Maine Student Earns Credit with ELO: Writes, Directs, Stars in Own Musical
Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) are delivering new opportunities for Maine students by allowing them to follow their passions, learn vital life skills, and impact their communities while earning high school credit outside the traditional classroom.
Meet Hadley Johnson, a senior at Cape Elizabeth High School. She's not your average student—she's a creative powerhouse. With the support and guidance of the school's ELO program, she earned academic credit for her musical, where she wrote the music, lyrics, and book for the musical "Afterthought" while also taking on the roles of director, choreographer, and lead actress.
Hadley and her classmate Eliza Green created the idea for "Afterthought" in middle school. It's about two childhood friends navigating their paths into adulthood. Hadley said it's a story that speaks to everyone, not just high schoolers.
"Because I'm a high schooler who wrote it, people might be thinking it's mainly for teenagers or for high schoolers," Hadley told the Portland Press Herald. "And I think it definitely speaks to that audience, but I'm hoping it reaches parents or people who've ever been in a relationship or people who have pursued the arts. My hope is that it resonates with a lot of people."
Hadley's ELO journey started as a junior at Cape Elizabeth High School. She'd been working on "Afterthought" for years, crafting the script and composing songs. The school's ELO program gave her dedicated time to work on her musical during her school day. This structure allowed her to balance academics with creativity.
The ELO program was instrumental in Hadley's journey. It provided consistent mentorship and support. Her ELO Coordinators, Sarah Plummer and Lauren Tarantino, guided her through challenges and offered different perspectives.
"We helped her through some challenging dynamics, and in class, she would run ideas by us and talk through different situations or challenges. Whenever she had a qualm or concern about any aspect of the show, she knew she could come to us for support, guidance, or simply another pair of eyes," Tarantino said.
Plummer and Tarantino helped Hadley with script finalization, organizational tasks, grant funding, logistics, community outreach, and more. The ELO program did more than assist practically. It helped Hadley develop advocacy skills, seek help when overwhelmed, and delegate effectively—skills she'll need beyond high school.
Hadley's achievements left an impact on her peers and educators. "Students are in awe of what she has accomplished, as are we! The other students in her class periods, both this year and last year, have benefited from hearing about and witnessing her process. She has also benefitted from being part of small group communities of other students going through very different creative projects of their own," Tarantino said.
JMG, through a statewide partnership with the Maine Department of Education, supports ELO Coordinators like Plummer and Tarantino. They've received help in developing their program components, attended statewide and regional conferences, and are grateful for JMG's ongoing support. "I know we can count on JMG support and its well-developed resources to help us as we continue to grow. Our ELO program would not be where it is today without the support of JMG. We are grateful and excited for the relationship to continue far into the future," Plummer said.
As Hadley takes the stage in "Afterthought," we celebrate her talent, dedication, and the role her ELO played in her journey. Her story shows that passion, persistence, and educational support can help students thrive.