There’s no single path to becoming a great teacher. Some educators start in traditional classrooms, others arrive after careers that shaped them in unexpected ways. For Atlanta-area teacher Allison Fisher, that path began on Broadway. This is where discipline, preparation, and the ability to connect with an audience laid the foundation for the educator she would later become. Check out our Q&A with Allison to hear about her path to becoming a teacher.
Plus, follow Allison on Instagram. She’s always bringing fun, dance, and enthusiasm to her posts!
Q: What was your experience on Broadway?
I made my Broadway debut in the musical Chicago. I played Mona—she’s the one with “artistic differences.” Before doing the show on Broadway, I had performed with the international touring company of Chicago as well as doing the show on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Chicago is such a special show because it truly is an ensemble piece. While performing the show around the world and on Broadway was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, what really stands out for me are the friendships and memories made while doing these shows. Performing this show is how I met my husband, explored new areas of the world, and met some of my dearest friends.
Q: What inspired you to transition from Broadway to the classroom?
My husband and I were living in NYC. I was always on the road (I did the national tour of La Cage Aux Folles and Chicago) and he was in advertising. We kept saying that if I could just get on Broadway and he could land a job at a great ad agency, everything would be great.
Well, that finally happened, but we became passing ships in the night. He would work all day and I’d already be at the theater before he even got home. Monday was the only day of the week we could have dinner together. I missed numerous friends’ weddings, family vacations, birthday parties, and all the things people do on weekends and when they can take a week off of work. So we decided we needed a big change and we both quit our jobs, packed up our life, and moved to Atlanta. This ended up being the best decision we could have ever made.
Once we got settled in Atlanta, I started teaching dance classes at a local dance studio. I realized how much I love working with kids and helping them learn something new. So, I got an assistant teacher job at the Atlanta Speech School, where I worked with preschool-age children. I absolutely loved being back in a school environment and immediately wanted to learn as much as I could about education and, specifically, working with children with disabilities. I applied to Teach for America, was accepted, and began teaching 1st grade in Atlanta while also pursuing my master’s degree in special education.
Q: What do you teach now, and what drew you to it?
I am currently a special education teacher. This year I am working with 4th and 5th graders in a small-group setting where we do ELA and math together. I absolutely love it. I love having a small group of students because it enables me to get to know them very well. I have taught most of my students for a few years, and it’s really special and rewarding to watch your students grow year after year.
There is no better feeling than helping a child grow their confidence and watching those “light bulb moments” when they start to understand a new concept. Plus, when you teach special ed, there are no boring days. My kids keep me on my toes and laughing every day. I genuinely have so much fun with my kiddos.
Q: What skills from Broadway translate into your classroom?
Honestly, teaching is basically putting on a show every day. I use so many of the skills I learned while performing in the classroom. Keeping my students/audience engaged, improvising when schedules change, storytelling as we read books or talk about historical events, modeling for my students how to stand in front of a group of people with confidence … the list goes on and on. Plus, I love to sing and dance in class as much as I can (much to my 4th and 5th graders’ chagrin). I also put on a play in class with my students each year.
Q: You create fun dances and engaging content on Instagram—what’s the inspiration behind that?
My husband had been encouraging me for years to start some sort of social media account, and I always shrugged it off. But then COVID hit and I just decided to give it a try.
At first I thought I would only share tips for navigating the special education system and teaching your child how to read. But I wasn’t really getting much traction. Then I posted something lighthearted and funny and it really took off. Plus, I had a lot more fun making that video than I had any of the other more informational ones, so I stuck with it. And wow, am I so glad I did.
It has really turned into something that not only really fulfills me and is truly enjoyable for me, but also has introduced me to a whole community of fellow teachers, parents, and other people in education. My goal with each reel or post is to bring a smile to someone’s face or make someone feel like they’re not alone in what they’re feeling or struggling with.
Q: Are you still involved in performing today?
I have actually just started to audition again! I was pretty wobbly at my first audition, but I’m slowly getting more and more comfortable. I’ve continued to take dance classes, which I absolutely love, and I still teach dance classes every now and then. I’m hoping I can do a show or two in 2026. It’s hard to find the time as a full-time teacher and mom of two, but I’ve also learned that taking time to do what you love and that brings you joy is always worth it.
Q: Why teaching?
I stay in the classroom because of the kids. The relationships that I build with my students mean everything to me. Plus, I genuinely just love school. I always have. And I’m a firm believer that education is the key to success and that every child is entitled to a good and meaningful education.
Teaching gives me the best of both worlds. I feel very passionate about it and it’s a job that brings me a lot of joy, but it also allows me to spend a lot of time with my family and prioritize other things in my life besides my career.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge or surprise in your transition from stage to school?
Teaching is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, hands down. Nothing can prepare you for the stress and heartache of teaching. Yes, behaviors can be hard, but the hardest part for me is the children who come to school hungry, or are living in poverty, or are so far behind academically that no matter what you do or how hard you try, that gap may never be filled.
As teachers, we become so invested in our students, and it’s hard to not be able to control everything. Teaching has tested my determination, my patience, and my confidence in myself more than performing ever did.
Q: What advice would you give to someone with a creative background who is considering teaching?
I would say that teaching will be second nature for them. They will be a natural at keeping things fun and engaging for their students. I would also say to be a student yourself. Learn as much as you can from the veteran teachers around you. Teaching is so much more than presenting to a group of students. It’s behavior management, it’s learning when to push and when to back down, it’s managing conflict, it’s extreme multitasking, and there are a lot of people depending on you to do your job and to do it well.
Q: Anything else you’d like readers to know?
People always ask me why I would ever leave a Broadway show to become a teacher. To a lot of people, it seems I took a step backward instead of forward. But what people have to remember is that our dreams can (and sometimes should) change. We’re always told to “dream big,” but we aren’t always prepared for everything that comes along with a dream being realized.
I will never regret going after my dream of being on Broadway, and I am incredibly proud of that accomplishment. But as we grow and change as human beings, so do our priorities and dreams. I am very happy living out this second dream of having a family, being a teacher, and being a small part of what shapes our next generation.
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