Texas drama teacher Roshunda Jones-Koumba has been announced as the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Theatre Education Award, presented to a K-12 theater educator by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University.
Jones-Koumba teaches at G. W. Carver Magnet High School in Houston. In addition, she serves as a director at the G. W. Carver Theatre, where the Panther Players have earned national recognition, including multiple Tommy Tune Awards.
Jones-Koumba herself has won the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award and the International Thespian Society Inspirational Theatre Educator Award. Recently, she was inducted into the Texas Thespians Hall of Fame.
Co-founded in 2014, the Excellence in Theatre Education Award is presented by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University, honoring a theater educator’s accomplishments. A panel of theater experts, along with recommendations and endorsements from peers and students on behalf of the educator, help determine a recipient.
The 2019 winner was Madeline Michel from Charlottesville, Va. The award was not given during the pandemic.
“Our students are doing amazing things. Many are working actors on stage and on television; some are continuing their education; some are pursuing careers outside of performing. In theatre we accept all, so you’re not afraid to be yourself. 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,” Jones-Koumba said. “Theatre is Life. I’m very grateful to The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University for this honor.”
Jones-Koumba will be recognized during the 75th annual Tony Awards on June 12.
