Heroic Florida drama teacher to get special Tony Award

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School drama teacher Melody Herzfeld will be the recipient of the Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education. Photo / AP

An award that honours United States educators is being made to a drama teacher who picks her high school's shows, builds the sets, hems the costumes - and nurtured many of the young people demanding change after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Melody Herzfeld, the one-woman drama department at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, will be presented with the award this week.

"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."

Herzfeld saved 65 lives by barricading students into a classroom closet on Valentine's Day when police say a former student went on a rampage, killing 17 people.

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

The annual honour recognises 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".

The award includes a US$10,000 ($14,300) prize.

Herzfeld said she should take little credit for shaping her teenage students, as she just laid the foundation by insisting that honesty - onstage and off - be a guiding principle.

"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.

"I want them to feel confident enough to call out any adult, any bureaucrat, any politician, anyone, even their teacher. They need to speak truth to power."

Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said Herzfeld was a great example of so many teachers doing great work under all kinds of difficult circumstances.

- AP