Jason Paris​

A 1993 graduate of Alva High School, Jason Paris is an award-winning educator, playwright, and director. He holds a Master’s Degree in Directing from New York University and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from NWOSU. He is the founding director of Pavement Ends Studios, an independent theatre company that has produced shows in New York and, most recently, in Red River, New Mexico.

As a playwright, Jason won New York City’s 2017 Midtown International Theatre Festival with his play Locker Room Talk and has had several works produced in New York City and regionally. As an educator, he sits on the OSSAA Speech/Theatre Advisory Committee, and has directed six state championship one-act plays. Last year, he was named the OSSAA/NFHS Oklahoma Speech/Theatre Teacher of the Year. He is a past recipient of the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education’s Outstanding Drama Teacher Award, the West Oklahoma NSDA Charlene Burton Coaching Award, the OSSAA 3A Coach of the Year Award, and the OSTCA Young Speech Educator of the Year Award. 

Jason teaches Fine and Performing Arts classes at Cherokee High School. He has two incredible nieces and two outstanding nephews; and he was recently adopted by a stray cat, which is itself now available for adoption.