When Joshua Pelé started the theater program at Florida Pitt-Waller ECE-8 (FPW), he was the sixth specials teacher in six years, stepping into a program that did not exist before. He set out to build something that would last and started building the theater program from the ground up.
Joshua focused his energy on the youngest students, putting firm structures in place that would carry him and his students through their time at FPW. His first production, “The Lion King,” was a struggle. A planned one-hour show stretched into an hour and 45 minutes. Despite the unexpected run time, the foundation for the future of the theater program was officially laid.
To keep students engaged and expand the theater program, Joshua constantly found creative outlets, such as organizing a haunted house to draw in new interest. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit during preparations for “High School Musical,” he refused to let the momentum stall. Students rallied to perform “High School Musical” and Joshua fully backed their initiative, adapting the show for a virtual performance. While waiting for lockdown restrictions to be lifted, he recognized a disconnect in the community; he launched a media club where students recorded themselves from home and introduced news around the school community to their fellow classmates. Through these outlets, he allowed theater to be a pathway for students to maintain relationships and connection and understand different perspectives, even during a time when physical connection was not possible due to social distancing and lockdown restrictions.
Joshua’s drive behind the long hours comes down to a core belief that everyone needs to have taken a theater class.
“It helps us understand who we are. It helps us understand other people,” Joshua said.
Theater class is where students learn empathy by stepping directly into someone else’s shoes. He views the stage as an essential space for building social-emotional skills.
“Theater is the gateway to understanding ourselves and each other,” he said.
Growing up, he always saw theater as the most inclusive space. When the lockdown restrictions were placed from the pandemic, he realized how exclusive theater could be.
He asked himself, “What can we do to make it as inclusive as I thought it was?” and has worked towards dismantling barriers he saw.
“This is the place where you go when you need a safe place,” he said.
His passion shines when students take the initiative to mentor and connect with younger students. He watched the older students build the younger students up, and that was the turning point for the program.
Joshua feels most content when students take total ownership of the stage. During the production of “Aladdin”, he watched with pride as his very first set of middle schoolers – students he had taught since fifth grade – carried the show in their final year of middle school. By the time “Shrek” and “Matilda” productions rolled around, the shift was complete. The students completely took over light, sound and tech, effectively kicking Joshua out of the booth so they could run the entire production themselves. Knowing the students were truly running the show out in the spotlight and behind-the-scenes was the ultimate proof that the program was thriving.
Today, the theater program has grown so popular that it actively contends with other electives for student interest.
Looking ahead, Joshua outlines an ambitious vision for the program: preparing “Mean Girls Jr.” for their fall in-class production, staging their annual spring musical, attending the DPS Shakespeare Festival and guiding students to write their own scripts.
Being nominated as a “passionate” educator resonates deeply with Joshua. His passion is fueled by his students' own motivation and their eagerness to shape the program and maintain this space for each other. He enjoys supporting students in the path to finding themselves and understanding how to express themselves. He openly admits that his care for the students is where the stress and intensity come from.
“The kids are always like ‘I’m nervous’ and I’m like, ‘Good. If you’re nervous it means you care,’” he said.
His advice for other teachers trying to build something lasting is simple: put the students first, learn to let things go and always embrace the collective mindset by facing every setback as a team. FPW’s program would not be a success without Joshua and his passion in supporting his students’ journeys.
“They are the program,” he said.