Nov. 29, 2023–College Station Independent School District was honored as a winner of the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) 2023 District of Distinction Award at the TAEA Fall Conference on Nov. 17. This year marks the fourth year that the district has earned the distinction.
CSISD, along with 68 other districts, 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.
"It’s a great honor to receive this award on behalf of our dedicated and passionate community of fine arts educators and students,” said Eric Eaks, director of fine arts for College Station ISD. “This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment to excellence in fine arts education and serves as a testament to the creativity, innovation, and collaboration that defines our district. Together, we continue to cultivate a vibrant artistic culture that empowers every individual to explore, express, and excel in the world of visual arts.”
For the 2023 award, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation they met from the 14-point rubric over the 2021-2022 school year. Only 68 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.
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 by data.
“College Station 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.”