The National Dance Association K-12 Dance Educator of the Year Award is given to K-12 teachers who are members of both MAHPERD and NDA/AAHPERD and who demonstrate exemplary teaching abilities in respective grade levels and dance education. A dance educator as defined by NDA, includes those educators who are employed full time in a K-12 school and teach dance at least 50% or more of the time.
Teachers selected for this award may also have their names submitted for recognition at Central District AAHPERD. Central District AAHPERD then forwards its awardees on for a possible recognition at the National AAHPERD Convention.
Download the nomination form to nominate a professional for any of the awards below. Nominations must be postmarked no later than April 1.
Criteria for NDA Professional Dance Educator of the Year Award
According to the AAHPERD Web site (http://www.aahperd.org/nda/)
- The candidate must be dance teacher with a minimum of three years teaching experience.
- The teacher must show evidence of effective teaching in the following ways:
- Teaching creatively and utilizing various methodologies.
- Presenting a balanced and sequential curriculum based on the developmental, social and psychological needs of the students.
- Emphasizing the significance of dance as an integral cultural component that enables students to understand their own cultural heritage as well as that of others.
- Promoting an understanding of dance as a creative art through the discussion of aesthetics of students’ own works and/or the works of others.
- Encouraging an appreciation of dance as a performing art through viewing live and/or filmed works by professional dance companies.
- Providing opportunities for students to share their creative work with appropriate audiences.
- Serving as a positive role model for students.
- Showing professional commitment through membership and active participation in local, state and/or national dance organizations.
