Jan. 24, 2025—CFISD has earned the Texas Thespians Premier Communities for Theatre Education Award for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes and honors school districts that provide theatre programs with resources to achieve above standard ratings, as rooted in Educational Theatre Association’s Opportunity to Learn Standards, Texas Theatre Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Fine Arts and support of International Thespian Society Troupe involvement.

To qualify for the prestigious award, CFISD answered detailed questions about curriculum, scheduling standards, class sizes, facilities, theatre safety, technical equipment, production elements, overall support for the district theatre program and Thespian troupe involvement. Responses were verified and reviewed by Texas Theatre Education specialists.

“Our district is incredibly proud to be recognized as a Premier Community for Theatre Education by Texas Thespians for the second year in a row,” said Kelley Hughes, coordinator of secondary fine arts. “This honor reflects the outstanding talent, creativity and dedication of our theatre educators, who pour their hearts into building exceptional programs for our students. Thank you to each and every one of our theatre teachers for their hard work, passion and commitment to fostering a love for the arts. You are truly making a difference in the lives of our students and in our community.”

Texas Thespians, an affiliate chapter of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), is the largest chapter in the nation. With more than 600 troupes, Texas Thespians represents more than 16,000 middle school and high school students. Texas Thespians offers educational festivals, workshops and competitions for students, as well as conferences and professional development for teachers and administrators.

“Being a former CFISD student makes this recognition as a Premier Community for Theatre Education by Texas Thespians even more special,” said Michelle Nguyen-Le, head theatre director at Cypress Ridge High School. “This honor reflects our commitment to fostering creativity, collaboration and excellence in theatre education. Now, as a teacher, I’m so grateful to give my students the same opportunities that inspired me. Such opportunities also aided in my professional development to serve on the Texas Thespians Chapter Board, allowing me to advocate for theatre students across Texas and champion the arts as a vital part of education. It’s an honor to help support and grow theatre education in our state. Together, we are shaping the next generation of storytellers, leaders and innovators.”