The advice I give for teachers:  prepare yourself in the subject so that it shall always be on tap; then in the classroom, trust your spontaneity and fling away all further care!"

-William James, ON VITAL RESERVES, 1905

Ed Gupton is currently in his thirty-eighth year of teaching at St. Francis and his fortieth year “in the profession”.  Some day he hopes to “get it right,” (although others, far-wiser than he, are dubious).

He began teaching for Aquinas School (né Louisville Catholic Country Day).  He taught French in grades 5 – 12 and he established a drama program for grades 9 – 12 where he “raised eyebrows” by producing plays by Albee, Becket and Ionesco (Théatre de l’Absurde).

When Aquinas was acquired by Louisville Country Day (later a.k.a. KCD) he accepted an offer to teach at Sayre School in Lexington.  There he taught French (eight sections per day) to students in grades 3 – 12; he established another drama program which until this time had been mired in Christmas Pageants, etc.

On a frequent visit to Louisville, he got wind of an exciting (albeit small) school called St. Francis School, established by The Reverend Frank Q. Cayce.  It sounded too good to pass up.  Ed was interviewed by Cayce and his young, bright assistant, Tom Pike during Spring Break.  Two days later, Mr. Cayce called to ask Ed to “join us”. Et voilà!

During Mr. Gupton’s tenure at St. Francis he has:

• established and developed the foreign language department
• established the St. Francis School Drama Project.  Begun in 1972, this project has grown in reputation and mounted 104 productions at the Goshen campus as well as touring performances.  This tradition has continued from 1975 – 2002.
• established, with colleagues, the St. Francis Young Playwrights’/Young Directors’ Drama Project for production of original and adapted materials.  At least one of these student created works has been adapted into a musical and has been published.
• established an opportunity for adults, families and children to perform in community theater by forming the Goshen Summer Theater, which had successful seasons running 1981 – 1985.
• co-authored several short and full-length musicals for children and adult audiences, published by Eldridge Publishing of Tallahassee, Florida.
• most recently (Fall, 2003) established the After School Dramatic Arts Project (ASDAP) for students in grades 3 – 8 to participate in dramatic training and play production.  This is hosted by Walden School.  This project was renewed in spring, 2004 and Mr. Gupton conducted a summer drama workshop for children in July, 2004.  He has been a consultant for two productions at St. Francis High School in Louisville (fall/spring, 2004-2005).

Honors

• Member of the Kentucky Council of Teachers of World Languages.
• Lauréat du Prix d’Honneur en Etudes Francaises, National Association of Teachers of French
• June 2003 – Selected as a Governor’s Arts Scholarship Program “Honored Mentor” by former students now in pre-professional studies at the Youth Performing Arts School, Walden Theater and other theatrical training organizations.  These sessions and programs were hosted by Transylvania University.
• Feb 2007--Commended by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence in Ky Education as "an educator who has had a life-long influence on learning and quality of life."

 Education

• A.B., Indiana University, Bloomington, Departments of French/Italian, English (Drama), 1966 Certificat d’Enseignement Francophonique Estivale, 1968