Kenneth H. King, Jr. Named as Recipient of Teacher of the Year Award

Humanities Outreach in Tennessee-TPAC Education named Kenneth King of Hume-Fogg Academic High School as the 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year. King teaches Honors World Studies and Honors English IV for 10th & 12th grades.

In recognition of his service as an outstanding educator, King will receive the award in a ceremony on Thursday, March 3, prior to a performance of MOMIX Botanica, presented by TPAC Education through its statewide program "Humanities Outreach in Tennessee" (HOT).

In an excerpt from his application, King explains "I would begin by saying that the arts are learning. The inclusion of the arts as an integral part of the curriculum at every educational institution, at every level, is essential to complete a meaningful education, and the development of the individual student's appreciation for the noble, the aesthetic, and the reflective nature of mankind. The arts reflect our humanity, our capacity for creativity and self awareness, and our proclivity to value the best in ourselves. To the extent that the arts also play a role in enhancing learning, they make the abstract contract; they give substance and form to important ideas; they offer a wholesome and productive outlet for human expression and a means of communication that is impossible in other forms."

TPAC Education's HOT Season for Young People allows teachers and students across the state of Tennessee to experience the performing arts. Performances are selected to complement curriculum objectives and to introduce students to a rich variety of artistic and cultural experiences.

For the 17th consecutive year, the Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Richard and Rhonda Small, which includes a $500 grant for the recipient's school.