This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The special Tony award that honors educators this year will go to the drama teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school who picks the school shows, builds the sets, hems the costumes – and defended her teenage students during the school shooting earlier this year.



Melody Herzfeld, the one-woman drama department at the school in Parkland, Florida, will be presented with the award onstage 10 June at the Tony telecast.

She teaches many of the Parkland students who survived the 14 February mass shooting at their school and, almost overnight, created a new gun control grassroots movement led by young people.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Herzfeld said. “But I hope that this award will remind everyone of how vital and important arts education is to our kids. Drama, music, art, creative writing that’s how you make good citizens.”

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Herzfeld saved 65 lives by barricading students into a small classroom closet on Valentine’s Day when a former student went on the rampage, resulting in the deaths of 17 people.

She then later led encouragement as many of her pupils led the nationwide movement for gun reform, including organizing the March For Our Lives demonstration and the charity single Shine.

The annual honor bestowed by the Tony awards and Carnegie Mellon University recognizes US educators from kindergarten to 12th grade who have “demonstrated monumental impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession”.

A panel of judges comprised of the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon and other leaders from the theater industry selects the winner, based on candidates submitted by the public.

Herzfeld spoke to the value of drama and the arts in school, saying: “These kids are so close to adulthood they can taste it, but they don’t have all the responsibilities of adulthood yet. So it’s important to give them a safe place where they can fail or experiment and it doesn’t matter.”

Charlotte St Martin, president of the Broadway League, said: “Arts education teaches leadership, teaches civic involvement, and brings out the best in people, helps them to be better citizens more well-rounded and balanced citizens.”