Drama and theatre studies teacher Otis Gardner talks High School Musical and mental wellbeing
In the last of our series about teachers’ lives – both in and out of the classroom – we speak to 27-year-old Otis Gardner, a drama and theatre studies teacher from Manchester, about how he uses yoga to encourage his students to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing.
Why did you decide to go into teaching?
‘Growing up, I had some challenging times and school was often my only bit of stability. So, I wanted to help make a difference to students who perhaps don’t have the best home life – to help them along the right path.’
What appeals about teaching drama?
‘I was a bit of a Troy Bolton [Zac Efron’s character in High School Musical] at school. I enjoyed PE but also really loved drama because it taught me to be present, to speak out and to think creatively. That’s what I want to instil in my students.’
What was it like to teach a class for the first time?
‘It was an adrenaline rush. I felt I could really own that space and start to think about who I wanted to be as a teacher. That teacher persona is definitely something you develop over time, bringing your best qualities to the job.’
What’s your typical school day like?
‘I wake up at 5am so that I can go to the gym for an hour before work. I get into school at about 7.15am and lessons start at 8.20am. I teach up to six classes a day. School finishes at 3pm but much of my job is extracurricular, so I’ll usually run an afterschool club, then catch up on emails. I leave by 5pm unless we’
