The Socorro Independent School District was one of 14 school districts in the state recently awarded the Texas Thespians Premier Communities for Theatre Education Award, leading the way in fine arts education in the El Paso region.
The award recognizes and honors school districts that provide theater programs with the resources to achieve above standard, as rooted in the Educational Theatre Association’s Opportunity to Learn Standards, Texas Theatre Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts (TEKS), and support of International Thespian Society Troupe involvement.
“We are honored to be recognized by Texas Thespians for our commitment to providing our students a high-quality fine arts education,” said SISD Fine Arts Director Armando Martinez. “This award validates Socorro ISD’s dedication to offering students ample opportunities to showcase their talents in the performing arts across the region and beyond.”
To qualify for the award, Socorro ISD answered detailed questions about curriculum, scheduling standards, class sizes, facilities, theater safety, technical equipment, production elements, overall support for the theater program, and thespian troupe involvement. Responses were verified and reviewed by Texas theater education specialists.
Research on theater education continues to demonstrate numerous educational benefits across student populations, student age levels, and learning environments. Theater education provides several social benefits including teamwork skills, how to give and receive constructive criticism, problem-solving, trust, cooperation, and collaboration. Additionally, theater education helps students develop a strong sense of self, build empathy and understanding amongst peers, and broaden their knowledge of the world around them while preparing them for future careers.
About Texas Thespians
Texas Thespians, an affiliate chapter of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), is the largest chapter in the nation. The Texas Thespians chapter provides local, state, and regional support for adult members, Thespians, and Junior Thespians. With over 600 troupes, Texas Thespians represent over 16,000 middle school and high school students. Texas Thespians, named an EdTA Gold Honor Chapter, offers educational festivals, workshops, and competitions for students, as well as conferences and professional development for teachers and administrators. 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 about Texas Thespians, please visit www.texasthespians.org.