Our next newsletter will publish February 15, 2026. If you would like to contribute an idea or an article, check out this form. We look forward to all members getting involved in our brand new newsletter!
Introduction
Each edition of the ICTA newsletter is designed to keep our members informed, inspired, and connected. Inside, you’ll find important announcements, insightful articles, practical teaching resources, and a focused theme to spark new conversations in our classrooms and our craft.
This month, our theme is Artificial Intelligence and its growing role in communication and theatre education. From classroom applications to ethical considerations, AI is reshaping how we create, teach, and perform.
So, welcome to The AI Edition of the ICTA newsletter... where technology meets creativity, and innovation takes center stage.
Mark Your Calander
Convention | September 17-19, 2026
Harper College | Palatine, IL
If you have a panel idea for 2026, contact first vice president, Harry Bodell
November Highlights
- The President’s Podium: A message from ICTA president, Tim Connors
- Directly Speaking: A message from our executive director, Ed Schwarz
- The Learning Lounge: Instructional book and podcast recommendations, and other insights
- The Mic: Should we bring back the Tournament of Champions? by Ken Carter
- Behind the Curtain: "Keep the Drama Human" by Dr. Mike Mitchell
- Teacher Feature: Marilee Applebee
- Job Postings
- The Reference Room: Resources for teaching, directing, and coaching
- A Message From Our Advocacy Chair, Lauren Morgan
- Announcements
THE PRESIDENT'S PODIUM
A Message From ICTA President — Tim Connors:
Greetings ICTA Friends! I hope your year is running smoothly and you are staying strong. As I reflect on the convention, I get a big smile on my face because the spirit that surrounded "Speak Up" was exhilarating. You all deserved 100 Golden Tickets! From the talented presenters that made us think and gave us great tips for our classrooms and teams to our gab sessions at the Lil Beaver and trivia, that just gave us a relaxing opportunity to just "Speak Up", however we wanted. It was a great weekend and I thank you for your kind words and participation. For my presidency, here is a phrase that sticks with me: "You May Not Go, But You Will Know!" I truly hope that this year because of our brand new newsletter, my exciting podcast, Speaking Up, and Zoom Sessions, you have the opportunity to continue your journey with a friendly organization that is behind you and here to help. You know how to get ahold of me. We are all busy but we always have time to help. Continue to speak up!
DIRECTLY SPEAKING
A Message From Our Executive Director — Ed Schwarz:
On Serving the Illinois Communication and Theatre Association Let me begin—an honor I must claim— To serve this noble guild in word and name. Though titled Executive Director grand, I lead no cast, nor do I wave a hand. Since twenty-nineteen, board-appointed, true, I’ve directed nothing—nor intend to do. For in this post, despite what titles show, No scripts I stage, no spotlight do I throw. Once named Executive Secretary—wise!— That title clearer spoke of what applies. For what I do is serve, assist, and tend, To tasks that keep our mission without end. I sign the contracts binding in our trust, And guard the records, accurate and just. I mind the office—humble, papered walls— Where membership renews and duty calls. When ballots come, I count with careful hand, And track the hours teachers earn as planned. With treasurer beside, I mind the gold, And file reports as statutes have foretold. I speak with counsel when the need appears, And soothe the state’s requirements through the years. I aid the planners choosing where we meet, Ensuring each convention runs complete. So though I direct nothing—let that stand— I serve with heart, and offer steady hand. For leadership is not command or cue, But quiet work that helps the many through. —Poetry from AI, based on boring prose by the Executive Director, in the hope that you now have a better idea of what the Executive Director does.
THE LEARNING LOUNGE
Book Nook
Quarterly Book Recommendation
Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. José Antonio Bowen & Edward C. Watson (2024)
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we learn, work, and think. Its integration into classrooms and workplaces is already underway, impacting and challenging ideas about creativity, authorship, and education. In this groundbreaking and practical guide, teachers will discover how to harness and manage AI as a powerful teaching tool. José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson present emerging and powerful research on the seismic changes AI is already creating in schools and the workplace, providing invaluable insights into what AI can accomplish in the classroom and beyond. By learning how to use new AI tools and resources, educators will gain the confidence to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by AI. From interactive learning techniques to advanced assignment and assessment strategies, this comprehensive guide offers practical suggestions for integrating AI effectively into teaching and learning environments. Bowen and Watson tackle crucial questions related to academic integrity, cheating, and other emerging issues. In the age of AI, critical thinking skills, information literacy, and a liberal arts education are more important than ever. As AI continues to reshape the nature of work and human thinking, educators can equip students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. This book serves as a compass, guiding educators through the uncharted territory of AI-powered education and the future of teaching and learning.
