St. Francis School Faculty & Staff

Don Hale

Eighth Grade

I was born and raised by parents and grandparents who were born and raised in Texas. I have lived in towns such as Midland, Abilene, Brady, Fluvanna, Snyder, San Angelo, New Braunfels and Kerrville -- where I graduated from High School. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Angelo State University. I then moved to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune. I moved back to Texas after eight years and settled down in Austin.

My mother, father, one brother, and one sister are all teachers. I have taught English, Speech, Theatre, and History at the High School level before coming to St. Francis to teach Middle School for the first time. While teaching High School, I also directed several different teen theatre companies that toured widely throughout Austin and Texas schools. I co-founded, and was artistic director of, The Central Texas Children’s Theatre for five years. We hired professional adult actors to perform plays and musicals for school children throughout Texas. I have performed in over one hundred productions, four movies (of which no one has ever heard), and several commercials. Additionally, I've written over twenty musicals for children and adults.

It was through this writing and performing work with youth that my teaching philosophy began to take shape. Much of my teaching efforts go into creating a classroom atmosphere where students can learn how they learn best -- so that they can help their future teachers develop the most advantageous learning conditions and approaches. It is my desire to build a community of "learners" in my classes -- always including myself as one of the learners.

I have two children in college and one in 6th grade at St. Francis. Each year, I take the 8th grade class to Italy on Pilgrimage to the birthplace of the school’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. I also enjoy helping create and conduct Chapel each Friday morning, because it gives me the chance to get to know all of the St. Francis students and staff.