FORT BEND ISD

Fort Bend ISD wins 2021 TAEA District of Distinction Award for Second Consecutive Year

For the second consecutive year, Fort Bend ISD has been named one of 40 winners of the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) 2021 District of Distinction Award.

The District 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 third year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as evidenced from data.

“The arts, including visual arts, are fundamental to the FBISD curriculum,” FBISD Director of Fine Arts James Drew said. “Now more than ever, students need the arts to engage them and offer an expressive outlet where they can create beautiful works.”

“Receiving the TAEA District of Distinction Award for the second consecutive year affirms the quality of our District’s art education programs and supports our department’s vision to transform students’ lives through the pursuit of artistic excellence,” FBISD’s Visual Arts Coordinator Fahmi Khan said.

For the 2021 award, over 1,100 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation demonstrating how they met the standards of a 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 four percent in art education among districts in the state.

Fort Bend ISD is Texas’ eighth largest school district with about 77,000 students. It is one of the most diverse school districts in the nation, working and learning cohesively alongside families who speak more than 90 languages and dialects. FBISD currently has 81 campuses: 11 high schools, 15 middle schools, 51 elementary campuses and four specialty schools to address the academic and vocational interests of students. “Fort Bend ISD has set a high standard for visual arts advocacy, integrated visual arts curriculum, encouraged creativity, community participation and student growth,” Chair of the Administration and Supervision Division of TAEA Stacia Gower said. “The past school year, educators faced a great many challenges associated with constantly changing guidelines and instruction procedures as well as participation in contests and visual arts events. It is a true testament to our visual arts educators’ skill, dedication, and flexibility that the quality of their programs continued to be strong and comprehensive.”

Fort Bend ISD seeks to provide all students with a highquality fine arts education that supports their academic, social, emotional and creative development. This goal is achieved through a comprehensive performing and visual arts curriculum that provides a wide range of learning experiences and performance opportunities. Courses are offered in elementary music and art, as well as secondary courses in art, band, choir, orchestra, dance and theatre.

Fine arts courses are structured in ways that promote the development of character, student leadership and life-long learning. Each week, approximately 60,000 students districtwide participate in fine arts courses that offer them the opportunity to work collaboratively with their peers. Responsibility, teamwork and good citizenship are fostered as students learn to depend on one other to achieve organizational goals.

Fort Bend ISD and other districts will be honored at the TAEA Administration and Supervision Division meeting and during the TAEA Fall Conference General Assembly on Friday, November 5th. Find TAEA online at www.taea.org.