Redlands, California
At the time of her Hall of Fame induction in 2001, Marie Glotzbach had been teaching and inspiring students in her classrooms for more than thirty years. She was then theatre arts teacher and director of the theatre arts program at Redlands High School in California. She also taught vocal music at Cope Middle School in Redlands. She has served as drama or music teacher at schools in Ohio, Indiana, and Connecticut as well. She has directed and produced more than 175 theatre productions at the middle school, high school, and college levels and for community theatre.
Ms. Glotzbach has served in several leadership roles for the Educational Theatre Association: board director, leadership coach, regional director, state director for Ohio, and state board member. Other affiliations include the National Education Association and the American Alliance for Theatre Education. She was named Outstanding Teacher for Redlands Unified Schools in 1997 and was installed in EdTA’s Ohio chapter Hall of Fame in 1993.
She received a bachelor’s degree in speech and drama from Clarke College and a master’s degree in education from the University of Redlands.
Ms. Glotzbach’s former student Alexis Kassel is evidence of her effectiveness. Alexis attended the College of Santa Fe to pursue a B.F.A. in musical theatre. Her intention: get a teaching certificate to go with the B.F.A. and after a brief career onstage, return to Redlands High School and teach alongside Ms. Glotzbach. “I want to continue that program,” she said. She remembers the day her teacher gave her the opportunity to direct for Redlands’ Children’s Theatre Festival. “I thought, ‘Wow, look what she thinks I can do.’”
