Aldine ISD and Eisenhower High School Principal Mandele Davis Receive 2021 TAEA Awards

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Aldine ISD won a 2021 TAEA District of Distinction Award. Only the top 4 percent of districts in the state earned the honor this year.

The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) announced 40 winners of the 2021 District of Distinction Award.  This is the third year in a row, since the award’s inception, that Aldine ISD has received the honor of providing a well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and build social-emotional learning that connects 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 third year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as evidenced by data.

For the 2021 award, over 1,100 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation they met from the 14-point rubric over the 2020-2021 school year. Only 40 districts met the high standard and will receive the outstanding honor indicating they are in the top 4 percent in art education of districts in the state.

“Aldine ISD has set a high standard for visual arts advocacy, integrated visual arts curriculum, encouraged creativity, community participation, and student growth,” Stacia Gower, Chair of the Administration and Supervision Division of TAEA, said. “The past school year, educators faced a great many challenges associated with constantly changing guidelines and instruction procedures as well as participation in the contest and visual art events. It is a true testament to our visual art educators’ skill, dedication, and flexibility that the quality of their programs continued strong and comprehensive.”

Forty districts, including Aldine ISD, will be honored at the TAEA Administration and Supervision Division meeting and during the TAEA Fall Conference General Assembly on Friday, November 5, 2021.

Additionally, Eisenhower Senior High School principal, Mandele Davis, was named winner of the TAEA Principal of the Year award. She was honored for her significant contributions to TAEA and to art education on the state, local, and national levels. Ms. Davis was nominated by her peers and will be recognized for her dedication and advocacy or art programming at the TAEA awards ceremony and reception in November. Aldine ISD Director of Visual Arts, Kaileigh Newman, echoes the recognition of Davis.

“The artists at Eisenhower have choices and opportunities to pursue several course options in art with five art educators serving the Eisenhower campus,” Newman said. “I know that Mrs. Davis is an advocate for the visual arts and has the right team to build a strong visual arts program. She believes in the positive impact the visual arts have on students and this is exhibited in her actions as the campus leader.”

During the beginning of the pandemic, Davis purchased art supplies for every art student enrolled in an art class at her campus, demonstrating her support for students to be successful in the arts. Davis is a principal who says “yes” to student exhibitions, workshops, and celebrations for the arts. The art scholars at Eisenhower are also celebrated through daily announcements, personal classroom shoutouts, hallway parades, and campus newsletters. 

About TAEA District of Distinction Award:
District of Distinction has just completed its third year and is looking forward to increased participation going into the 2021-2022 school year. The Administration and Supervision division oversees the award program. The award honors school districts that are leading the way in the visual arts. The TAEA Administration and Supervision Division recognize 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.