Hello! I’m Kiersta Hoover, and this is my fifth year at Leander High School as the Technical Theatre Director. I am passionate about creating meaningful, hands-on experiences for students and helping them discover where they belong within the world of theatre. 

I grew up in theatre, with some of my earliest memories being backstage—painting, organizing props, running cues, and watching a production come together piece by piece. That experience shaped how I see this work: not just as performance, but as a hands-on, collaborative process where every role matters.

I’ve always been what I like to call a “theatre generalist.” I enjoy being in the middle of the action—designing, building, troubleshooting, and figuring things out as I go. That mindset is exactly what I bring into my classroom. I want students to try things they’ve never done before, learn by doing, and walk away knowing they are capable of more than they thought.

Before teaching, I worked in Entertainment at Walt Disney World, where I learned what it means to create high-quality, immersive experiences and to take pride in the details that make something truly work. That standard continues to shape both my productions and my teaching.

More than anything, I believe technical theatre prepares students for the real world in a very tangible way. Yes, they learn collaboration and problem-solving—but they also learn how to safely use tools, build something from the ground up, follow complex directions, and adapt when things don’t go according to plan. They gain confidence in their ability to create, fix, and figure things out—whether that’s on stage, at home assembling furniture, or in a future career.

My goal is to create a space where students feel comfortable taking risks, getting their hands dirty, and learning skills that will stick with them long after they leave the theatre. Because at the end of the day, technical theatre isn’t just about putting on a show—it’s about building capable, creative, and confident people.