Celebrating Excellence in Texas Art Education: McKinney ISD Recognized as a District of Distinction

The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) has announced the 94 winners of the prestigious 2024 District of Distinction Award, and McKinney Independent School District (ISD) is among the esteemed honorees. This recognition celebrates districts that have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to providing a comprehensive education that champions and incorporates a robust visual arts curriculum, inspiring creativity and fostering social-emotional learning to connect students with their community and beyond.

Elevating the Arts: McKinney ISD's Commitment to Excellence

TAEA's Unwavering Advocacy for Visual Arts

TAEA, the foremost advocate for visual arts in the state of Texas, has a long-standing history of recognizing exceptional TAEA members for their contributions in classrooms and districts. This year marks the fifth time the organization is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria, underscoring its dedication to elevating the arts in education.

Rigorous Selection Process: Identifying the Top 5.5% in Art Education

In 2024, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply for the District of Distinction Award. Each district provided comprehensive documentation demonstrating compliance with a 14-point rubric over the 2023-2024 school year. Only 94 districts, representing the top 5.5% in the state, were able to meet the high standards set by TAEA, solidifying their position as leaders in art education.

McKinney ISD's Visual Art Team: Setting the Bar for Excellence

According to the district, McKinney ISD employs 43 dedicated visual arts teachers who educate over 13,000 students across 29 campuses. These talented educators inspire students to create thousands of artworks each year, which are showcased in exhibits on campuses, throughout the district, in the community, and in art shows and competitions across the state. The MISD art teachers are committed to motivating and challenging their students to beautify the world through creativity, service learning, and critical thinking.

Celebrating the District's Achievements

"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, in an official statement. "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."

Superintendent's Praise for the Visual Art Team

Shawn Pratt, the McKinney ISD superintendent, expressed his immense pride in the district's Visual Art team, stating, "McKinney ISD has the very best staff around, and this award is a reflection of that."All winning districts, including McKinney ISD, will be honored at the TAEA administration and supervision division meeting and general session during the TAEA fall conference general assembly on November 15, 2024, solidifying their status as leaders in the field of art education.