By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

Teachers from around the state had a good time learning about Shakespeare and how to make his work more accessible to their students during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute: Scholarship, Performance and Pedagogy. The two-day professional development opportunity was held for middle and high school teachers. Much like students, teachers also enjoy learning more when the activities are interactive. This professional development gave them that chance and they had a great time.

Megan Burnett, an assistant professor of speech and theatre at Alice Lloyd College, and Aaron Taylor, technical director for the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center, act out a few lines from Henry V during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Megan Burnett, an assistant professor of speech and theatre at Alice Lloyd College, and Aaron Taylor, technical director for the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center, act out a few lines from Henry V during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Seneca High School (Jefferson County) teacher Kimberly Draewell, Assumption High School (Jefferson County private) and Indiana University Southeast education graduate Sherry Dour react to being called insults from Shakespeare during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Seneca High School (Jefferson County) teacher Kimberly Draewell, Assumption High School (Jefferson County private) teacher Jessica Williams and Indiana University Southeast education graduate Sherry Dour react to being called insults from Shakespeare during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Folger Shakespeare Library master teacher Kate Breen leads the class in an activity during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Folger Shakespeare Library master teacher Kate Breen leads the class in an activity during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Seneca High School (Jefferson County) teacher Sahara Myers gives Shakespearean compliments to other teachers in the room during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Seneca High School (Jefferson County) teacher Sahara Myers gives Shakespearean compliments to other teachers in the room during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

All teachers who participated in the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library recieved a Shakespeare Set Free toolkit. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

All teachers who participated in the Shakespeare Set Free Institute received a Shakespeare Set Free toolkit. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Graves County High School drama teacher Laverne Waldrop shares ways to get students to think about emphasis in text during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The English Speaking Union/Kentucky Branch and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012

Graves County High School drama teacher Laverne Waldrop shares ways to get students to think about emphasis in text during the Shakespeare Set Free Institute. Photo by Amy Wallot, June 18, 2012