Listening Lab
Quarterly Teaching Podcast Recommendation
Faculty Perspectives on AI Tea for Teaching Podcast | October 1, 2025
Abstract
Faculty adoption and use of AI in higher education varies widely. In this episode, three colleagues from the University of Mississippi... provide their perspectives on AI use in higher education. JOSH EYLER is the Senior Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, EMILY PITTS is the Associate Director of Instructional Support in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Lecturer of Writing and Rhetoric, and MARC WATKINS is a Lecturer in Composition and Rhetoric and Assistant Director of Academic Innovation.
ICTA Podcast
An all new original ICTA Podcast
Episode 1 drops December 1, 2025.
Subscribe Now on Apple Podcast Check out the Preview
Subscribe Now on Spotify Check out the Preview
Tea Time
If you would like to contribute a Book Nook (book recommendation) or Listening Lab (podcast recommendation), please use this form
THE MIC
Should We Bring Back the Tournament of Champions? — Ken Carter
Every spring, the J.W. Tournament of Champions, sponsored by the University of Kentucky, and the National Individual Tournament of Champions take place to celebrate the top performers across individual events (speech) tournaments. In the not-so-distant past, Illinois also had its own competition for speech champions—the Special Commission of Tournaments, Individual Events (SCOTIE)—which was held the weekend after the IHSA State Tournament. At ICTA’s convention this past September, we hosted a panel to discuss the interest in and concerns about reestablishing this tradition. As a result of that conversation, it’s time to take action and make this tournament a reality.
How Did Students Qualify for this Tournament?
To qualify, students needed to win a tournament with at least ten schools competing and three preliminary rounds. They could also qualify by winning the IHSA Regional, Sectional, or State Tournaments. Over time, eligibility expanded to include: (1) anyone who qualified for the State Tournament, (2) the top novice who advanced to a varsity final round, (3) all tournament champions at tournaments with three rounds of judging but no final round, (4) anyone who earned superior ratings at a festival, (5) anyone who won a junior varsity or novice final round, and (6) any conference champion. Most importantly, the best feeling came during the awards ceremony when the emcee announced, “And our tournament champion and SCOTIE qualifier is…”
Who Else Could Attend?
SCOTIE also allowed upperclassmen to attend even if they had not qualified, provided they served as student judges. Each school was permitted to send up to four student judges.
Supplemental Events
Those who qualified were eligible to compete in four-minute supplemental (secondary) events. The events previously offered included original prose, poetry, wretched interpretation, and improv duet acting. Each school could also take part in a karaoke competition, which was held at the host hotel.
Awards
All qualifiers received a certificate. Keychains were awarded to contestants who earned five superior rankings out of a possible eight, and plaques were presented to teams with eight or more qualifiers. Students who achieved the highest number of superior rankings earned $100 speech camp scholarships to various Illinois colleges and universities that offered speech camps. These students also received a plaque recognizing their accomplishment. Coaches could earn a keychain once at least three of their competitors had earned theirs. In addition, one coach each year was honored with the SCOTIE Coach of the Year Award.
Fees
All participating schools were required to have a coach who was a member of ICTA (known as ISTA at the time). Each school also paid an annual SCOTIE membership fee, and every student who qualified or wished to judge paid a twelve-dollar fee. (The costs were higher when a banquet was included with the tournament.) Each karaoke entry required a fifteen-dollar fee.
Who Ran The Tournament?
A commission oversaw the tournament, with commissioners selected from across the state. The event was led by the SCOTIE Chair and Vice Chair.
So, What Now?
The discussion panel at ICTA showed strong interest, though it represented only a small sample group. As a board, we’ve had some preliminary discussions about possible next steps. However, what we need now is your opinion! Please complete the Google Form below to help us gather more data as we move forward.
Sign Ups
Want to step up to The Mic? Use this form and tell us about your idea!
