Drama Teachers - What to Do When You’re Drowning in Drama Department Tasks

As a solo drama teacher who has taught at both a PreK–8 school and a high school, I know exactly how quickly the workload piles up. When you’re the only drama teacher on staff, you’re essentially running a full theatre program plus a full teaching schedule.

No one else on campus fully understands everything you do. Sometimes you’re lucky and have a supportive administration. Other times, the support isn’t there at all, and that is devastating.

No matter where you fall on that spectrum, the question becomes:
What systems can you put in place so that your drama program runs smoothly and you don’t burn out?

There is a misconception in some schools that drama teachers “have it easy” because we aren’t bringing home stacks of 150 essays every weekend. But the reality is that we are directing and producing major public events… often with little support, little time, and little recognition.

And if you’re a busy drama teacher trying to keep your head above water, make sure you grab my FREE Drama Classroom Toolkit. It includes goal-setting sheets, budget planning sheets, and bonus freebies, and it gets you on my email list where I regularly send out new resources to help lighten your load.

Here are my top five tips for staying on top of everything.

1. Pre-Plan as Much as You Can

Your class planning system is the foundation of your sanity. Get a clear rhythm for:

• lesson planning

• organizing materials

• copying and prepping

• simplifying your grading

When it comes to grading, be selective. Use rubrics as often as possible. Rubrics help you assess creative work efficiently and protect you from accusations of being “too subjective.” Students and parents can see exactly where the grade came from.

If you want full support for planning, I also have a complete Drama Curriculum with editable slides, lesson plans, assessments, and activities. Whatever curriculum you use, make sure you know exactly how it’s organized so you’re not reinventing the wheel every week.

2. Systematize Your Production Materials

Your production systems matter just as much as your classroom systems. This includes:

• how you organize auditions

• how you structure rehearsals

• what checklists you follow

• how you track deadlines for lights, sound, costumes, props, and set

Saving your systems from show to show is a game-changer. Keep your audition packets, rehearsal plans, calendars, checklists, and templates. Adjust them each production, but don’t start from scratch every time.

My Drama Teacher Toolkit includes a free production checklist that gives you a strong jumping-off point if you’re not sure where to begin.

3. Get Help — Even If You’re the Only “Official” Staff Member

Being the only drama teacher does not mean you have to do everything alone. Lean on:

• student leadership (they are your most invested team)

• parent volunteers

• colleagues like the art teacher or woodshop teacher

• students with specialized talents (digital design, sewing, carpentry, choreography, etc.)

You’d be surprised how much hidden talent exists right on your campus. And if your school has even a small budget for stipends, don’t be afraid to ask for additional production support.

4. Organize Your Space Like a Pro Theatre

Your physical space will either save you time or waste huge amounts of it.

A few must-haves:

• a label maker

• clear bins so you always know what’s inside

• spike tape and gaff tape

• a fully stocked stage manager box (flashlights, batteries, first aid, safety pins, tape, scissors, pens, etc.)

Having designated places for props, costumes, tools, scripts, tech gear, and set supplies will save countless hours during production season.

5. Evaluate Your Systems Every Quarter

At the end of every quarter, semester, and production, take the time to reflect.
Ask yourself:

• What worked smoothly this time?

• Where did I feel overwhelmed?

• What needs to be streamlined for next time?

• What do I want to improve moving forward?

Your systems should grow with you. Don’t be afraid to adjust and refine.

And if you want additional support, I have a full line of audition and rehearsal materials in my TPT store that can help you stay organized and confident through the entire production cycle.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing is to get ahead on your systems. I’ll be honest: I haven’t always been perfect about this. But every time I’ve sat down to truly organize the front end of my semester or production, everything that came afterward was smoother.

Being a drama teacher is demanding, meaningful, exhausting, and beautiful. You deserve systems that support the work you do.

Happy directing, happy teaching, and break a leg.

🌟 Helpful Resources for Drama Teachers

🎭 FREE Drama Classroom Toolkit
Download your kit with planning sheets, goal-setting templates, management tools, and bonus resources — all designed to make your teaching life easier.
👉 Grab your FREE Toolkit

🎬 Audition & Rehearsal Resource Bundle
Streamline your shows with my complete set of forms, planners, schedules, and checklists — everything I personally use to keep productions running smoothly.
👉 See the Bundle