Esther Ready, who grew up in Oberlin, never imagined that an education from Fort Hays State University would lead her to work on national TV shows like Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow. As a young woman in the 1970s, with television not yet a recognized career path for her, she pursued a degree in education.
Ready graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in music in 1974 and a master’s in special education–learning disabilities in 1977. After teaching for several years, Ready found a position with PBS in Kansas City and shifted her focus to children’s television/media.
An urge to further her career in a larger city prompted Ready to apply for jobs nationwide in the mid-1980s. When she received an offer from New York City’s PBS station, she moved to pursue her dream. Over the years, Ready has worked in children’s media worldwide with companies like Scholastic and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Now retired, Ready consults for independent TV productions and fuels her love of music through church choir, harmony groups, and as a backup singer in a rock band. She lives in New York City with her husband, David Chomowicz, an Emmy award winning TV art director, and their son, Nick, a music producer and composer.
Ready encourages students to explore the opportunities available at Fort Hays State and to “find their fire.” That passion, paired with an education from FHSU, can change lives.