It is no secret that teachers are essential to learning, but they are also often overworked. This can especially be seen in Elkhorn’s speech and drama department. Currently, Derek Bonin is the only speech and drama teacher for all three Elkhorn high schools. And on top of that, he also runs the play, one act, musical, and drama club at the high schools.
“It’s more work than one teacher should do,” Bonin said. “It’s not equitable for me to be the only department in the district that is a department of one.”
Bonin starts off the school year by teaching South students for the first semester. After winter break, he travels between EHS and North before turning his attention to theater after school.
“While the class schedule is okay, running a theater program at a high school is far more than just teaching in the classroom,” Bonin said. “It requires consistency to build relationships, to be there to run the drama club, plays, one act, all the productions.”
At this time, the district has no plans to hire more speech and drama teachers. Bonin claims that the district does not see a need for more teachers as his class sizes have been on the smaller side, which is sometimes needed for the curriculum that he goes through.
But even with a heavy workload, Bonin plans on furthering his legacy at Elkhorn.
“I love being here. I love a lot of the students I’ve worked with, and we’ve done some really good shows,” Bonin said. “I look forward to continuing to build a program.”
Since Bonin started at Elkhorn, he has always had to teach all three high schools, and while this does not leave much time for him, he emphasizes the importance of finding time to be active in the theater community.
“Often we need a creative outlet for ourselves to recharge our batteries because as a teacher we spend so much time creating that community and unique experience that theater is for kids, but that takes a lot of energy out of us,” Bonin said. “So to be able to have that experience on our own is something that is really hard because it does add so much more to our plates, but at the same time, it helps us regain some of our own creativity.”
And that recharge is definitely necessary for Bonin to continue to create a positive environment for his students to express themselves and have the opportunity to discover what theater is like to them.
“Every class that I teach, I stress the importance of finding your voice,” Bonin said. “I have a core foundational belief that everyone in my class has an important contribution to make to the class, to the school, to the greater community and society as a whole, and to be confident that you are being your genuine, authentic self is important.”
Although Bonin mostly teaches theater and speech students, his words can apply to anyone.
“It’s important to find your voice to speak and express yourself because every person is worth it,” Bonin said. “You have unlimited value and unlimited possibility to make a contribution to society, so be confident in that. Take a chance on yourself.”