NATE ROSE: We always have drama right after school, and I’ll remember, like leaving school and I’ll be like, it’s drama today. I always have such a great time. I feel like if I had a different director, that it would just feel so much different. I feel like Kurk really gets to know us. I feel like I can talk to him. He doesn’t feel like a teacher, like, we don’t call him Mr. Watson. We call him Kaptain Kurk, and that’s his formal name. We call him Kap. And that’s because he’s not a teacher, he’s like a mentor to us, and I feel like the way just he gets to know us just makes the entire experience feel more comfortable.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: For Kurk, teaching is about creating opportunities for students to explore new things, sparking their curiosity, and helping them discover passions. By encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones, he provides a pathway for students to uncover interests they might not have otherwise realized. He shares more about the guiding philosophies of his organization, OPEX Park, and how these align with his approach to teaching.

KURK WATSON: Philosophies for me is, our model for OPEX Park, which stands for opportunities and experience that are mixed together, so OPEX Park, is exactly what it sounds like. So that experience for each and everybody, including you and I, all of us are one experience away from discovering a new love or passion. So for me, the philosophy is to put as many experiences in front of kids as possible to ultimately develop a love or passion early on so they can cultivate that as they grow. So a lot of the drama programs, a lot of the culinary programs, non-traditional sports that I offer, you know, kids at a young age are able to experience that. And as they experience them, and suddenly, man, I love that. Like I want to focus in on it. And I hear countless stories, especially when it comes to drama of how many kids have experienced it when they were young, and then went on to college and post-college is like, this is what I want to focus in on.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: In talking with Kurk, Nate, and Nate’s parent Erica, they reflected on the productions that stood out as their favorite. Each of them shared how their favorite productions left a lasting impact on them.

NATE ROSE: My favorite thing that I’ve done with Kurk was definitely Clue, which we did two years ago. I had a great time in it. The cast was awesome, Kurk was awesome, everything kind of worked. And things went wrong, things messed up, but the entire experience was so great. Like, I felt like we really had a great bond. The show went amazing. I just had a great time. That’s just my personal favorite.

KURK WATSON: I think Clue was just phenomenal. But I think what made Nate stand out as a student, for me, was Addams Family. So for him to embody a character like that at such a young age was like, amazing to watch. You know Addams Family was the first time I was like, whoa, okay, this kid is it. He got it. He understands it. So that was my favorite thing to work with you on. Clue was phenomenal, as always, but Addams family, for me, was outstanding.

ERICA INTZEKOSTAS: Yeah, it’s kind of a toss-up between those two. Addams Family was like, you know, can he really pull this off? You know, the curtains open and he comes out. And I’m like, oh my god, is he going to be able to do it? And he did, and oh, that was so cool. And then after the first few lines, I was kind of like, okay, I can relax. He’s got this. That was really cool. But then Clue was just next level like the cast just clicked, everything clicked. It was phenomenal. And it wasn’t a musical, right? So the cast had to learn hundreds of lines. There was no like, okay, now we’re taking a break to sing a song. It was just quick-paced dialog, quick scene changes, they were just on constantly. And I really thought, wow, he’s really being ambitious with this one. But I mean, he didn’t just pull it off. It was unbelievable. It was it was really something to watch. So yeah, it’s really a toss-up to me between those two.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: Erica shares how Kurk has taught Nate that perfection isn’t the goal. It’s okay to make mistakes, have fun, and keep moving forward. Through Kurk’s guidance, students learn the value of empathy and the importance of being kind and supportive leaders. This quiet confidence that Kurk embodies and encourages has helped Nate grow into a compassionate and self-assured leader, both on and off the stage.

ERICA INTZEKOSTAS: I think for Nate, working with Kurk in the drama program for the past, this will be his sixth year.

ERICA INTZEKOSTAS: You know, there have been a lot of mistakes. Literally, in the middle of a live performance that happens all the time. And rather than freeze up or blame himself or blame others, the kids, they just go with it and then they have great stories to tell afterward. So that’s definitely for Nate, I think that he’s always been kind of a perfectionist. And he’ll beat himself up sometimes, but I think this has really helped him like, hey, it’s okay. We can make mistakes. We can have fun with it. Have great stories to tell afterward. And I think the other thing that I think is important to mention is that I feel like Kurk has showed Nate, and I assume the other kids too, how to be a leader. That you don’t have to be a dictator. You don’t have to like, you know, beat it into kids. You can lead with kindness and with a kind of quiet confidence. You don’t have to be an authoritarian to get the kids to listen to you. And I’ve seen Nate take that when he’s in a leadership role when he’s trying to teach kids, either helping them with the script or Nate also dances, helping them learn a choreography routine that he came up with. And I see him kind of emulating the way Kurk leads, right, just with like empathy and humor and kindness. And you know and I know it can be frustrating. Sometimes he’ll come home and he’ll tell me his frustrations. I’m sure Kurk gets frustrated too, but never lets it show. And so I see when Nate’s like working with the kids, he’s just patient. And so Kurk’s a great role model in that way.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: Kurk reflects on how the foundation he provides empowers his students to shape their own futures. For him, the greatest reward is watching them grow and achieve far beyond what he initially offered, knowing he played a part in their journey.

