LORENA, Texas — [July 25] – Lorena ISD is one of 94 districts in Texas to be named a winner of the 2024 District of Distinction Award. The announcement was made by the Texas Art Education Association. The districts 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 fifth year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as evidenced from data.

For the 2024 award, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation they met from the 14-point rubric over the 2023-2024 school year. Only 94 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.

“Lorena ISD has set a high standard for visual arts advocacy, integrated visual arts curriculum, encouraged creativity, community participation and student growth,” said Nealy Holley, 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.”

The visual arts program at LISD has been led by high school teacher Brittany Sciacca for the past three years. Sciacca and Lorena Middle School teacher Leah Mullins have worked together as a team to build not only the secondary art program, but to try to develop and integrate visual arts into every campus in LISD and into the community of Lorena.

"It is such an honor to be one of 94 districts in Texas to receive this distinguished title. It took a lot of hard work throughout the year to accomplish, but it was worth it to see the exciting success of our art students in LISD as they thrived in competitions, classrooms, and became more connected to our Lorena community through the visual arts,” Sciacca said. “We look forward to starting this school year, and we are ready to show off our student successes again and again as we pursue our second year in a row of District of Distinction!"

Ninety-four districts, including Lorena ISD will be honored at the TAEA Administration & Supervision Division meeting and General Session during the TAEA Fall Conference General Assembly on Friday, November 15, 2024.

(Information provided by Texas Art Education Association)