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
"Keep The Drama Human" — Dr. Mike Mitchell
I’ve been teaching theatre long enough to remember when “cutting-edge technology” in the classroom meant an overhead projector and a box of transparencies. Now, suddenly, everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence — and somehow, it’s found its way into the wings of our little world of theatre education. I’ll be honest: part of me wants to ignore it. I’m less than two years from retirement, and I sometimes think, “Maybe I can just sneak quietly out before AI starts directing the fall play.” But alas, the future refuses to wait for my exit cue. AI is here, center stage, and we might as well figure out how to work with it. Several of my colleagues have taken to AI like tech directors to a new lighting board. They use it to generate set design concepts (“Show me A Midsummer Night’s Dream as if Tim Burton designed it!”), to solve the eternal headache of rehearsal scheduling around the busy lives of teenagers, and to whip up marketing slogans that would make Don Draper proud. I have to admit, it’s impressive — and it’s certainly saving people time. My students, though, are more divided. Some think AI is the best scene partner they’ve ever had — always available, never tired, and full of suggestions. Others worry it’s stealing something essential: the messy, human part of the creative process where real discovery happens. When I asked a few of them recently what they thought about AI in theatre, the answers were as varied as the roles they audition for. One student said, “I think AI is making people lazier in every creative field. Why spend weeks or months working on a script when you could get AI to write it for you in three seconds? This worries me since I believe that this will lead to a drought of authenticity in theatre — it’s not humans acting from human experiences, but humans acting what robots think humans are.” Another took a different stance: “I don’t really think it will change theatre because it’s so physical and mental — acting especially. Probably, playwriting will change because AI can be used to write.” And then there was one who summed up what a lot of us secretly wish: “I just want AI to do the boring stuff.” That last one made me laugh — and, if I’m being honest, nod in agreement. I had a moment earlier this semester that really made me think. One of my students had built a beautiful, intricate prop for our production — a little piece of stage magic that caught my eye immediately. I praised them for their creativity, their craftsmanship, and their attention to detail. They smiled, a little sheepishly, and then admitted, when asked what had inspired them, that the design had come from an AI generator. I tried to hide my disappointment, but I think they saw it anyway. It wasn’t my finest moment as an educator. I realized afterward that what I’d really been reacting to wasn’t the use of AI itself — it was my fear that maybe the human spark was being replaced. In truth, that student had still chosen the prompt, refined the design, and brought it to life with their own hands. The creativity was still theirs. I just needed a minute to see it. The funny thing is, the more I think about it, the more I realize this isn’t really new. Every generation of theatre educators has faced some “new thing” that threatened to change the art form — microphones, projection design, streaming performances. And yet, somehow, the heart of theatre has always endured: people gathering to tell stories, face to face, in real time. So, while I might not be the most tech-savvy director in the department, I’ve come to believe that AI isn’t the enemy. Like any tool, it depends on how we use it. A hammer can build a set or smash a thumb — same hammer, different outcome. If we treat AI as a creative assistant rather than a replacement for creativity itself, maybe it can free us up to do more of what really matters: the human work of collaboration, imagination, and connection. As for me, I’ll probably keep experimenting cautiously, one prompt at a time. I may not master AI before I retire, but I can at least model curiosity — and maybe a little humility — for my students. Because the truth is, they’ll be the ones shaping what theatre (and AI in theatre) looks like next. Until then, I’ll keep reminding them — and myself — that AI might be able to write a decent monologue, but it still can’t take a bow.
Auditions
To submit an idea for Behind the Curtain, please check out this form
TEACHER FEATURE
Marilee Applebee
Interview conducted by Andrea Gustafson:
Marilee Applebee has been teaching and coaching the Seneca Speech Team for 34 years and will retire in the spring of 2026. We're lucky to have her as our second vice president.
Q. As you look back on your career, what classeses stand out as favorites to teach?
A. My favorite classes to teach were AP Literature and the Holocaust in History, Literature, and Film. My favorite events to coach have been Radio Speaking and Poetry Reading!
Q. How has teaching communication changed over the years?
A. The teaching of public speaking has changed in a variety of ways. Popular culture and the media that cover it move and change so fast now, so the topics the students are interested in researching and speaking about are constantly changing. I think students see more content creators who are using their voices to share their experiences or tell their stories. Even though it's an evolving medium, they are actually watching more people presenting themselves to the world through speech. I suppose there are ways we could be leaning into this! Another change is that we have learned to be more sensitive to the special needs of our students when it comes to public speaking. There are very real mental health issues or skill deficits that we need to consider.
Q. As you look to retirement, what is something you hope students remember from your classes?
A. I hope they remember that there are teachers who are willing to listen to them and help them unpack all the baggage they come to school with. Sometimes they just need a safe place to vent, and then and only then, they might be ready to return and learn something in the classroom. I hope they remember all the fun we had in English 3 as we followed the drama of the characters in The Crucible, because those people were a ridiculous mess! I hope they remember what alliteration is because we used a "purple poetry packet" during our poetry units. I hope they see the real world's rising dangers of censorship because Ray Bradbury predicted just how restricted our society might get in Fahrenheit 451. Because I teach a class on the Holocaust, there is SO much I hope they remember from what we learn about that horrific time in history. There has never been a time in modern history that we need to be so vigilant about the signs of fascism AND so willing to use our voices to fight against it. As a former group leader of European tours for my students, I hope they remember all the amazing sights they saw and unique experiences we all had together. Travel is the absolute best way for students to really learn about the world around them and broaden their horizons on the ways other people live in other places.
