Round Rock High School Dance Teacher Gabrielle Aufiero has been named Dance Educator of the Year by the Texas Dance Educators Association.
The TDEA is a professional organization that provides dance educators with the opportunity for staff development and networking.
Aufiero was nominated for this award by her peers. The application process involved submitting a lesson plan, a video of the lesson plan in action, and a personal statement of her professional accomplishments.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be recognized by the Texas Dance Educators’ Association,” said Aufiero. “When I first interviewed for my position at Round Rock High School, [Senior Chief of Schools and Innovation] Natalie Nichols asked me where I saw myself in five years. I remember confidently answering that I saw myself as a master dance educator.”
Aufiero said that sharing her passion, increasing her knowledge of dance, honing her teaching skills, and cultivating an environment that deeply engages students has always been a goal of hers.
“It feels incredible to be recognized at this point in my career, and I am looking forward to continuing to grow and develop as an educator in the future,” she said.
Aufiero currently directs the Dragon Pride Dance Company and is an Adjunct Professor in the Dance Department at Austin Community College. She holds an MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a BA in American Studies from Franklin Pierce University.
As an educator, Aufiero recognizes that there is just as much responsibility in sharing the art of dance as there is in mentoring the future of the dance field and the members of our greater community. By sharing her passion for dance, creating a space that holds students to high expectations, and teaching students the tools they need to be successful in their lives beyond the classroom, she hopes to enrich each student’s understanding of their individual potential and empower them to create significant contributions to their chosen career fields.
“Every course you take offers opportunities to practice the skills needed for showing up, speaking out, taking chances, innovating, and collaborating,” Aufiero said. “Be brave and take those opportunities! Those are the skills that will last a lifetime, helping you overcome challenges, make changes, embody confidence, and achieve greatness.”
Aufiero will receive her award, and represent Round Rock ISD, at the TDEA statewide convention in January.
