Dance Educator of the Year

Dance Educator of the Year Award

The Dance Educator of the Year Award provides a means through which INSHAPE recognizes the work of an outstanding dance education teacher. A dance educator is defined, for the purpose of this award, as an individual who has a major responsibility for teaching dance, or incorporates and promotes dance as a significant component of health and physical education.

Eligibility:

Any K - 12 physical educator who meets the eligibility requirements and exemplifies the criteria below may be nominated for this award. NOTE: A college/university dance educator or freelance dance educator may qualify for the state award providing there are no nominees who meet the above criteria. Aerobic dance instructors will be omitted from consideration. Eligibility requirements include:

1. Current membership in INSHAPE.
2. Minimum of five years of teaching experience.
3. Degree and certification in teaching; or instructor at a college/university.
4. Full time teaching at time of application submission and selection.
5. Minimum of 50% of total job responsibilities is teaching dance and/or incorporates and promotes dance as a significant component of health physical education (e.g. weekly/bi-weekly dance day; dance unit; etc.)

Award Criteria:

The applicant must be a teacher who demonstrates evidence of effective teaching in the following ways:

1. Teaches creatively and utilizes various methodologies
2. Presents a balanced and sequential curriculum based on the developmental, social and psychological needs of the students
3. Emphasizes the significance of dance as an integral cultural component that enables students to understand their own cultural heritage as well as that of others
4. Promotes an understanding of dance as a creative art either by providing students with opportunities to share their creative work with appropriate audiences or through the discussion of aesthetics of students' own works or others.
5. Shows professional commitment through membership and active participation in local, state, regional, and/or national dance organizations

Complete online application by April 1, 2021     Application requires one (1) letter of recommendation from applicant's principal or colleague. The letter should be directly related to the award criteria.

Selection and Recognition Process:

1. The Awards Committee will select one award recipient from the pool of qualified applicants.
2. Applicants will be notified by June 1.
3. The award will be presented at the State Conference in November.
4. Award recipient is expected to present a session at the State Conference the following year.

Previous Award Recipents

For more information, contact:

Lisa Ford
Franklin Central High School