Chaparral High School Theater Director Samantha Dunaway received the Texas Thespian Golden Apple Award.
“Ms. Dunaway exemplifies the very best of theatre education. Her depth of professional training, commitment to excellence, and passion for student empowerment have elevated the Bobcat Drama program to an exceptional level,” said KISD Fine Arts Director Morganne Davies.
Dunaway leads the Chaparral Bobcat theater department alongside her husband, Chad Moore. The theater directing pair have been at Killeen ISD’s newest high school since it opened in 2022.
Under their leadership, Bobcat Theater has won numerous honors.
At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the Chaparral theater program earned “Gold Level Troupe” status in the International Thespian Society, a first for a KISD theater group.
In November 2024, theater students from three KISD high schools including Chaparral participated in the Texas Thespian State Festival and secured more than $333,000 in scholarship offers, the highest in KISD history.
In November 2025, all five KISD high school theater departments participated in the state festival and combined for more than $1 million in scholarship offers.
Last spring, Chaparral theater’s one-act play, “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing,” advanced to the regional level of competition, setting another standard for KISD theater programs.
This year, for the first time, Chaparral and all the district’s theater programs qualify for the statewide Heller Awards announced in May.
Dunaway holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theater. She and her husband have studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, The Lincoln Center in New York City and the iO and Steppenwolf companies in Chicago.
This is her 15th year in education, and she is ecstatic for the opportunity to continue to grow the Bobcat Drama department.
As a theatre teacher, technical director/stage director, trained contest manager, and TxETA Communications Committee member, she is well versed in UIL theatre competitions and producing quality and equitable shows.
“Through her leadership, students experience rigorous, equitable, and inspiring theatrical opportunities that prepare them for success both on and off the stage,” said Davies.
“The Thespian Golden Apple Award is a well-deserved recognition of her dedication to her craft, her students, and the broader theatre education community.”