Ryan & Ashley Gresko
Driven to Unearth Artisitic Potential
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Ryan & Ashley Gresko
ith a revitalized marching band and newly active chorus and theatrical program, there’s an infusion of artistic endeavors afoot at Dadeville High School, and to find the party that is largely responsible, search no further than the husband-and-wife team of Ryan and Ashley Gresko. Ryan Gresko heads up the Tigers’ marching band program, and his wife Ashley conducts the school’s chorus classes. Then in the final period of the school day, they combine their efforts. “We both teach theater,” Gresko said. The Greskos literally work closely together in their efforts to cultivate the DHS arts programs, with their classrooms ideally situated. “The band room is right next to the auditorium,” he explained. That juxtaposition also makes it easy for each one to quickly fill in for the other as needed. “If Ryan needs to step out for a minute, I can pop over and teach band for him,” Ashley said. The Greskos first moved to Tallapoosa County in 2006, so Ryan could serve as assistant band director at Benjamin Russell High School. With intentions to settle here, they bought a home. But after a while, they uprooted to continue their own studies in music education. Fortunately, these Pennsylvania natives never sold their Alexander City house. Instead, when the opportunity came three years ago for Gresko to teach band at DHS, returning to their Tallapoosa County home was a no brainer. “It’s like it was meant to be,” Gresko said. Through the Greskos’ combined efforts, DHS has presented stage productions of Annie and The Wizard of Oz. Most recently, the school’s chorus performed as part of the DHS Black History Month program. And the Alabama Shakespeare Festival paid a visit to conduct a theater work-
STORY BY CATHY HIGGINS PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS
shop for students in the DHS program. That boils down to success for the Greskos, who believe offering classes in the arts at DHS fills a void in both the school and community. “People here are into athletics big time,” Ashley said. “But all the kids are not into athletics.” The arts offer those kids the chance to come into their own, she said. And many have already done so, including 11 students who advanced to the Alabama All-State Chorus after Ashley encouraged them to audition, which meant memorizing music and performing solo in front of an audience. DHS senior Dylan Davis also came into his own through the school’s arts programs. Before being encouraged to join the arts programs, he had pretty much kept to himself. After joining the school’s chorus and theater classes, Davis discovered his untapped talent and underwent a transformation. He auditioned and was accepted in the All-State Choir, and last year, he even filled in when the lead in BRHS theatrical production had to drop out. “He’s really, really talented,” Gresko said. “Who knows what may come from him?” But that’s not the only talent the Greskos cultivate through the DHS arts programs. Each theatrical production is staged with scenery they taught their students to build. “It’s neat to know that we’re teaching our kids skills like how to wield a hammer, which they can use for the rest of their lives,” Gresko said. “They’re realizing that they’re doing things that they could possibly do to make a living.” With the DHS arts programs thriving, the Greskos are looking for ways to drive the program forward. They hope to take students’ experiences to a new level with an arts trip to New York City and the addition of a show choir next year. It’s all part of a continued drive to help develop that untapped artistic potential in kids at the local high school.
DRIVEN 2017
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