ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

HALL OF FAME 

FAY E. CUNNINGHAM

AHS Alumni 2024 - Fay E. Cunningham from CCMC on Vimeo.

Following graduation from AHS in 1971, Fay spent a successful time as an elementary teacher. In the early 1980s, she enrolled in a master’s program at Hollins University and earned her advanced degree. In the 1983-1984 school year, she entered Salem High School, directing her first high school play and musical. After the retirement of long-term drama teacher, Laban Johnson, Fay moved to Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke and taught for several years. She ultimately switched to teaching in the gifted program and frequently worked with the Showtimers Community Theatre.

Returning to Albemarle County, Fay began teaching drama and coaching forensics at AHS in 1997, where she would spend the next 23 years as Director of the Drama Department. A constant champion for AHS, she developed numerous film festivals with her drama students and coordinated annual participation in the Dogwood Festival Parade. Her drama and forensics students won countless awards annually at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Her AHS theatrical productions were frequent sell-outs, and provided a platform for countless students to develop their talent in an expertly-run high school setting. Several Broadway actors and actresses honed their craft under Fay Cunningham and have gone on to have very successful careers.

Fay is a past recipient of Teacher of the Year, awarded by The National Speech and Debate Association. She was previously chosen as the Forensics Teacher of the Year and later as the Theatre Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Association of Forensics, Theatre and Debate Coaches. She has also been awarded scholarships to study at Stratford-upon-Avon and at The Globe Theatre. Fay has served as the President for the Virginia Theatre Association and as a member of the VHSL Advisory Committee for Theatre, Forensics, and Debate Coaches.

Recently, Fay worked with Theatre Education Majors at James Madison University and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Shakespeare Education Committee for The English-Speaking Union. She is the Forensics Coach at Madison County High School, where she also recently taught a theatre class. Fay resides in Troy, VA with her husband Greg.

Nominated by David Dillehunt, AHS Alumni Hall of Fame member, and his wife Kristen (AHS '06).