John is currently the Department Chair for Theatre Arts at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, a position he has held since August 2012. A Latrobe native and graduate of Greensburg Central Catholic, Mr. Teacher attended Lock Haven University where he earned a BA in Theatre Arts. Upon graduation, he worked locally in community and educational theatre before moving to become the City of Dublin Ohio’s first Technical Director in the Dublin Community Theater, whose final construction and opening he helped oversee. Mr. Teacher then accepted the position of Technical Director at Juniata College, where he was a member of the building committee for the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts before enrolling at Virginia Tech where he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts.
He then acquired a position with The University of Pittsburgh, first as an adjunct at Pitt Greensburg, where he met and collaborated with other members of StoryZ, and then at Pitt Johnstown where he directs, designs, builds, and teaches. He has also had considerable professional experience collaborating with organizations such as Squonk Opera, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Ash Lawn Opera (now Charlottesville Opera), The State Theatre of Johnstown, and Cresson Lake Playhouse; in addition to freelance design and direction work.