Every Classroom Is a Stage: Drama Teacher Wins State Award

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Mike Thomas, left, warms up backstage at the UARK Ballroom with fellow improv artists Cassie Self, middle, and Jules Taylor.

For junior high drama teacher Mike Thomas, teaching is like performing six shows a day with a captive audience.

But the actor and playwright also gets onto the professional stage regularly with Ceramic Cow, a local theater group, and last year he penned an Arkansas history play that is touring the state. He crossed a different kind of stage this spring when he accepted the honor of Arkansas teacher of the year from the Daughters of the American Revolution in Little Rock.

Thomas recorded another milestone this summer when he completed a Master of Education degree in secondary education by attending classes at night and during the summer over the past four years.

Read this story on the Colleague news site of the College of Education and Health Professions.