An area school administrator has been recognized with an award from a national nonprofit organization.
A news release says Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) recognizes outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in their role as a school administrator, demonstrating exemplary support for educational theatre. This year’s Administrator’s Awards go to three administrators, including Wade Norton, principal at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia.
EdTA is the home of the International Thespian Society (ITS) an honor society for middle and high school theatre students, which has inducted more than 2.3 million members into Thespian troupes since 1929.
Smith-Cotton High School is home to Thespian Troupe 4261, and Norton is dedicated to the needs of his students.
The release says “He has maintained a strong relationship with the theatre program since becoming principal in 2013. His support for theatre education is evident in his words and actions as he attends both performances and rehearsals. Principal Norton has also worked to improve the financial support of productions, enabling the tremendous growth from one production every other year to seven productions in the 2018-19 school year. He sees the value of theatre, both on stage and off, and continually works to support any path that his students may take after graduation.”

Photo provided by the Educational Theatre Association.