The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) announced the 109 winners of the 2025 District of Distinction Award. Among the list of honorees is New Braunfels ISD. Only the top 8 percent of districts in the state, including NBISD, earned the honor this year. 

“Receiving this distinction for the second year in a row is a testament of the hard work our teachers and students do every day,” said Dr. Marty Lenard, NBISD’s Director of Fine Arts. “This award is not a snapshot from one day, it reviews the work of the district’s visual arts department for the whole school year. This is a rigorous process and a huge honor for NBISD.”

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 seventh year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as evidenced from data. 

For the 2025 award, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation they met from the 14-point rubric over the 2024-2025 school year. Only 109 districts met the high standard and will receive the outstanding honor indicating they are in the top 8 percent in art education of districts in the state. 

“NBISD 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.” 

One hundred nine districts, including NBISD, will be honored at the TAEA District of Distinction Awards Ceremony during the TAEA Fall Conference on Friday, November 21, 2025 in Round Rock. 

About TAEA District of Distinction Award: 

District of Distinction has just completed its seventh year and is looking forward to increased participation going into the 2025-2026 school year. The Visual Art Administrators of Texas oversees the award program. The award honors school districts that are leading the way in the visual arts. The Visual Art Administrators of Texas, a division of TAEA, recognizes districts with outstanding leadership in promoting the arts in their district and community. TAEA wants to identify districts that are actively participating members in areas such as VASE, Junior VASE, and TEAM as a few examples. The organization also looks at field experiences, community service, and community exhibitions to name a few as part of the rigorous rubric for the award. 

About TAEA: 

TAEA is the largest state professional organization for art educators in the United States. It is the mission of TAEA to promote quality visual arts education through leadership, advocacy, service, and professional development.