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A drama teacher in the Aldine Independent School District (AISD) will make the trip to New York City to be recognized at this year's Tony Awards, according to an Associated Press (AP) report that was ran by Houston CBS affiliate KHOU.
Roshunda Jones-Koumba, the theater director at AISD's G.W. Carver Magnet High School, will receive the 2022 Excellence in Theatre Education Award on June 12, per the report.
The AP reported that the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University annually present the honor to kindergarten to 12th grade teachers in the U.S. for demonstrating "monumental impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession.”
"We couldn't be more proud to partner with @TheTonyAwards to present Roshunda Jones-Koumba of @CarverHS_AISD the 2022 Excellence in Theatre Education Award," the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon said in a tweet. "Arts education changes lives."
It was Jones-Koumba's belief that musical theater unites everyone that helped her win the special Tony Award, per the AP.
“In theater we accept all, so you’re not afraid to be yourself," she said in a statement. "And that gives you confidence to do anything you want, enables you to work with different people and to be a better all-around person. Theatre is life. I’m very grateful to the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University for this honor.”
Aside from the distinction of being a Tony Award winner, the report said, Jones-Koumba will also receive a $10,000 prize and two tickets to the Tony ceremony and gala.
The accolade will join the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award and the International Thespian Society Inspirational Theatre Educator Award she won last year, the AP reported.