Shelley Daniel will be joining the Darlington Community as director of theatre, effective Aug. 1. A native of Carrollton, Ga., she most recently worked as a theatre teacher at South Side High School in Jackson, Tenn., for 11 years, also serving as department director and overseeing fundraising initiatives.
Daniel received her B.A. in Communication and Theatre Arts from Mercer University and an M.F.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. She maintains an active K-12 Licensure in Theatre and Speech.
“In theatre, my job is to guide my students on an exploration of the dynamics of relationships and identity, both as an individuals, as a member of an ensemble and through the roles they play," said Daniel. "Theatre teaches us empathy as we walk in others’ shoes, and through that process, great lessons about ourselves. I get the great privilege of working with students during incredibly formative years when so much emotional maturing happens.”
While teaching high school in Tennessee, she was also an adjunct instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she taught Acting and Understanding Theatre. Before moving there, Daniel also worked as a graduate instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi and taught Intermediate Acting, Acting for Non-Majors, and Theatre Appreciation.
She has directed and appeared in numerous shows throughout the Southeast. Daniel has led a variety of acting workshops for students of all ages and has also earned many awards and accolades for both teaching and performance. She is the recipient of Teacher of the Year awards from the Wal-Mart Corp. and the Jackson-Madison County Rotary Club as well as the “I Made a Difference” Award given by the administration of her previous school. She has also been recognized for Outstanding Program Development by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.
"Shelley has a wealth of experience with high school students and theatre, and we are excited for her to lead our kids In wonderful experiences," said Kim Tunnell, director of fine arts. "Students in grades 6-8 will also have the opportunity to work with her in developing basic skills in drama and public speaking, which is an added piece to our arts block curriculum."
One of the personal highlights of Daniel's career thus far has been working in the new concept development department at The Walt Disney Co. in California. There, she was on the front line, creating new ideas for Club Disney, an interactive experience that incorporated fine arts, technology, arts and crafts, and education.
Daniel is a strong advocate for taking a multidisciplinary approach to learning so that students not only better understand their place in the world, but enhance their understanding of other concepts and how they all connect.
“In theatre, we research the characters, the time frame, period dress, the social and political trends—we analyze text and apply English concepts,” said Daniel.
She uses differentiated instruction and student-centered teaching methods to meet students where they are in every class.
Daniel also actively works to make her students’ learning experience and the content relevant to current events, to something personal in their lives, and to what the kids want to do for a career later in life.
Her own training and education prepared her to be a theatre generalist, which imparted a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the craft as she explored acting, set building, and many other facets of the field.
“I’ve been able to look at theatre from academic and professional perspectives, to learn how to build an entire product when it comes to creating a show, and how to work with students who are interested in doing it professionally,” she said.
To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Darlington’s Honor Code during the 2015-16 school year, the new faculty member has worked with Tunnell to select “The Curious Savage” for the spring play next April. The famous production explores concepts of integrity and empathy and many other values that Darlington instills into members of its community.
“I was kind of awestruck by the stories that I heard from the Darlington Community, and how the school had become a home for them. You don't see that everywhere,” said Daniel. “The students here are so dynamic and energetic, and that gives me so much excitement about the season. Working with secondary-age students is my love—my heart.”
