On the first day of school, she reminds students to have fun, take risks, work hard and be kind.
Meredith Owens, a Talented Theatre teacher at Norco Elementary and St. Rose Elementary, said establishing a classroom environment where students feel safe to be their biggest, brightest and silliest selves is a top priority when students return after summer break.
“Theater offers so much freedom, and the possibilities are endless,” Owens said. “I can’t wait to see what my students come up with this year.”
Owens said Talented Theatre provides students with the creative freedom to explore while also learning the technical elements of theater arts.
“In a day that’s otherwise highly structured — as it should be — it’s important for students to have time to play and imagine,” she said. “This program allows for both expression and skill-building in a meaningful way.”
This year marks the sixth year Owens has taught in St. Charles Parish. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater performance from Baylor University, and she also trained at Collaborative Arts Project 21, a musical theater conservatory in New York City. She worked at the conservatory after graduation.
“Theater is my greatest passion,” she said. “I believe it’s a powerful tool for building empathy and understanding others. Sharing that with students is an honor. I connect with them by listening to their stories — whether drawn from real life or their imaginations. That daily exchange keeps our classroom meaningful and personal.”
Owens said she always knew she wanted to teach theater.
“My teachers inspired me — not just as an actor, but also by helping me discover my personal strengths and unique qualities,” Owens said. “They gave me so much confidence, and I knew I wanted to pass that along to my own students one day.”
She said she is proud of the theater program she helped build and the opportunities it provides for students.
“Whether they’re just dipping their toes in through Theatre Club or diving deeper into the Talented Theatre program, I’m proud to offer a space for creative exploration and growth,” she said.
For Owens, a typical teaching day starts with yoga and coffee. Class begins with a vocal and physical warm up, followed by an activity that ties into the day’s lesson. One student favorite is “Spaghetti,” where they express different emotions using only the world “spaghetti.”
“We then dive into our lesson — reading and creating stories that we turn into plays,” she said. “Students create characters, write dialogue and design props and sets. It’s always exciting to see where their imagination takes them.”
She said her students keep her motivated.
“I’m continually amazed by their creativity and how much they inspire me to trust and nurture their abilities,” she said. “I get to see students explore and discover their unique strengths through theater. Storytelling allows them to find what they’re good at and how to contribute those gifts to something bigger. Watching their eyes light up with confidence as they create something uniquely theirs is absolutely the most rewarding part of teaching.”
