From directing Opera in Chicago to becoming a high school performing art teacher in Ohio,

teacher Amy Sima-Dirham enjoys teaching her knowledge on drama and theater to her students.

Sima-Dirhams’ road to being a high school teacher was not the same road most teachers went through. Her first dream was actually to be a star on Broadway.

“I went to Baldwin Wallace College, but I couldn’t dance, I could act well though. I went to Chicago to get a degree in directing opera,” Sima-Dirham said.

She was in Chicago for 10 years, during which she had the opportunity to teach Michael Jordan’s kids once. During this time, she became a director at Northback Theater.

She then moved back to Ohio after she found out her dad was sick and she wanted to be more available to care for him. After moving back, she started to work two part time jobs: Players Guild Theater and Washville. The combination of all of these responsibilities became a lot for her.

“I got a phone call from Mr. Kieffer. I didn’t even know who that was at the time. They offered a job at GlenOak schools to be a drama teacher. I was debating about if I should, but it was easier than working two part time jobs so I applied,” Sima-Dirham said.

At first, when Sima-Dirham started working for GlenOak as a Performing Arts teacher, she struggled with having to teach a career tech, thespians club and several classes.

“I’m at school for 11 hours or more a day. It also takes up a lot of time, but I do it because I love it and loves seeing my students grow. I love watching her students’ personalities merge out of their shell from acting,” Sima-Dirham said.

Sima-Dirham works a lot of her time on the school’s musicals and plays, this year she worked on The Puffs play, Footloose the musical, and The Holiday Show. Sima-Dirham has many other productions and she has a personal favorite.

“My favorite production GlenOak did that I helped direct, Phantom of the Opera- it was a challenge to sing and to pull off with all the cast and how the musical worked but it looked so

well and I couldn’t be so proud of my students,” Sima-Dirham said.

Sima-Dirham is currently working on Footloose, this year’s musical and helping the Juniors with their Junior show. In her thespians club she is planning the date for their trip for the musical Water for Elephants in this march.