Mr. Payne currently instructs I.B. Theatre, Intermediate Theatre and Introduction to Theatre. Before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, he served as chair for the Department of Theatre at Salt Lake High School for the Performing Arts. At SLSPA, he taught Acting II-III, Playwriting, Directing, Movement for the Actor, Voice for the Actor while leading the Theatre Conservatory.  Michael also served as theatre chair, Fine Arts Coordinator and IB Theatre instructor for Classen High School of Advanced Studied, the performing arts magnet school in Oklahoma City.  His career in teaching and directing began at Skyline High School in the Dallas Independent School District in Dallas, Texas. Regionally, he has directed with the Dallas Theater Center, Soul Repertory Theatre, Dallas Children's Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park's-Young Company, Plano Children's Theatre, Carpenter Square Theatre, The Cynthia Poteet Theatre and Pinnacle Acting Company. He has also held the position of Program Manager of Education at the Dallas Theatre Center. Michael has led workshops in differentiated instruction (DI), fine arts assessment, arts integration and designed district-led curriculum for Keller ISD, Salt Lake City Public Schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools, The International Schools of Theatre and for DISD.

He holds a B.A. in Acting and a M.Ed. in Theatre Education (Directing). He has also been a teaching mentor and supervisor for the National Urban Teacher Preparation Academy at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma where he also taught as an adjunct instructor, Acting/Directing. For twelve years, Michael was a proud board member of The Oklahoma Arts Alliance/Council. He is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT: EAYA-Arts and Communication) and holds licensures in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma and Texas.

Awards for Teaching and Directing includes: Salt Lake City Public Schools Teaching Legacy Award, SLSPA’s Spirit of Excellence in Teaching, Oklahoma City Public Schools-Teacher of the Year and named to the Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year panel. Additional teaching awards includes: Teacher of the Year for the Masonic Fraternity and the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.  Michael Payne is also the recipient of the Oklahoma State (Kennedy Center Partner) Teacher of the Year for Fine Arts.