Miss Cynthia R. King, Head of the Performing and Visual Arts Department, has announced her retirement from Notre Dame Regional High School. As the director of the fall drama and spring musicals, Miss King has dedicated 50 years of service to the students of Notre Dame.

Miss King has taught many students who have continued in the performing and visual arts field including acting on Broadway, set and costume design for theatre and film, and those that have followed in her footsteps teaching theatre. She has made a great impact on many ND alumni.

“Miss King is one of the most influential teachers and mentors I have had in my life. Many of the things she first taught us in sophomore English, quarter courses, term paper and speech class were experienced in real life and reinforced as we rehearsed and performed Annie and Into the Woods on the Notre Dame stage. Miss King helped me understand as a high school student how communication, in all its subtle forms, would be a crucial skill in every aspect of my life. She used her stage to teach so many of us how to put ourselves in the place of other characters and circumstances and imagine how those people may feel, speak, and behave – what a great way to learn empathy,” said Jeff Maurer (’91). “Miss King valued traditions and she cultivated a rich tradition of former cast and crew members who played a role in ND productions over the decades. Miss King is deeply observant of people and understands when a young person needs a shoulder to cry on, or a kick in the backside. She gave me both when I needed them!”

Miss King currently teaches dramatics, stagecraft, English novels, Shakespeare and Acting I. She is responsible for all aspects of production of the fall play and spring musical; including, directing, designing, and working with students in all technical areas. Additionally, Miss King is the moderator of Backstage Blue, Director of International Thespian Honor Society Troupe #6344 and a District Speech Festival judge. She holds a bachelor of science in secondary education from Southeast Missouri State University and is a member of the Educational Theatre Association, Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri, Southeast Missouri English Teachers Association and the National Catholic Educational Association.

As an esteemed educator, Miss King has been honored with several awards over the years. She was presented with the MO-Cape Educator of Achievement award for the 1997-1998 school year, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Missouri Scholars Academy Excellence in Teaching Award, Springfield-Cape Diocesan Distinguished Teacher Award in 2011, and the Southeast Missouri English Teacher’s Association Teacher of the Year in 2017.

In addition to teaching accolades, Miss King was awarded the 2011 Annunciation Award by the NDHS Education Fund Foundation as an individual who has devoted immeasurable time, talent and/or treasure to sustain Catholic Secondary Education. In 2016, the Notre Dame auditorium was dedicated as “Cynthia R. King Performance Hall.”

“It’s been 30 years since I graduated from Notre Dame, and I value the skills and life lessons I learned from Miss King more now than ever. I consider Cindy a friend, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to learn from her and be part of her story – ‘Careful the things you say… children will listen,’” said Maurer.

“For 50 years, Cindy has impacted the lives of so many graduates of Notre Dame. Her name is synonymous with drama at the high school. She is responsible for so many people having a passion for the arts. Thinking of my own time as a student, the musicals bring back some of my most fond moments of high school,” said Principal Tim Garner. “Memories with friends, learning not only how to put on a show, but how to take pride in the craft. Cindy has a lasting legacy at Notre Dame Regional High School and deserves a standing ovation. Thank you, Cindy, for such a wonderful gift of 50 years of service to Notre Dame Regional High School.”

Miss King’s final spring musical will be “Once Upon A Mattress” playing April 7-10.