The 2017-18 school year has introduced many things–a different calendar, new students and new teachers–one of which, is theater director Lance Morse.
Morse has been teaching for 14 years and taught at Plano Senior High School before teaching at Timber Creek.
“For someone who hadn’t taught here, I’d been oddly connected to Timber Creek since it opened,” Morse stated. “I knew a lot about the school and a lot about the [theater] department for years without actually being a part of it. When the opportunity arose to come this way, my wife and I thought that it was a great opportunity for our family and a great opportunity to get back over in this direction as well.”
Morse teaches several theater and technical theatre classes including Theatre Production, Technical Theatre I, Theatre I and Stage Movement. Since being here, Morse has also jumped into directing and working on shows, such as the competition one-act play, Wit by Margret Edson and The Music Man by Meredith Willson.
“I am directing the one-act play, and we’re working on some class projects as well, and I wanted to take on the set for the musical,” Morse mentioned. “I haven’t been on the technical side of the stage in five years, so it’s really nice jumping back in and working on the dark side of the stage as well.”
Morse has always known that he wanted to teach, but high school isn’t where he thought he’d be. The collegiate level was his first desire, but when he saw the “light bulb” go off in young students, high school is where he was supposed to be.
“When I moved back from New York, I honestly started subbing just as like a filler gig, because I don’t sit still well. I know how much we need good theatre and speech subs, so I started subbing around the metroplex in theatre for a few years, and I loved it. I love helping [high schoolers] develop and perfect their skills in the area that I love, that way it’s rewarding to see students grow, but selfishly, I know that my art will be perpetuated,” said Morse.
As a new teacher, Morse was happily surprised to find out that he was voted teacher of the month for September.
“I was really surprised and really humbled, that that happened. I wouldn’t of expected it, certainly as soon as it happened with me, just coming here, but I am humbled,” Morse said. “I am grateful to my students and colleagues who welcomed me to Timber Creek in that way.”
Across his classes, Morse is known for saying that his students teach him just as much as he teaches his students.
“My students teach me something everyday. Multiple students teach me multiple lessons everyday, and I hope I never stagnate to a point where that changes,” Morse said. “I feel that if we stop learning from our kids, then we are stagnate and then, how can we possibly put out our best product if we’re not continually growing. I learn something from my students nonstop.”