Theatre Integration Makes a Difference

My name is Christy Swain. I am a second-grade teacher in Arlington Public Schools, a former ETC parent, and currently an ETC board member. My ETC story started the same way it does for a lot of families. Both of my daughters participated in ETC’s Main Stage performances. I loved how student-led the process was, how kids were trusted to think, create, problem-solve, and collaborate in ways that felt joyful but also deeply meaningful. It wasn’t just “put on a show.” It was real learning wrapped in theatre, and my kids couldn’t wait to be part of it.

I first met Stan and Elizabeth, co-founders of ETC, when I taught their daughter in my second-grade class. From there, I became an ETC parent, then a board member, and eventually - thanks to a PTA grant I submitted last year - had the chance to bring ETC directly into my own classroom. As a teacher, I’d had professional development through CETA, an arts integration program provided through the Kennedy Center, and understood theatre integration in theory, but seeing ETC artists work with my students, in my classroom, is what truly connected all the dots.

Watching my students experience theatre integration firsthand was powerful. Kids who were quiet found their voices. Kids who struggled academically suddenly had a place to shine. Students weren’t just participating; they were taking risks and making connections in ways that stuck. Everything the teaching artists did with our students was connected to curriculum and had meaning. Students were able to use their background knowledge to integrate theatre and movement into their learning. It was rigorous, inclusive, and joyful all at once.

Katie McCreary Teaches in Christy's Classroom

While I’ve always been a supporter of ETC, working with them directly is what turned me into an advocate for bringing ETC into more classrooms. ETC isn’t just about theatre, it’s about confidence, collaboration, inclusivity, and giving kids ownership of their learning. Now, when I think about ETC, I think about the impact it has on students and teachers, and how transformative it can be when schools have access to this kind of work. Supporting ETC means supporting classrooms, creativity, and kids discovering who they are and what they’re capable of, and that is the kind of work I'm proud to be a part of.

---

Want to share this program with other students?  Community members like you, who are passionate about helping students grow, can support in-school classes by donating to ETC.  You can identify your donation for in-school programming, or let it be for wherever it is most needed, when you give!  Monthly donations help us plan beyond one classroom at a time and can promise that students get consistent and regular ETC programming throughout the school year..  Will you give to help students continue to grow?