Set Teacher Interview Series: Wissam Nasr
We’re back with the latest in our Set Teacher Interview Series! After our conversations with set teachers Stacey Hirn and Margaret Cox, we decided to continue these discussions about working and educating on set with New York City set teacher Wissam Nasr.
About Wissam: Wissam Nasr began his career in education in 1997 as a writing instructor at LaGuardia Community College. In 2000, he was awarded Amnesty International's Bunche Fellowship to write a death penalty curriculum before moving on to become a NYC teaching fellow. In 2004, he left the classroom to lead a civil rights organization, where he was later awarded a Coro New Leaders Fellowship. In 2007 he began work at the United Nations as a researcher, diplomatic advisor, and civil affairs officer. In 2010, after taking another change of career due to the recession, he became the national director of an event marketing agency and managed over three hundred employees.
Wissam returned to teaching full-time in 2016 after succeeding in business. He has been with OLE full time since 2017. Most recently, he has taught history and business in several New York City public high schools in Manhattan. He is certified by New York State to teach social studies, business, and students with disabilities. Wissam has two master’s degrees: an M.A. in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University and an M.S. in Education from Queens College in New York.
You’ve had such an exciting and inspiring career – how did you find set teaching, and how has working for OLE varied from previous teaching opportunities?
Well, I’ve always dreamt of being on Broadway. Ok, maybe not as a tutor, but in a very real way I am definitely made to feel like I am an important part of every production. I first found out about On Location Education when I was working as a high school teacher in New York City’s theater district. Once a week, I would go to a Broadway show. One night, I met another teacher at a show whose wife had worked as a set teacher at that very theater. I investigated a bit further and found out about OLE. I wanted a change at the time: to experience teaching in a more non-traditional setting and to know my students better. My first job in education was as a writing tutor at LaGuardia Community College, so working one-on-one and in small group settings was really like returning to my first love.
As I expected, working for OLE has been different in a lot of ways from classroom teaching. A classroom teacher thrives on routine in the classroom. When you’re on location, the situation is fluid, and there are a lot of variables. You can have students of any age, must be prepared to assist them with almost any subject, and have to deal with many starts and stops throughout the work day. In some ways, ironically, there may be more similarities when viewed through my time as a special education teacher, in that when I am tutoring on set, I am very much constructing an individualized educational program for them in my head as we go along, at least on the micro-level, and assessing and engaging their academic talents in the short time we have together.
What has your experience been like working on a variety of New York-based shows, including Law and Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, and Billions?
Like many set teachers, I have worked in theater , as well as on TV productions, movies, and commercials. One thing that is universal is the level of professionalism shown to me by the production crew, no matter how small or large the production. They’ve always been, without exception, very concerned about the child actors getting their required hours of instruction. Another universal thing is that the students are all talented and driven and they enjoy school on set, as it provides a respite from the pressures of acting and a welcomed break to an often-taxing work day. .
You’ve worked on projects in several different entertainment mediums. How does the experience differ, for example, between television and live theatre (or another medium)?
Tutoring formats differ for each medium; theater projects tend to have blocked hours for tutoring. That’s because performances and rehearsals have predictable hours. TV and movie productions are often the opposite, with tutoring occurring on and off throughout the whole day. They may be shooting outdoors, lighting may play a part, and you can find yourself reporting to set at 4 or 5 am. You may have to spend the entire day in a small trailer. It’s not always easy, but the crew around you is sacrificing just as much and making tremendous efforts at times in order to accommodate the needs of students and teachers.
My own preference is theater, and only for one small reason: My theater students often sing while we’re together. That couldn’t really happen in a classroom without disrupting other students’ concentration. I strive to create an atmosphere where actors can be themselves, and one that keeps with the spirit of excitement young people feel when they’re working in entertainment. Those are the great intangibles of my job and why I love teaching on set. I love the singing and the joy it brings to my job.
What is your favorite part about this work, and what is the biggest challenge you face while set teaching?
My favorite part of this work is always the introductory phase with the student. That’s when I get to know them and build rapport. I do that by asking them lots of questions about their interests. We’ll take ten minutes and Google topics they are interested in. They teach me about what they already know and what they are currently excited about. That way, we lay the groundwork for our relationship together. The priority is to make them feel comfortable. If you allow kids the opportunity to share themselves with you and share their love of something, they will gladly listen when it’s your turn. Young people are very reciprocal. They can sense when an adult respects them and their opinions and will usually respond accordingly.
How have you grown as an educator through your work as a set teacher?
As an educator, I’ve grown with OLE. That’s because tutoring is a much more personal experience. In fact, I find it astonishing that I can develop a better relationship with a student in one or two days on set than I did with the majority of students I taught in a school. Classrooms have an excess of thirty students sometimes, and it’s hard to devote hours to just one student. Tutoring on set makes the formula for good teaching that much clearer; good teachers can connect with a student and develop strong relationships with each one.
We’re thrilled to have Wissam Nasr and our global community of teachers who are making education possible during this pandemic. Whether we’re sending teachers to sets around the world or setting them up for virtual learning, OLE remains committed to fostering high-quality academic experiences that are always customized for the specific needs of our students.
Are you in need of educational assistance or seeking new solutions for the fall? We’re here to help. On Location Education and The School for Young Performers are thrilled to mobilize our stellar roster of teachers like Wissam and offer the following virtual learning services:
ONLINE SUBJECT-SPECIFIC TUTORING (The online equivalent of “after-school tutoring”)
ONLINE CORE ACADEMIC TEACHING (Teacher guided “homeschooling”)
ONLINE ACADEMIC COACHING (Academic support and organizational guidance to aid your child’s studies)
FULL PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (A customized private education through The School for Young Performers)
To learn more about these offerings and how we can help you and your family navigate the months ahead, visit our virtual learning offerings page.
We continue to wish you health and happiness throughout these difficult times.
-The team at On Location Education