Rockwall ISD wins 2025 TAEA District of Distinction Award

Rockwall, TX (July 15, 2025) – The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) announced the 109 winners of the 2025 District of Distinction Award. For the third year in a row, Rockwall ISD is among the list of honorees. The District received the honor for providing a well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and build learning that connects learners to their community and beyond.

For the 2025 award, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation showing they met 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.

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.

The District fine arts department 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.

“Rockwall 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.”

Rockwall ISD will be honored at the TAEA Administration & Supervision Division meeting and General Session during the TAEA Fall Conference General Assembly on Friday, November 21, 2025 in Round Rock.

Press release submitted by Luci Mouton, Rockwall ISD, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News.

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