Hutto ISD was recognized with a District of Distinction Award from the Texas Art Education Association, as announced in a Sept. 6 Hutto ISD news release. The district was selected as one of the inaugural class of 20 winners for the award and was chosen for its "well-rounded education that advocates and integrates visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and reach all different learners," per the release. More than 1,000 school districts were eligible to apply for the 2019 TAEA award. The 20 districts honored were selected based on "rigorous criteria as evidence from data" on their classrooms and students, per the release. Their selection also indicates the districts are in the top 2% for the state in meeting these art curriculum standards, according to the release. “Our visual arts teachers are truly amazing! We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and this inaugural Award of Distinction in Texas,” said Hutto ISD Superintendent Dr. Celina Estrada Thomas in the Sept. 6 release. “It is an honor to have this caliber of talent and dedication in our visual arts teachers, and our students are fortunate to have them as their teachers." Amber Kingsley, Hutto ISD Secondary Art Liaison, added that the district's teachers and staff consistently advocate for a "nurturing and creative environment" to facilitate more holistic art programs and educational opportunities for its students. The 20 winning districts will be recognized as part of the TAEA conference during the TAEA Awards ceremony at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston on Nov. 15, according to the release.