Richland One Educator wins state Arts Administrator of the Year Award
November 2, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Marisa Vickers, former principal of Hand Middle School in Richland One, has been named the 2015 Arts Administrator of the Year by the South Carolina Alliance for Arts Education (SCAAE).
The SCAAE Arts Administrator of the Year Award is bestowed upon educators who have demonstrated a commitment to arts programs and uphold the organization’s mission to advance learning in and through the arts for all students.
Photo: The 2015 Arts Administrator of the Year Award recently was presented to Marisa Vickers (center), who served as principal of Hand Middle School from 2001-2015 when she was promoted to serve as an executive director of Richland One schools. Pictured (left to right) with Mrs. Vickers at the award ceremony are Hand’s performing arts teachers Robert Arcovio (chorus), Kara Corley (dance), Jennifer Simmons (theatre) and Mary Lou Schweickert (band).
Mrs. Vickers served as principal of Hand from 2001 until 2015, when she was promoted to serve as an executive director of schools for Richland One. Hand offers theatre, dance, visual arts, band, chorus and strings for students in grades 6-8. Under Mrs. Vickers’ leadership, all of the arts programs at Hand flourished and received statewide accolades and awards. She encouraged all teachers at Hand and other district schools to use the arts in core academic instruction in the classroom. She also urged faculty members to seek arts-related grants, attend arts education conferences and share ideas and opportunities to promote the success of the arts programs at Hand.
The Arts Administrator of the Year Award was presented to Mrs. Vickers on October 9 during SCAAE’s 2015 Arts Integration Conference in Columbia.
The belief of the SCAAE is that the study of the arts is essential to the basic education of all students. The SCAAE is a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, a coalition that works in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. SCAAE members work to support policies, practices, programs and partnerships that ensure that the arts are an essential part of pre-K-12 education. Members include teaching artists, classroom teachers, administrators, parents, community arts supporters, arts organizations and schools.