KURK WATSON: I think watching them grow, like I said before, into like young thespians as they leave Greenfield, or even outside of, like the Greenfield. When I say Greenfield, the Greenfield school is what we’re referring to. So watching them grow in the arts in itself, to me, is amazing. And I think that the remarkable moments that they have, that I forget about, and then when they come back to share those moments, that something I may have said, something I may have done, a gift that I may have given them that kind of shaped who they are today. That’s the things that for me that keeps me going. And I love to see them grow in that aspect, for them to come back and say, hey, because you said this is the reason why I did this, or because you gave me this, or because you gave me this experience. And that goes back to that, that power of experience is what I live by as my life work, like I said, to provide as many experiences as possible. So to see them grow in the arts in general is great. I think the most memorable moments that I may have is just watching people who I’ve worked with or taught go on to do major theaters, one of which not necessarily school related, but camp related went on to go on Broadway. So all because of the experience that was provided, not just by myself, but a group of us who wanted to put that in front of people. So that was pretty awesome.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: When talking with Nate, he shares how Kurk’s adaptability and unwavering “never give up” mentality have made a lasting impression on him. Kurk’s ability to adjust to any challenge inspires his students to face obstacles with resilience and determination.

NATE ROSE: Something that I feel like doesn’t get talked about enough that Kurk does is his adaptability. He always has this mentality of never giving up. I don’t think there’s been a single show I’ve ever been in with Kurk that something hasn’t went completely wrong. Where someone hasn’t dropped out last minute, or a set falls apart on stage, or someone completely messes up their lines, or any number of ridiculous moments. But no matter what, I’ll be on stage, or I’ll look at Kurk and I see he remains calm. And when I see that he’s calm when inside I’m completely freaking out. I’m like, what’s going on? I’m super nervous, you know because I care about it.

NATE ROSE: And just to feel like, if you put in the work, you’ll get results. Like, if I’m at home, I’m gonna practice my lines. Why? Because he shows me that if you put in the work, you get results. Things work out when you practice. So I feel like his adaptability is really like just such a big factor.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: When reflecting on his adaptability, Kurk shares the foundation of his approach, the understanding that we are all human and mistakes are inevitable. This mindset not only shapes his teaching philosophy but also reinforces what Nate admires most about him, the ability to handle challenges with grace and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.

KURK WATSON: Yeah, it just comes from my realization that we’re all human. And I know that sounds cliche, but I’ll dive deeper into that, that things are going to happen. And if I understand the root of why it’s happening or what’s happening, then it’s like, okay, that makes sense. Let’s just deal with it and let’s see how it plays out, and sometimes, like the things that Nate are referring to actually added to the situation, which makes it positive. So if a set completely falls down, you know, you may get laughter from the crowd. So it’s just like, oh, that’s that’s a good, good response. Let’s keep rolling. Let’s keep going. 

KURK WATSON: So I just taught myself to remain calm always because everything is going to work out for the good. That’s my life approach. That’s truthfully in my nature and everything, just remain calm. Make it look easy, because after all, it may be terrible in the moment, but I may have to laugh in my life the next five minutes, so I look forward to that next laugh.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: Erica expands on Kurk’s impact by sharing how Kurk has a unique ability to connect with kids on their level while maintaining his role as the trusted adult in the room. By showing his humanity and building trust, Kurk demonstrates to his students that their voices matter and their opinions are valued.

