When Danny Issa started teaching theater arts at Arlington’s Washington-Liberty High School three years ago, there were 35 students enrolled. Now, there are about 100. The humble educator isn’t quite sure why he’s seen so much growth, but his students can name plenty of reasons.
“Mr. Issa cares for every student he comes across and truly cares about the students at the school the way a teacher should,” says Celeste Collins.
Colby Chase adds, “I can confidently say I will never meet another teacher as encouraging, comforting, understanding, accepting, kind, courageous, and humorous as Mr. Issa.”
It’s that all-in attitude that shines through to anyone affiliated with him. Issa, who taught English when he started at the school in 2016, now focuses entirely on theater as head of the theater arts program. He is concerned about students growing through the program, and he strives to be an adult whom students feel they can trust, says Miles Carey, an assistant principal at Washington-Liberty High.
“He is the one that you can go to when nobody else cares,” says Chase, echoing Amy Parente, a parent, who says “He is, without a doubt, that one teacher who has taken the time to get to know our child, break them out of their comfort zone, and challenge themself.”
Principal Antonio Hall sees this, too. “He’s incredibly caring and funny, always making sure that students are alright and making jokes that they can laugh along with. Kids feel like they can go to him for help with things besides theater.”
Issa’s unusual career path prepared him well for the role and gave him lots of stories to tell. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in secondary English education from George Mason University and has worked internationally as a magazine writer, radio broadcaster, English teacher in Korea, and acting teacher. Somehow, he kept coming back to theater arts, a passion fueled by his caring demeanor.
“The kids very adorably refer to the department as ‘the family,’” Issa says. “As we get bigger, I want to make sure the integrity of the family is upheld.”
It’s all about connecting with students and giving them a safe space to learn and grow, Issa says. “When I walk into the building, I know I’m not walking into the building for myself. … The most important thing about me is I’m trying my best.”
Co-workers see him model that behavior for the entire school.
“Danny works long hours with drama students, well beyond contract hours,” says colleague David Peters. “There is nothing he wouldn’t do for them — and that’s probably the highest compliment I can give to a colleague.”
Feature image by Jeffrey Heeney
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This story originally appeared in our October 2023 issue’s Teacher of the Year story. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
