MEGAN GRAY LEDERMAN
Megan Gray Lederman
Educator
Click for more information on my teaching philosophy, course experience, teaching effectiveness, and additional sites of learning where I practice.
My Teaching Philosophy
My teaching framework grows out of an applied theater practice, guided by the principles of presence, service, and care.
Presence shapes my attention to the people and ideas in the room and supports an environment where students engage with intention and participate with agency.
Service informs how I design courses that foster meaningful connection, professional communication, and reciprocal learning, encouraging students to explore new tools and discover the methods that resonate with them.
Care shapes the atmosphere of my classroom, where clarity, compassion, and equitable structures reduce unnecessary barriers and invite students to recognize the value of their learning.
My teaching begins with the belief that students learn most deeply when they can articulate their own ideas with confidence.
Theater transformed the way I understand people with curiosity and compassion, and I teach because I want my students to experience that same expansion. My classrooms welcome a wide range of learners, and my aim is for every student to enter feeling that their viewpoint matters and to leave knowing that they can analyze, question, and create through their own proces
These principles help me cultivate spaces where students build confidence, discover curiosity, and understand themselves as active participants in artistic and academic communities.
Course Experience
Spring 2026
Spring 2025 - Fall 2025
Spring 2024 - Fall 2024
Fall 2023
Spring 2023
Fall 2019 - Spring 2023
Grader & Lecturer - Introduction to Theatre
Indiana University - Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance
Associate Instructor - Script Analysis for the Theatre
Indiana University - Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance
Prepared courses in both Introductory Playwriting and Introduction to Dramaturgy
Both classes unfortunately did not go forward due to lack of enrollment. Syllabi are fully prepared.
Teaching Assistant - Performance as Art & Design
Indiana University - Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance
C0-Instructor - Peer Leadership Program
George Mason University - New Student and Family Programs
Instructor - Acting For Young People
George Mason University - Mason Community Arts Program
Teaching Effectiveness
My teaching has been recognized through consistently strong student evaluations, with instructor ratings averaging 4.7 out of 5 for enthusiasm, subject knowledge, and classroom engagement. Over my many years of teaching, 97% of students earned a C or higher, while 92% earned grades in the A- to B- range. Students consistently describe me as an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring educator who creates engaging and intellectually stimulating learning environments through creative assignments, collaborative discussion, and meaningful connections between theory and practice. By connecting theatrical concepts to students' academic and professional goals, I help learners from a wide range of disciplines recognize the value of theatre beyond the classroom. Peer observations have likewise praised my ability to make complex theatrical concepts accessible, fostering inclusive classrooms where students feel empowered to participate and succeed.
View my Teaching Effectiveness Document to explore student feedback, peer evaluations, course outcomes, and a deeper look at my pedagogical approach.
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness
The stage and the rehearsal room is one of the most transformative sites of learning.
In these settings, students encounter texts, histories, and theories not as static material but as living problems to be explored together. I use dramaturgy to bridge critical analysis and creative practice, supporting students as they learn through doing, failure, and revision. At Indiana University, I created an undergraduate dramaturgy mentorship program, and I frequently supported playwrights in the development of their work.
Alongside my formal instructor experience, I have pursued dedicated education in pedagogy and attend teaching seminars to strengthen my practice. I have experience working in higher education student life programs having led as well as participated in years of leadership training and mentorship programs. I also served as the director of the teen camp program at YMCA Camp Silver Beach, which provided valuable hands on opportunities for teaching, leadership, and mentorship.
