McAuley receives national recognition as a Premier Community for Theatre Education

Mother McAuley has been named a Premier Community for Theatre Education, a national distinction presented by the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) to schools that demonstrate exceptional achievement in providing meaningful, high quality theatre education and access for all students. 

The EdTA Premier School recognition honors communities that prioritize theatre education by investing in the people, resources, and support systems that help students thrive through the arts. McAuley is one of only 15 schools to receive this three-year recognition this year, and the only in the Chicagoland area.

To qualify for the distinction, McAuley completed a comprehensive application documenting its support for theatre education in areas including funding, curriculum, instructional time, facilities, student participation, teacher development and evaluation, and overall institutional commitment to the program. All responses were verified with official documentation and reviewed by the Educational Theatre Association. 

Research continues to highlight the educational and social-emotional benefits of participating in school theatre. Studies have shown that students involved in theatre programs can develop stronger confidence, creativity, collaboration, resilience, responsibility, and a deeper sense of belonging. Drama-based instruction has also been shown to help students make stronger connections to academic content, while 95% of school administrators believe that theatre experiences improve students’ overall academic skills.  

“Theatre education gives students the opportunity to discover their voice, build confidence, and develop skills that serve them for life,” said Jay Gerlach, Interim Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association. “This recognition celebrates communities that understand theatre is not extracurricular in the traditional sense, but an essential part of a well-rounded education.”

About the Educational Theatre Association 

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) is an international nonprofit that serves as the professional association for theatre educators. EdTA is the parent organization of the International Thespian Society, the honor society for theatre students that has inducted more than 2.5 million Thespians since 1929, and the Educational Theatre Foundation, the organization’s philanthropic arm dedicated to broadening representation and increasing access to school theatre for all students. Visit schooltheatre.org to learn how EdTA inspires theatre educators to transform lives.