Texas Art Education Association Names Spring ISD a 'District of Distinction' for Fifth Consecutive Year
The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) has announced the 68 winners of the 2023 District of Distinction Award, naming Spring ISD among the list of honorees for the fifth year running.
The award, given to just 20 Texas school districts for the first time in 2019, recognizes districts that are committed to providing a well-rounded curriculum that includes strong visual arts education across all schools and grade levels, inspiring creativity and building skills that connect students to their community and beyond.
“Five years ago, Spring ISD was thrilled to be among the inaugural winners of this awesome award from the Texas Art Education Association, and we’re incredibly honored to be one of only 16 districts statewide that are now five-time recipients,” said Director of Performing & Visual Arts Dr. Joe Clark.
The 16 districts that have achieved District of Distinction status every year since the award has been available together form an elite group – “the top 1.3% of all visual art programming in Texas,” according to a TAEA press release.
“The District of Distinction award winners include many districts that are leading the way in arts education and arts integration, and we’re proud to be among them again this year,” Clark said. “It couldn’t have happened without our amazing visual art teachers who bring these programs to life and inspire students every day in the classroom. We’re also grateful to our superintendent, Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, our district leaders and campus principals, and the Spring ISD Board of Trustees for continuing to see the value in high-quality arts education and supporting strong arts programs at every level across our district.”
A leading advocate for visual arts education, TAEA has long honored outstanding individual teachers for their work in the classroom. This is the fifth year the organization has honored districts that meet the rigorous District of Distinction criteria. Each participating district submitted documentation showing how they performed across various aspects of the program’s 14-point rubric during the previous school year.
Out of more than 1,200 districts eligible for the 2023 award, only 68 met the standard – putting Spring ISD in the top 5.5% of districts in the state for art education, according to a statement released by TAEA.
“Spring ISD has set a high standard for visual arts advocacy, integrated visual arts curriculum, encouraged creativity, community participation and student growth,” said Sandra Newton, Chair of the Visual Art Administrators of Texas, a division of TAEA. “It is a true testament to your visual art educators’ skill, dedication, and flexibility that the quality of their programs continued to provide strong and comprehensive visual art educational experiences to students.”
The award recognizes not just excellence in the classroom, but also districtwide efforts to engage all students in meaningful encounters with the visual arts, both on campus and in the community. Examples include districts where students actively participate in regional and state events such as TAEA’s Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), Junior VASE, and Texas Elementary Art Meet. The organization also looks at field experiences, community service and community exhibitions, along with other elements, as part of the rigorous criteria for the award.
Spring ISD and other winning districts will be honored in November during the TAEA Fall Conference General Assembly.
Source: Spring ISD
