Spartanburg School District One Superintendent Dr. Ron Garner was honored as the 2016 recipient of the Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award by the South Carolina Alliance for Arts Education (SCAAE) for his vision and sustained commitment to arts integration in South Carolina public schools.

The purpose of the award is to honor an individual, group, or organization that embodies the true spirit of arts integration through the successful utilization of community partnerships and resources, in order to create a greater awareness and encourage the growth of arts integration programs in South Carolina.

This award was presented on Oct. 20, during the SCAAE’s annual Arts Integration Conference awards reception at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, S.C. Throughout his tenure as superintendent, he has supported, encouraged, and promoted the expansion of the arts in District One and uses a hands-on approach that is exemplified through his personnel hiring, maintenance of exemplary facilities and financial support.

Under Dr. Garner’s leadership, three of Spartanburg School District One’s ten schools have been designated as Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) and Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) sites. District One has added multiple arts specialists in the areas of music, band, theatre, orchestra, visual arts and GT arts.

This year, the district added dance to its elementary school arts schedule through the hiring of a full-time, certified dance teacher. Student artwork is recognized throughout the district in Principal Art Galleries to showcase visual artwork at every school site, including Swofford Career Center.

Both District One high schools have developed rigorous honors performing arts courses in chorus, orchestra and band. The district regularly hosts the Spartanburg County Middle School Chorus and Orchestra Festivals. In addition, new performance venues have been created at Inman Intermediate School, New Prospect Elementary and Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School. Dr. Garner’s vision for the arts has also been extended outside of the school buildings, through an arts integration segment that was added to the monthly board of trustees meetings.

Executive director of Ballet Spartanburg, Teresa Hough, said, “Progressive in thinking and constant in perpetuating his vision of how the arts change lives, Dr. Garner is most deserving of this recognition.”

Dr. Ron Garner was also named the 2013 South Carolina Art Education Association Art Advocate of the Year.

– article submitted by Sandra Williams