TEMPLE, Texas — Temple Independent School District is one of just 109 school districts from across the state to win the Texas Art Education Association’s (TAEA) 2026 District of Distinction Award. The award recognizes districts 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.
For the 2025 District of Distinction Awards, over 1,200 districts were eligible to apply. Each district submitted documentation they met from a 14-point rubric over the 2025-2026 school year. The winning districts met or exceeded that rigorous rubric that examined their participation in TAEA through membership, exhibitions, contests, and community engagement in the visual arts through field experiences, community service, and collaboration with other content areas. In the letter notifying Temple ISD of its award, the TAEA expressed that the organization was impressed and proud of TISD’s level of participation in visual art learning experiences at all grade levels. The District of Distinction just completed its eighth year, and 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 in areas such as Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), Junior VASE, and Texas Elementary Art Meet (TEAM), as a few examples. This is the second consecutive year that Temple ISD has been recognized with a TAEA District of Distinction Award.
“This recognition reflects the outstanding work happening in our art classrooms every day,” said Catrina Lotspeich, director of Fine Arts for Temple schools. “Our teachers consistently create opportunities for students to grow creatively while encouraging them to share their talents through competitions, community events, and service. We are incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished this year.”
During the 2025-2026 school year, Temple ISD had 40 students participate in and medal at the high school VASE competition and 27 students participated in and earned medals at the middle school Junior VASE competition – including two platinum medals. TISD had 55 elementary students participate in the organization’s elementary TEAMS competition and combined to earn seven Top of TEAMs recognitions – the highest honor possible. Temple High School also had one student’s artwork chosen for exhibition at the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin as part of the Youth Art Month program. TISD visual arts also hosted more than 150 families for two parent involvement art events and students and staff completed over 800 hours of community service and field experience.
“Every discipline of our Fine Arts programming in Temple ISD represents a combination of expert instruction and talented students,” said Dr. Bobby Ott, superintendent of schools for Temple ISD. “Over many decades, Fine Arts in Temple ISD has become a point of pride in this community. Receiving the TAEA District of Distinction for the second year in a row demonstrates a recognition from the state that TISD is not only meeting our community’s expectations, but providing a level of visual arts education that is among a small group of school districts across Texas – around 8% to be exact. I am proud to be part of a school district and community that support Fine Arts education and the value it brings to the student experience.”
Temple ISD and the other 2026 District of Distinction Award winners will be honored at the TAEA District of Distinction Awards Ceremony during the TAEA Fall Conference on Friday, November 13, in Galveston. 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.
Temple ISD’s Fine Arts Department has now received state or nation-wide recognition for its visual arts, theatre arts, and music education programs for each of the last two years.