Heath Named 2010 National Dance Educator of the Year
March 23, 2010 - Ligon Magnet Middle School teacher Freddie-Lee Heath has been named the National Dance Educator of the Year (DEOY) by the Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Freddie Lee Heath National Dance Educator of the Year |
Heath was presented the award at the alliance’s national convention held this month in Indianapolis.
"To visit Mr. Heath's classroom is to see magic happening. He creates shear musical capacity within his students,” said Gretta Dula, Ligon Magnet Middle principal. “During the winter performance, his Tapestry dance troupe performed a selection that took the audience to Broadway. It felt as if we were there."
WCPSS Arts Education Senior Administrator Elizabeth Grimes Droessler says Heath has been an asset to WCPSS for many years.
“A teacher of all styles, he may be best known for his musical theatre and tap choreography,” said Grimes Droessler. “Having taught at all grade levels, he has established an exceptional program at Ligon Middle School. He is a motivator and mentor among dance educators.”
A veteran dance educator, Heath has developed a new curriculum for Wake County Public Schools including Swing Dance, Dance in the Media, Video Dance, and Twist and Tone. His school tap company, Tapestry, has performed across NC including Magnet Schools of America Conference, NC Education Ball, Dance Showcase, and Pieces of Gold. He has taken Tapestry to New York City many times and has developed a working relationship with the Radio City Rockettes, who have conducted workshops with his students.
The K-12 National DEOY award recognizes effective teaching methods that inspire students towards a comprehensive appreciation for dance as a performing art and healthy lifestyle.
The winner of the National DEOY award affectively applies a balanced and sequential curriculum based on the developmental, social and psychological needs of the students. Emphasis is placed on the significance of dance as an integral cultural component that enables students to understand their own cultural heritage as well as that of others.
Award recipients serve as a positive role model for students and as a dance professional. The National DEOY recipient presents a program at the AAHPERD National Convention the year after receiving the award.
-wcpss-