State Thespian Officer Candidates

State Thespian Officers (STO) are the student leaders of the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board.  The STO are selected at the 2018 Festival, and members serve from November, 2018 – November, 2019.  They represent all Thespians in the state of Iowa through their efforts on the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board.  
Activities include:

• Attending all Iowa Thespian Chapter Board meetings
• Organizing and participating in the Iowa Junior Thespian Festival
• Attending the International Thespian Festival and participating in leadership workshops
• Conducting leadership workshops at the Iowa Thespian Leadership Day
• Organizing and implementing ideas for the State Thespian Festival
• Communicating with Thespians through various outlets, including social media
• Promoting the work of the International Thespian Society and Iowa Thespians

For full details on State Thespian Officer expectations and responsibilities, download the STO Contract. 

Election Procedures
All students interested in becoming a member of the Student Board must first attend the Iowa Thespian Leadership Day held each year in August.
The STO are selected during the weekend of the State Festival. To apply to be a State Thespian Officer, the following forms must be submitted via the online registration below.  

• Iowa Thespian Chapter Student Board Candidate Application (online form found below)
• Iowa Thespian Chapter Student Board Contract
• Iowa Thespian Chapter Board Troupe Director Recommendation

During Festival, candidates must complete the following:  

• ​Attend the Student Leadership Lunch, an essential part of the selection process, following Friday morning's mainstage production. If a candidate has a conflict with the festival schedule, please contact Aaron Dean at adean@dbqschools.org for assistance.
• Meet with the Iowa Thespian Board Selection Committee to give a presentation, which will be followed by a short interview. The five minute presentation should focus on the following two key questions:
  • What is your theatre story?
    • Share your background on how you became interested in theatre, how it has impacted you, and why you want to be a leader in our state educational theatre. Emphasis should be on your leadership experience in theatre.
  • What is your vision for Iowa Thespians?
    • ­​Share your vision for moving Iowa Thespians forward. What ideas do you have to improve the organization? What leadership could you provide to help reach these goals?
• State Thespian Officer candidates should prepare a presentation board that highlights their theatre story. This presentation board may include photographs and/or images that helps the selection committee to get to know the candidate. The emphasis of the presentation board should be on the candidate’s past leadership experience in their theatre background.
• ​Students should remember to dress appropriately for their interview.
• All candidates will be selected based upon their participation at the Leadership Day, as well as their completed application, presentation, interview, and participation throughout the weekend.  

The new student board members will be announced on the Saturday morning of festival on the Iowa Thespian website: www.IowaThespians.org. In addition, the students will be introduced to delegates during the closing ceremonies on Saturday, November 10.

Transportation to and from all Iowa Thespian activities is the responsibility of the student, their parent(s) or legal guardians, and/or Troupe Director. Iowa Thespians and the Educational Theatre Association are not responsible or liable for transportation of student board members.

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Questions regarding the Chapter Board selection process should be directed to Aaron Dean at adean@dbqschools.org.

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