Ex. Faculty |
MS. EVELYN JONES | ||
Evelyn
Jones: Honors for a dramatic lady!
by Linda Stephens, Staff Writer --
Monahans News -- February 6, 2004
When Evelyn Jones stepped forward to receive the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award at last month's Monahans school board meeting, it was one more honor in a long list of accolades for the Monahans High School English and drama teacher.
In 20 plus years of directing one-act play at MHS, she has advanced from district 6 times, from area six times, and from regional to state once in 1995.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the sponsor for the Drama Club and coaches UIL Prose and Poetry Interpretation and Extemporaneous Speaking.
She has had 22 regional qualifiers in prose and poetry and extemporaneous speaking, numerous state qualifiers and many of her students have received drama scholarships to attend college.
Two of her students, Natalie Zea and Jesse Rodriguez, have made a career in drama. Ms. Zea, who went to National Competition in Dramatic Interpretation in TFA and was a regional qualifier in Poetry three years, is a successful, professional actress and Rodriguez is assistant costumer at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
But it doesn't stop there. Ms. Jones' efforts extend into the community as well. In 1985 she directed, "This West Texas Country," an original drama about Ward County written for the Texas Sesquicentennial, which, in addition to several performances in the community, she took to a sister city of Balaklava, Australia.
This past fall she directed musical, "Annie," with a cast and crew of Ward County citizens.
The nomination process was begun by fellow teacher Francis Curry in 2002 with the whole-hearted approval of then-Supt. Cliff Stephens and MHS Principal Kellye Riley. A follow-up to that nomination submitted in 2003 resulted in Ms. Jones reception of the prestigious award, which is given to only 15 sponsors throughout the state each year.
It was an honor Supt. Keith Richardson was proud to have come to a teacher in his district.
"What it shows is the kind of quality teachers we have in Monahans," he said. "I thought it was great that UIL took the opportunity to come out themselves and present the awards. That also says something about how important the state thinks the award is."
"Ms. Jones is a tremendous asset to Monahans High School and the students it serves,'" added Mrs. Riley. "She is definitely deserving of this award due to the time, effort and dedication she continually provides to her students and the One-Act process. We are extremely proud to have a MHS teacher as a recipient of the very prestigious award."
"The greatest obstacle in achieving success in theater in a small West Texas town is the lack of contact with cultural experiences in the performing arts," wrote Mrs. Curry in making the nomination. "Ms. Jones provides her students with challenging plays to perform and with exceptional direction in the art and craft of theatre production, in front of and behind the curtain."
She cited the Holocaust play, "An Uncertain Hour," based on the lives of real people. In the process of researching the characters, the cast began communicating with the playwright, who came from his university teaching position in New England to speak directly to these students and attend their banquet.
In 2001 the teacher was honored with a reunion banquet celebrating 20 years teaching drama in Monahans.
Former students came from near and far to praise their mentor and relive some of the highlights of years gone by.
Two years into the next decade, and Ms. Jones shows no signs of slowing down. The 2003 One-Act play was alternate at Area and 2004 has just begun.