Leadership directory

Gloria McIntyre, president

Retired High School Teacher | Strongsville, Ohio

Retired in 2009 after a thirty-year career teaching theatre arts, English, and French at Strongsville High School. Directed Thespian Troupe 3226, was a member of the EdTA board from 2001-04, and served two terms as Ohio chapter director.

Jay Seller, Ph.D., vice president

High School Teacher | Thornton, Colorado

Director of Thespian Troupe 5012, Horizon High School; former Colorado chapter director; twenty-plus year member of state board; co-author of Colorado Theatre Standards; editor and writer of textbooks and other curriculum materials.  

Matt Conover

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment  | Anaheim, California

Vice president for show development resources and talent casting, and executive producer of special projects for Disney, where he has worked in various capacities for more than twenty years.

J. Jason Daunter

First national tour of Wicked | New York, New York

An International Thespian alumnus, Jason has taught at both the high school and collegiate levels. A New York based professional stage manager, he serves as the production stage manager for the first national tour of Wicked. Member of Actors Equity Association.

Gai Jones

Ojai, California

Veteran director and teacher at high school and college levels, including thirty-four years at El Dorado High School in Placentia, California. Author of Raising the Curtain: Activities for the Theatre Arts Classroom.

 Ben Martin

Retired high school teacher | Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Veteran teacher of theatre, speech, and debate, currently director of theatre arts at Lee’s Summit West High School, and director of Thespian Troupe 6761.

Karen Ann Pionke

Middle school drama teacher | Gurnee, Illinois

An educator for almost ten years, Pionke founded a Junior Thespian troupe at Palombi Middle School in Lake Villa, Illinois. She is now the speech and drama teacher and director of Troupe 88093 at Viking Middle School in Gurnee. She is a published author of short fiction and is working on a children's book.

 Kenneth Washington

Guthrie Theatre | Minneapolis, Minnesota

Director of company development for the Guthrie Theater; artistic associate of New York University’s graduate acting program.