Q. What are you most looking forward to about planning the 2027 ICTA Convention and eventually serving as president?
A. I already have lists of ideas for convention sessions, and I will be excited to see what my planning committee thinks about them. I look forward to the new ideas that my ICTA friends will come up with, especially from our diverse membership. I know my role as a high school teacher and coach is just a small part of who we are as a larger group. I'm also working on gathering ideas for vendors, for decorations, and for keynote speakers. I'm looking forward to a new level of leadership and collaboration. I've already been given such thoughtful advice about assuming the new roles that are coming. In these last few years, I've really enjoyed getting to know so many new people who have stories to tell and experiences to share!
Job Postings
Harper College (Palatine, IL.) Communication Instructor & Forensics Coach
Parkland College (Champaign, IL.) Communication Instructor
College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL.) Communication Instructor
For More Higher Ed Positions, click HERE
If you would like to submit a Job Posting for our February 15 issue, please use this form
The Reference Room
Learning Lounge
Quarterly Book Recommendation:
Quarterly Teaching Podcast Recommendation: Faculty Perspectives on AI Tea for Teaching Podcast (October 1, 2025)
The Mic
ICTA's Open Mic, Discussion, & Digital Forum Topic: Should we bring back The Tournament of Champions? We want YOUR opinion! Please take this survey to tell us your perspective
Teaching Toolbox
AI That Listens: NotebookLM as a Bridge Between Teaching and Technology Harry Bodell, College of Lake County
The Debate Over the Role of AI in Education Dr. Natasha Casey, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield
Coaches' Corner
Beginning with our February newsletter, we will share a handful of coaching tips. Submit your ideas at the link below.
To submit an idea for the Learning Lounge, The Mic, Teaching Toolbox, or Coaches Corner, please use this form
A Message From Our Advocacy Chair — Lauren Morgan
Last spring, President elect, Tim Connors, asked me as Chair of Advocacy to develop a panel with advocates from outside the organization. Unsure who to invite, I reached out to my friend, Patrick Cortesi, Landscape Gardener, Bloomington Public School, District 87, and County Chair of the McLean County Democrats, for assistance. Patrick’s community engagement and advocacy work in McLean County and Bloomington Public Schools meant he had a broad network of connections with local leaders and legislators, and I was hopeful he could offer some panelists. He generously emailed three individuals, introduced me, and extended my invitation. All three invitations were accepted.
I share this story as an illustration of advocacy at it’s core - building human connections. Sam Alemayehu, serial entrepreneur and General Partner at C1Ventures (C1V) explained in his Medium article, McKinsey Warns: Your Leadership Skills Are Obsolete, June 30, 2025, “As machines master the science of management, leaders must now master the science of being human. . . .AI is not a replacement for human leadership – it’s an amplifier.” He further explains that AI is actually going to: • “Free up time for human connection” where leaders will need to “mentor, inspire and develop people.” • “Provide a mirror for growth” enabling more leaders to provide more feedback to help employees evolve. • “Elevate the Human Differentiator” highlighting what employees “long for in their leaders. . . Development, experience, care, empathy, authentic engagement, wisdom. . . . Employees may turn to machines for guidance, they will always turn to human leaders for meaning.”
It is clear that as communication educators, our time has come to assert ourselves as advocates. This is not a task we can, nor should, accomplish on our own. We need the assistance of people like Patrick Cortesi and the people he with whom he connected us, Illinois State Representative for the 91st District, Sharon Chung, and professional advocate, Mike Grady, Strategic Advocacy Partners. Both Sharon and Mike provided us insights and guidance to further our advocacy efforts.
Here are the key takeaways from our session: 1. Develop a clear vision for our advocacy efforts that includes goals and steps to achieve those goals 2. Build relationships with our local legislators 3. Ask legislators for assistance in building relationships with other groups/organizations such as the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Board of Higher Education 4. Work with legislators to form a Communication Education caucus
While developing a clear vision for advocacy is the work of the Advocacy Committee, all members of ICTA need to be involved in advocating for our discipline. Connecting with local legislators requires your engagement with your representatives. Thus, expect that the Advocacy Committee to engage YOU in helping us in build relationships across the state. In her most recent book, Strong Ground, Brene Brown explores the need for leadership that is built on “strong ground – your base of values, self-awareness, and clarity.” The Advocacy Committee is dedicated to establishing that strong ground so that communication is at the core of education.
Announcements
If you have a panel idea for 2026, contact first vice president, Harry Bodell
If you are interested in serving on the board or on a committee, contact executive vice president, Jeff Przybylo.. In 2026 we will seek people to fill the following positions: Second VP (Higher ed), Executive Vice President, Secretary, Secondary Ed Chair, & a Student Rep.
Remember, this is our newsletter. Please use this form to contribute ideas for our February 15, 2026 issue.
Editors November 25: Rocky Roque, Jeff Przybylo, & Lauren Morgan
The ICTA newsletter will publish November 15, February 15, May 15, and August 15. Inquiries can be directed to our communication director, Rocky Roque
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