Halfway through Vic Passante's 34-year career as a high school theatre director, his building principal dubbed him The Field Trip King. Obviously, this man had hit the wall approving Passante's trips and justifying student absences to the rest of his staff. The principal's attempt at sarcasm failed miserably as Passante responded, "That is the greatest compliment anyone has ever paid me!"

Passante's greatest passion as a teacher was connecting his students with professional arts experiences. He knew his classroom needed to include major arts venues, well past Room 153 at Oconomowoc High School. He wanted his students to learn in a "Classroom Without Walls."

Passante learned early on that planning a variety of opportunities such as museums, workshops, talkbacks, and tours along with the performances enriched the students' experience...and kept them out of trouble when the groups visited major cultural hubs like Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and New York City.

For the last 17 years of Passante's career, he led his students to the United Kingdom for a two-week theatre exchange with Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, a Welsh high school. This exchange was used as a model program in the Wisconsin Department of Instruction curriculum guide for International Studies and earned Passante a DPI outstanding teacher award.

Along with this honor for international education, Passante was named the Distinguished Arts Educator in 1991 and a Herb Kohl Fellow in 2001. Passante received accolades and support from his school and community and held true to his "Classroom Without Walls" experiential approach for his entire career.

Vic Passante can guide you and your students through similar experiences. He can connect you and your students to the arts in a city...or country of your choice.

YOU may be the next one crowned The Field Trip King or Queen at your school.