parents to discuss the future course of the theatre program in Bexley schools.

"I wanted to get a sense of the type of things they value," he said. "We have shared a lot of ideas about where we want Bexley theatre to go. I'm very excited about planning the season with the students.

BHS senior Lauren Cooper said Bexley has a high level of excellence to maintain -- and elevate -- in theatre, "and Mr. Holsclaw can do that."

Holsclaw most recently taught at Westerville's Heritage Middle School. He has directed numerous plays and musical theatre productions.

At Westerville South, he taught speech and theatre courses, in addition to directing the school's extracurricular drama activities.

"I'm very excited to get back to working with high school students again," Holsclaw said. "In Bexley, I'll be putting my whole heart and soul into theatre throughout the entire day."

Barbara Davis, a member of the selection committee and parent of Bexley theatre student Andrea Davis, called Holsclaw "a person with tremendous experience and maturity."

The selection committee that unanimously chose him met several times to review search criteria, agree on questions and eventually to review a considerable list of applicants. The committee included school administrators, teachers, parents and students.

"The number of professionals who were interested speak to the quality of the program that we have developed here in Bexley," said high school principal John Kellogg.

The committee narrowed the list of applicants, eliminating those with less experience.

"Bexley already has a fairly sophisticated program, and we wanted the best candidate to continue in that direction," Barbara Davis said.

In addition to meeting with applicants, the committee reviewed tapes of productions staged by candidates. In the last stage of the selection process, finalists were asked to demonstrate their directing abilities by working with students on a scene from a play.

Davis, Kellogg and Cooper concurred that this was the point at which Holsclaw wrapped up the job.

"We watched as he worked with the students, and it was just obvious what a good teacher he is," Davis said. "He continually complimented them while pushing them to look for more."

Cooper said, "Mr. Holsclaw gave us plenty of feedback but still let us make choices in the scenes we worked on. That one 20-minute exercise was a big part of our decision."

Holsclaw said he thinks a number of exciting prospects for Bexley students in the next school year, including a possible New York theatre trip for high school students, participation in regional and national theatre organizations, such as the Thespian Society, and strong curricular tie-ins with activities in the elementary program.

"There will be changes this year, but they'll be good ones," Cooper said.

BHS music specialist Amy Blosser, who was Holsclaw's former student at Westerville South, initially brought the job to his attention.

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