Dance teacher Valerie Winborne of Kemps Landing/Old Donation School was named the National Dance Society’s 2016 Master Dance Educator of the Year for preschool through 12th grade.
Winborne was selected among submissions from around the country for the award, which is given to only one person each year, according to Rosemary Gladden, a spokeswoman for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
Winborne is the gifted dance chairperson for Virginia Beach City Public Schools and has taught at Kemps Landing/Old Donation for eight years. The Educator of the Year award is given to instructors who show excellence in dance education, according to a release.
Virginia Beach’s gifted dance program serves more the 350 students and covers modern, ballet and creative dance techniques as well as dance theory and history. Guests artists help with occasional hip-hop/street master classes.
“We are so fortunate that VBCPS offers such high-quality fine arts programs to students and to have such talented educators like Valerie engaging our students every day,” Superintendent Aaron Spence said in a release.
Winborne will receive her award from the National Dance Society Aug. 5 at Texas A&M University.
