TEACHER OF INTEREST
The SOUND DIRECTOR
BY KERRY FIRTH
Most students are reprimanded for making noise in
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class, but it’s just the opposite in Maggie Baker’s
drama class at Saint Edward’s School in Vero Beach
where she teaches the art of Foley sound effects. Children
giddy with laughter learn to write their own scripts, act them
out silently, then produce and edit the sound effects to match
the action.
“This course is given to all sixth graders at Saint Edward’s
Lower School,” Baker said. “And if you’ve had any experience
with sixth graders you know that they are antsy and full
of energy, so offering a class where they learn how to make
new noises is just what they need to break up their day.”
Baker and her husband, Jeremy, who is the technical director
for the drama department at Saint Edward’s, became
National Geographic certified teachers with their capstone
Foley Sound project. In order to become certified you have to
work with the National Geographic organization to complete
projects that fall within its science guidelines. Foley sounds
are a mixture of science, fun and imagination that are added
to films, videos and other media in post-production to enhance
the audio quality.
Baker has headed the drama department for 11 years, transitioning
into teaching after a lifetime career in stage management.
The daughter of actors, she knew early on that a career
ANTHONY INSWASTY
in theater was her destiny. After graduating from San Francisco
State University with a degree in acting and a master’s
in directing and stage management, she dived head first into
her theatrical career working as a stage manager at Music
Circus in Sacramento. From there she held stage manager
positions in Utah, New York and other venues in Sacramento.
“While I was in New York, I directed showcases which are
equity productions where the actors don’t get paid,” she said.
“They do it for exposure with the hope that a scout will recognize
them, and the talent is first class. It was a very gratifying
experience to work with such talented actors.”
It was Riverside Theatre that lured Baker to Vero Beach
from her job as a stage manager for the Florida Studio Theatre
in Sarasota.
“I moved here and worked as stage manager at Riverside
for three years. Perhaps the best perk of working for Riverside
is that it was there that I met my husband,” she said
smiling. “Jeremy was working in the children’s theater and
we fell in love. I took off a couple of years while I was having
children and then decided to focus on teaching. When Saint
Edward’s offered us the position of teaching drama as a team
we jumped on it.”
Now the Bakers teach sixth graders a wide range of everything
from acting to technical theater to writing. In seventh >>
Trends In Education
Maggie Baker, theater arts
director at St. Edward’s
School in Vero Beach,
has headed the drama
department for 11 years,
transitioning into teaching
after a lifetime career in
stage management.