Parkway Schools' Fine Arts Chief Wins Best In State

Sandy Collins, Parkway School District's fine arts coordinator was named Outstanding Administrator of the Year (2011) at the Missouri State Thespian Conference Jan. 6-8, in Springfield, MO.

Missouri State Thespians is primarily an educational organization.

The thespians give the award statewide to an administrator who shows continuous support for educational theatre in their school, district and community, according to the organization's website.

It's been 11 years since a Parkway administrator brought home the honor—William Myer from Parkway Central High School in 2000.

Villa Duchesne High School won last year. The Hazelwood School District and Hazelwood High School East brought back the award in 2001 and 2005.

Collins gave the go-ahead to an new all-district high schools musical production this summer, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Students reprised the production for the annual thespian conference last month at Missouri State University, after competing statewide to snag the honor.

Spellling Bee was directed by speech and drama teacher Jennifer Forrest-James of Parkway South High. The cast included 10 students. Another 20 students made up the production team, orchestra and crew.

Four Parkway staff are on the 13-member voting board of Missouri State Thespians. Parkway South's Forrest-James, Parkway West's Amie Gossett, Parkway Southwest Middle's Angela Hetz, and Parkway North's Chad Little.

Parkway North High School student Danielle Feinstein is listed as one of four student board members on the state website.

The following description is from the Missouri State Thespians website.

Missouri State Thespians is affiliated with the Educational Theatre Association and its student organization the International Thespian Society. Established in 1972.
Our purpose has remained the same: to aid in the advancement and improvement of theatre arts in schools in the State of Missouri.
We feature Thespians from all corners of the state who share the same love and passion for theatre.
MO Thespians believe in theatre—especially high school theatre as a vital growing faction of life and education for our students. Drama, compassion, intelligence, humor—all are evident in our high school and college programs.