For the second year in a row, the Ysleta Independent School District has won the Premier Communities for Theatre Education Award from the Texas Thespians for the district’s exceptional commitment to theatre education and student achievement.
This honor not only celebrates the excellence of the district’s theatre arts programs, but also its ongoing investment to provide students and teachers with the resources they need to sustain thriving theatre programs.
Bringing the Arts to Life
The Premier Communities for Theatre Education designation reflects the passion and skill of Ysleta ISD’s theatre educators — who inspire creativity and confidence in students every day — as well as the leadership of campus and district administrators whose support helps theatre arts flourish across our schools.
Research has demonstrated that theatre education delivers lasting academic and social benefits for students of all ages. By engaging in theatre, experts say students build teamwork, problem-solving, trust, cooperation, and communication skills while developing self-confidence, empathy, a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Raising the Bar in Theatre Education
To qualify for the award, Ysleta ISD staff answered detailed questions on numerous topics, including curriculum; scheduling standards; class sizes; facilities; theatre safety; technical equipment; production elements; overall support for the theatre program; and Thespian troupe involvement.
Texas Thespians is the largest chapter in the nation of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). This educational honor society provides local, state, and regional support for adult members, Thespians, and Junior Thespians, representing more than 16,000 middle- and high-school students with more than 600 troupes.
As an affiliate of the International Thespian Society, Texas Thespians follows the national model for promoting excellence in theatre education and student achievement. For more information, visit www.texasthespians.org.