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Letitia had a difficult time during her adolescence; poor attitude, bad grades, fighting, drug abuse, and other risky behaviors. She found herself 18 years old, waiting tables in a Western Kentucky truck stop and realized that she hated working there. At the last minute she decided to go to college, but wanted to major in the one thing (the only thing) that she was interested in...Theater and Drama. Letitia's high school did not have any opportunities to do drama; no classes, clubs, school plays...nothing was offered. Having no frame of reference, she went to Murray State University and declared theatre as her major anyway. It saved her life. After discovering arts education and specifically theatre, her life was forever changed. Instead of getting arrested, she began to get invested. Instead of addictions, she went to auditions. Instead of being re-active, she became pro-active. School became something Letitia enjoyed, even loved. Tish began making good grades, got onto the Dean's list, and even achieved departmental awards and scholarships for her acting and activism in the theater. She eventually graduated cum lade in 1994 and because she was so passionate about theatre (and arts) education Tish decided that she wanted to help other young people like herself, who were teetering on the edge of a cliff. She decided to work to help students discover what she had discovered; a sense of belonging, a sense of being a worthwhile person with something to offer, to find a productive and healthy outlet as opposed to a destructive one. Letitia wanted to become a teacher. So she did. Although Letitia was the ONLY theatre education student at MSU while she was there, she was able to eventually obtain a degree that would enable her to teach drama and communications.
The battle to find positions teaching Letitia's first love - theater - proved to be an up-hill battle all the way. Tish doesn't fit into a box, she never have and probably never will. It has been extremely difficult finding teaching opportunities in theatre, but she has successfully continued to find a way. Although to do it she has had to make sacrifices; job security, health care, union membership, livable wages, retirement funds...etc. But, these sacrifices have been made because Letitia Usher believes that what she does and what she has to offer young people is important. Drama helps young people develop empathy, it helps to build relationships with parents and communities, and drama nurtures the thought "I Can". Letitia is an Education Associate, Teaching Artist, Actress and Master Storyteller. She designs curriculum, leads workshops, teaches in-school and after school residencies, and coordinates storytelling programs and projects. Letitia is a certified teacher, with a Masters degree in Counseling, who has also worked as a stage carpenter, stage/tour manager, scenic painter, and chauffeur just to name a few of the numerous positions she has had. She continues to audition and find ways to perform as often as she can, and although Letitia enjoys film work her true passion lies with the stage and performing for live audiences.
