Christina Cornevin was teaching her second- grade reading class when the school principal burst into her classroom.

Playing dramatic music from his laptop and bearing flowers, Principal Charles Llewellyn announced Cornevin as Saint Andrew Catholic School’s teacher of the year.

Cornevin was one of twenty-one honorees to be recognized Saturday at the 26th Annual Celebration of Catholic Schools. The Diocese of Fort Worth held the event Saturday night at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Traditionally, each school in the diocese recognizes one person to be honored at the annual celebration.

Cornevin was honored along with parents, teachers, staff members, benefactors, and volunteers from other schools.

She decided she wanted to become a teacher when she was in the sixth grade but her ultimate aspiration is to act on Broadway. “My very first career that I have always wanted as long as I can remember is acting,” said Cornevin.

She said teaching allows her to have a career that can support her. She combines her love for school; growing up she never wanted to get sick and miss a day of class, and her uncanny ability to relate to kids into intention to teach.

Cornevin earned a bachelor’s degree in theater and a master’s degree in elementary education from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. After graduation Cornevin was offered her first official teaching job at Saint Andrew School where she has been teaching for the past five and a half years.

“The kids, their fascination with everything, they get excited about the tiniest little things, you become a best friend of theirs,” Cornevin said when asked about her favorite part of teaching.

In her time at Saint Andrew Cornevin has served as a second-grade teacher, a member of the school’s Curriculum Leadership Team, a cantor at weekly school Masses, and a founder of the a school drama club.

“Because she is so involved on campus she forms a connection with her students similar to a memorable coach or advisor,” said Llewellyn. “She is popular with her students.”

Outside of school, Cornevin’s indulgences include reading; her favorite books are the Harry Potter series, watching the Texas Rangers, following her favorite TV shows, “Glee” and “Castle”, and spending time with her mom and dad.

Throughout her time at Saint Andrew Cornevin has continued to pursue her career in acting. Born and raised in Arlington Cornevin is actively involved in community theater, often inviting her students to performances.

The two professions really go hand in hand,” Cornevin said. She has played a variety of roles including Miss Hannigan in “Annie” and the Witch in “Into the Woods.”

“When you see her teach you see how dynamic she is because she is an actress; she is engaging,” said Rose Hall , Development Director at Saint Andrew.

When Cornevin accepted her job at Saint Andrew it was part of a five- year plan to teach and save money before ultimately moving to New York to pursue her acting career. More than five years later Cornevin’s time at Saint Andrew is coming to a close.

Looking back on her favorite memories at Saint Andrew Cornevin remembers her 28th birthday, which she recently celebrated. She tears up describing how her students each made a wish for her on a balloon before releasing them into the sky from the school courtyard.

“May is going to be really rough, leaving things behind is always hard,” said Cornevin, “I really wish that I hated my job because it would make leaving so much easier,” she laughed.

When asked what would make Cornevin succeed Llewellyn said, “Her conviction. In the two and a half years that I have known her she has never wavered from her goal. She has never broken her conviction or determination.”

Cornevin plans to move to New York City this summer where she will begin auditioning and working towards getting a New York teaching license.