ERICA INTZEKOSTAS: I think one of the best things about Kurk is that he has this unique ability to relate to the kids on their level while still maintaining his position as the adult in the room. And you know, kids often see their teachers as an authoritative figure, hopefully someone they can respect and look up to, but not necessarily someone who they see as a relatable person, right? Like, I remember being young, and probably all had this experience where you run into a teacher outside of school and you’re like, oh, my god, what? They’re an actual person. They’re not supposed to be outside of school, you know? And it just felt weird and kind of embarrassing, right? That’s not Kurk. The kids see him as a person. Like if they ran into him, it’s, hey, Kap! It’s not weird and that’s huge because the kids, it’s like they know that they can trust him. That he can relate to them without being one of those adults that thinks they’re one of the kids and tries to speak like the kids, and it’s just weird and awkward. That’s not Kurk, he is clearly the adult in the room, but the kids can relate to him. They know that he can relate to them. They know he has his back. They trust him. And it just makes for one of those situations that’s unfortunately, very rare. I mean, they’re not a lot of people who have that quality when they’re a teacher. And yeah, sure, he’s not in the traditional classroom, but still, I could very easily envision a different kind of drama program with a different kind of teacher, and it wouldn’t be what Greenfield’s been blessed with. 

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: Nate highlights the immense time and effort Kurk dedicates to their productions, noting how his commitment and hard work inspire everyone involved to bring their best to the stage. This dedication not only elevates the quality of their performances but also motivates the students to take pride in their work and push themselves creatively.

NATE ROSE: So I feel like it hasn’t been said yet, but the amount of time and effort that Kap puts into the productions is crazy. Sometimes I won’t even see it, but I’ll be in the lunchroom and I look across and it’s the auditorium, and sets are suddenly going up. And I go up to Kap, and I’m like, did you get help for this? And he’s like, no, this was all me. I was like, this was all you? And he does so much, he puts in so much effort. I talked about his adaptability earlier. There was one time where we had a dropout like a month before the play. And he’s on top of it, he’s instantly holding auditions and making sure that the cast helps the new member out and doing all these things. And I’ll be backstage with him, and he’s just, he’s always there. He’s always ready. He always makes sure that the show goes on and it always does because of him. He does so much for the entire show, for the entire production, for the entire cast.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: Erica shares how much creativity, heart, and soul Kurk pours into everything he does. No matter how tight the timeline, he always manages to get things done, putting in the hard work needed to bring his vision to life. What stands out even more is how Kurk handles stress: positively and calmly. He approaches challenges with a clear mindset, ensuring that his passion and dedication remain at the forefront while managing pressure with grace.

ERICA INTZEKOSTAS: It’s hard to relate it with words you know, I’ve had the privilege of being there a lot. I’ve been the parent liaison. And so I get to sort of watch the whole thing unfold. And it is just incredible. It is beyond impressive how much he puts into it, his heart and soul, and the creativity and watching it all come together. And sometimes it’ll be like, oh, my god, Kurk, we’re like a week out, he’s like, it’s okay, we got this. It’s good, we’re gonna be good. And I’m like, really? I mean, the man works so hard but loves it. If I worked that hard, I’d be totally stressed out all the time. He just does it with joy. And the kids never feel like crazy stressed. They’re just having fun, but then it’s a great show. It’s not just like, oh wasn’t that a cute production. It’s like, wow, that was really good. And in the meantime, they’ve had fun with it the whole time. It’s really impressive.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: What keeps Kurk going is the creativity he sees in his students. He loves watching them explore their freedom to create, ensuring that their sense of responsibility never overshadows their creative expression. For Kurk, it’s all about finding that balance, allowing students to take ownership of their work while still fostering a space for creativity to thrive.

KURK WATSON: I love the creativity of kid’s minds, right? 

KURK WATSON: So to watch the creativity, the free advance that they have to create without any responsibilities of you know, of what’s coming on the food plate later on tonight, and things of that nature you. I really want and I really love to see kids create. The most beautiful thing for me is to watch a kid by him or herself, creating a world. So, like I remember doing when I was younger, playing with my action figures and just creating a world. I couldn’t get out of the tub until this story was finished. So I had 1000’s of toys inside of the tub with me, and until my fingers were shriveled to create this story, whatever that was, and then I couldn’t get out until it was done. So I watch kids all the time, while they’re playing, while they’re on stage, create in their minds. And we as adults, that goes away at times because responsibility kicks in, but to watch their love of creativity and creating is a memorable moment for me.

HANNAH BOWYER-RIVETTE: Thank you so much for listening and joining us today to learn more about Kurk Watson, our February Honoree and recipient of the Honored National Teaching Award. To read more about his story, you can visit our website at honored.org or click the link in the episode description. If you have a teacher who you want to recognize and nominate for our teaching award, you can head to honored.org/nominate to recognize a teacher today. If you enjoyed today’s episode, you can follow us and leave us a review on whatever podcast platform you’re listening in from. Thanks again for listening, and make sure to tune in next month to hear the incredible story of our March Honoree.