Jones-Koumba Receives NABSE’s Mary McLeod Bethune Educator of the Year Award; Houston Academy Named a National Demonstration School

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Carver High School’s theater director, Roshunda Jones-Kuomba, and Principal Dr. Cedric Stewart of Houston Academy have much to be proud of. Last weekend, they were bestowed awards at the National Alliance of Black School Educators Conference in New Orleans, LA.

Jones-Koumba received the Mary McLeod Bethune Educator of the Year Award. The Mary McLeod Bethune Outstanding Teacher Award is bestowed upon teachers whose innovative teaching techniques have increased student achievement through demonstrating unparalleled commitment and innovation toward enhancing classroom instruction quality.

Jones-Koumba received the 2022 Excellence in Theatre Education Award from Carnegie Mellon University during the Tony Awards® at Radio City Music Hall. Earlier this year, she was inducted Into the EBONY Power 100 Class of Honorees.

Jones-Koumba is currently in her 20th year of education. She has dedicated all those years to AISD students, especially her theater students at Carver High School for Engineering, Applied Technology, and The Arts. In 2020, Jones-Koumba was inducted into the Texas Thespians Hall of Fame and received the inaugural Arts Educator of the Year from the TUTS Leading Ladies organization. She was the Texas Educational Theatre Association’s 2017 Educator of the Year and Aldine ISD Carver High School’s teacher of the year in 2009 and 2014. As the Carver Panther Players Director, the troupe has been successful on the state and national level at UIL One-Act Play (OAP) contests, Tommy Tune Awards, Texas Thespians State, and International Thespian Festival. Most recently, Jones-Koumba received the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award and the International Thespian Society Inspirational Theatre Educator Award. The ASCAP Foundation presented the Stephen Schwartz Award. The award represents the highest level of achievement for a middle or high school theatre teacher.

Jones-Koumba is a Board member for Texas Thespians, the Black Theatre Educators’ Caucus, and the UIL OAP Advisory Committee.

NABSE named Houston Academy a National Demonstration School. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) magnet Choice School option for Aldine ISD students has earned numerous Magnet Schools of America honors, Including School of Distinction Awards (2006, 2009, and 2015) and School of Excellence Awards (2007 and 2022). Principal Cedric Stewart, recently named the HAABSE Principal of the Year, was recognized for his leadership. He and fellow National Demonstration School Award recipients participated in the NABSE National Demonstration Schools Panel, “Improving Student Outcomes by Sharing Best Practices and Innovative Strategies to Meet the Needs of Today’s Students.” Stewart shared his leadership style and best practices that consistently show what is possible for all students every single day.

Learn more about NABSE.