Ponderosa High School teacher Mary A. Williams has been awarded a $1,500 grant from the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education. Williams, of Castle Rock, is earning her master's degree in directing from Roosevelt University in Chicago and will direct her thesis show in October. The thesis show, "The Madwoman of Chaillot," is a comedy and will be performed at Ponderosa High School Oct. 9-11.

"Over the last three years, we've done different components of producing the show, and this is a culmination of everything," Williams said.

She is starting her fifth year as a teacher at Ponderosa. She teaches theater, acting and direction and does the technical and design work for the school.

Williams has finished her classroom requirements and will graduate in December. Her undergraduate degree is in design and art from Montana State University.