McKinney ISD Wins 2024 TAEA District of Distinction Award
Only the top 5.5 percent of districts in the state, including McKinney ISD, earned the honor this year.
McKinney, Texas — The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) announced the 94 winners of the 2024 District of Distinction Award. Among the list of honorees is McKinney ISD. The districts received the honor for providing a well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and build social emotional learning that connect learners to their community and beyond.
TAEA is the leading advocate for the visual arts in the state. The organization has previously honored outstanding TAEA members for work in their classrooms and districts. This is the fifth year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as evidenced from data.
For the 2024 award, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation they met from the 14-point rubric over the 2023-2024 school year. Only 94 districts met the high standard and will receive the outstanding honor indicating they are in the top 5.5 percent in art education of districts in the state.
McKinney ISD has long been a standard bearer for excellence in Fine Arts, and the district is delighted to receive this recognition.
“The McKinney ISD Visual Art team has set a high standard for visual arts advocacy, integrated visual arts curriculum, encouraged creativity, community participation and student growth,” said Nealy Holley, 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.”
"I am incredibly proud of McKinney ISD's Visual Art team. McKinney ISD has the very best staff around and this award is a reflection of that," Shawn Pratt, McKinney ISD Superintendent.
Ninety-four districts, including McKinney ISD will be honored at the TAEA Administration & Supervision Division meeting and General Session during the TAEA Fall Conference General Assembly on Friday, November 15, 2024.
McKinney ISD employs 43 visual arts teachers who instruct over 13,000 students across 29 campuses. Each year, art teachers inspire their students to create thousands of artworks that are displayed in exhibits on campuses and throughout the district, in the community, and in art shows and competitions throughout the state. MISD art teachers uplift and challenge their students to beautify the world through creativity, service learning and critical thinking.
Find TAEA Online:
Website: www.taea.orgTwitter: @TXartedFacebook: @TexasArtEducationAssociation
About TAEA District of Distinction Award:
District of Distinction has just completed its sixth year and is looking forward to increased participation going into the 2024-2025 school year. The Visual Art Administrators of Texas oversees the award program. The award honors school districts that are leading the way in the visual arts. The Visual Art Administrators of Texas, a division of TAEA, recognizes districts with outstanding leadership in promoting the arts in their district and community. TAEA wants to identify districts that are actively participating members in areas such as VASE, Junior VASE, and TEAM as a few examples. The organization also looks at field experiences, community service, and community exhibitions to name a few as part of the rigorous rubric for the award.
About TAEA:
TAEA is the largest state professional organization for art educators in the United States. It is the mission of TAEA to promote quality visual arts education through leadership, advocacy, service, and professional development.