Good Job, Sir: A Thank You to a Theatre Teacher

Most of us in this space are theatre kids. We were bitten by the theatre bug in our early years, and I would bet that many of you could still name the theatre teachers who got you into this whole mess.

There is something special about a theatre teacher. Not only are they meeting you during the developmental years of life, but they are also intricately involved in cultivating your artistic notions and helping you learn to express yourself. There is a beautiful intertwining of souls that happens in those hundreds of hours of rehearsals and class instruction. Mentor and mentee, growing together as humans and artists. It’s a spark that only a theatre kid knows.

I was blessed to have a slew of incredible theatre teachers growing up in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas: Elise Gusie, Karen Baker, William C. Wilson, Bruce Garner, and… Jerry Ayers. These people made it possible for me to see the arts as a viable option for my life. They nurtured me, hugged me when I failed, and cheered me on as I grew as an artist. I love them with all my heart.

Jerry "Sir" Ayers & Lauren Hance at the Fort Worth Fringe

Earlier this year, I learned that my High School Theatre teacher, Jerry Ayers, whom we lovingly called “Sir,” suddenly passed away. The last time I saw him was in September of 2025, when I was performing at the Ft. Worth Fringe Festival. As the lights came up on my performance, I spied his Santa Claus-white beard in the audience, and a sudden rush of delight and a desire to make him proud washed over me.

To have your theatre teacher come to your fringe show, way too many years after you graduated, is humbling. Sir sat towards the back of the audience, his always-stoic face cracking into the slightest smile when something made him laugh. It was pure love that only a theatre teacher can give.

After the show, we hugged, and Sir said, “Good job” (a high compliment). Then he asked if I would be interested in looking over a new script he was working on and sending some notes. YES! OF COURSE! (Cha-ching, I think he liked the show!)  

We emailed a few times, and then that was it. And now he is gone. I am left with a sadness that is draped in joy. A joy of being supported, loved, known, and nurtured by an incredible artist and teacher.    

This weekend I'll travel back for a celebration of Sir's life, held at one of the stages where we used to create together. Sir taught for many years and was very involved with the local community theatre. There are thousands of people who were impacted by his dedication to artistry and investing in the next generation of theatre makers and theatre lovers. I am looking forward to seeing all the artists (and yes, whether you have a career in the arts or “just did it in High School,” you are an artist), gathered together, united by someone who cared enough to teach them about the magic of theatre. It will be heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

Sir, thank you for teaching me; you are loved and will be missed.