Bryan ISD was awarded with the recognition as a District of Distinction by the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA). The title was a challenging accomplishment, but our hard working staff members and students made it possible.
Bryan ISD received this recognition along with 42 other districts chosen from over 1,000 eligible districts. Achieving the title as a District of Distinction required cooperation and effort for both teachers and students.
“TAEA has a rubric with 14 requirements each district has to meet in order to earn the distinction.” Fine Arts Director Patrick Corbett said. “The rubric is very student centered, so meeting the requirements only reinforces the fact that our teachers are serving their students in the best possible way.”
Staff members began preparing themselves early in the year to reach each of the TAEA requirements, if not more, and persisted through unexpected obstacles created by COVID..
“Our art teachers set being recognized as a TAEA District of Distinction as a goal for our department in the summer of 2019,” Corbett said, “so we had already met much of the criteria required prior to school being shut down in March. However, there were still quite a few things left to do and I’m proud of our teachers adapting in the spring to meet the requirements.”
Teachers were committed to earning this recognition to gain appreciation for the staff members and their hard work as well as the students and theirs.
“This past school year we made the decision as a group to make sure we went above and beyond the requirements for this award, to ensure that not only our hard work as art teachers but the students’ hard work was recognized,” art department head Kimberly Marshall. “Our fine arts director Pat Corbett gave us 100% support on everything we needed to do.”
While the competition was high, TAEA was able to acknowledge our teacher’s dedication to students and their needs.
“What makes us stand out is our incredible group of K-12 art teachers that give 110% every day to our students,” Marshall said. “ to ensure students are getting every opportunity to express their creativity and grow as artists.”
Student produced work has always impressed the teachers at school, but additional recognition from outside organizations aided in the school’s recognition.
“Many students contributed to this honor,” Marshall said. “Every student that entered VASE or competed in the TASA/TASB contest, along with the YAM art contest helped earn our district this distinction.”
Leadership throughout the district has contributed to the program’s success and continues to look to the future.
“All of our K-12 art teachers contributed to this recognition, that’s why it is so nice to have received the District of Distinction,” Corbett said. “I know as the director of fine arts, all of our art students in Bryan ISD were positively impacted by the work that went into this award. I would like to recognize the leadership of Mrs. Kim Marshall who is our district lead secondary art teacher and Mrs. Teri Clark who is the elementary lead teacher for leading this process.”
To be named as a District of Distinction is very rewarding to students and staff who worked hard towards this because it recognizes the combined effort of the district as a whole.
“I feel this [recognition] shows not only our school district but our community, how hard our students and teachers work together to learn and how it plays an important role in our daily lives,” Marshall said. “Our students are learning how to become critical thinkers through art and that is something that will stay with them for a lifetime.”
