Question 1

DARTS Arts Educator Award

Accepted Answer

This award will honor an individual who reflects the ideals of DARTS and has made a significant contribution to the field through their exemplary teaching of students with disabilities and differences through an arts (art, dance, music, theater) setting. We seek to celebrate the accomplishments of our colleagues who make the lives of their students richer and more beautiful each day. These colleagues advance the field of special education and the arts through exemplary teaching and leadership in their classrooms and beyond while advocating for all students in arts classrooms.

 

To be eligible for this award, the candidate must: 


	Be a member of CEC and DARTS.
	Have demonstrated transformational success teaching students with differences and disabilities in an arts (art, dance, music, theater) setting.
	Be a recognized advocate for the arts and special education.
	Not have been an officer for the previous two years.
	Demonstrated exceptional effort and involvement in furthering the education of all students through the arts.
	Be recognized as a leader in the field of the arts and special education through outstanding and innovative classroom teaching.
	Hold a record dedicating their career to improving outcomes for all students through the arts.
	Demonstrate advocacy efforts in the area of special education and the arts.
	Demonstrate evidence of knowledge and skills consistent with recommended practices in the field.
	Demonstrate the highest ethical and professional standards.
	Demonstrate evidence of work that reflects significant success for students, continued professional development, and the highest standards of educational quality.


Nomination procedures: A completed nomination package should be sent in one email to Jann Knighten – jknigthe@uark.edu. It should include:


	A nomination cover letter detailing the depth and length of work the nominee has engaged in with students with differences and disabilities.
	Evidence of successful interventions and successful practices in their classroom.
	A vita and bio of the nominee.
	An example of teaching excellence (photos, video, website, audio or other evidence).
	Two letters of reference from those familiar with the teaching of the nominee.

Question 2

DARTS Lifetime Achievement Award

Accepted Answer

This award will honor an individual who reflects the ideals of DARTS and whose significant career accomplishments represent exemplary advocacy and educational practice in the imitable teaching of students with disabilities and differences through an arts (art, dance, music, theater) setting. To be eligible for this award, the candidate must:Be a member of CEC and DARTS.Have made significant contributions to the field of arts and special education over their extended professional career.Have devoted his or her professional life to the commitment of art education’s important role in the lives of people with special needs.Have held leadership roles at national, regional or state levels.Have shared research in publications, at conferences and other professional events.A demonstration of advocacy efforts in the area of special education and the arts.Demonstrate the highest ethical and professional standardsNomination procedures: A completed nomination package should be sent in one email to Jann Knighten – jknigthe@uark.edu. It should include:A nomination cover letter detailing the depth and length of work the nominee has engaged in with students with differences and disabilities.Evidence of successful interventions and successful practices in their classroom.A vita and bio of the nominee.An example of teaching excellence (photos, video, website, audio or other evidence).Two letters of reference from those familiar with the teaching of the nominee.

DARTS Arts Educator Award The DARTS Arts Educator Award honors an educator who models the extraordinary possibilities of teaching through the arts. We seek to celebrate colleagues whose courageous belief that the arts belong to every learner has made the lives of students with disabilities and differences richer, more hopeful, and filled with opportunities for expression, agency, achievement, and joy. Nominations: September 4–November 29, 2026	Learn More
DARTS Lifetime Achievement Award The DARTS Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a lifetime of instruction, leadership, scholarship, creativity, and advocacy at the intersection of the arts and special education. We celebrate individuals whose careers have helped create a field in which more students can create, perform, imagine, communicate, belong, and contribute through the arts. Nominations: September 4–November 29, 2026	Learn More
Introducing the DARTS Artist in Residence Award New this year, the DARTS Artist in Residence Award celebrates a student artist whose work invites us to see, hear, feel, or imagine something new. Open to artists from sixth grade through graduate school, the award recognizes creativity, artistic voice, growth, and sustained commitment to a creative practice. The selected artist will serve as the DARTS Artist in Residence for one academic year, with their work featured three to five times in DARTS communications. Through visual art, music, dance, theater, writing, photography, film, digital media, or another creative form, we hope to give an artist space to tell a story and our community the opportunity to encounter their work throughout the year. Nominations: September 4–November 29, 2026	Learn More

DARTS Awards

Share

Join the DARTS Awards Committee