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Since 2014, the Stanly County Arts Council has recognized a Fine Arts Educator of the Year, affectionately known as the “Jim Kennedy” award in memory of long-time arts advocate, teacher and coach James D. Kennedy.
The award recognizes a fine arts teacher in the Stanly County public school system who has made a significant positive impact on the arts in education and has inspired students to pursue, appreciate, and respect the fine arts.
Nominations are submitted by principals from the elementary, middle and high schools in Stanly County.
The 2025 recipient of the Fine Arts Educator award is Daniel Dickens, music teacher at Locust Elementary.
Dickens received his award at the Celebration of the ARTS awards ceremony on March 22. Dickens was also recognized at the April Board of Education meeting on April 1.
Dickens received a $250 classroom scholarship to help him continue his successful music program at Locust Elementary.
Kelly Dombrowski, chairperson of the Stanly County Arts Council, had the honor of presenting Dickens with his award.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to present Daniel Dickens with the award as Fine Arts Educator of the Year,” she said. “He has impacted so many students over the years across eight different schools and shaped the artistic interests of many of our children. My own children were blessed to have Mr. Dickens as their music teacher throughout their elementary school years, and I attribute their love of music to the variety of musical genres he shared with all of his students over the years.”
Devron Furr, principal at Locust Elementary, nominated Dickens for the award. After learning he was selected he shared, “Mr. Dickens has enriched the lives of hundreds of students through the years while teaching them music. He is very deserving of this prestigious award. We are so happy that he was selected as Fine Arts Teacher of the Year.”
Dickens is an elementary music teacher with the Stanly County Schools system.
Throughout his 22-year career, he has been at the following schools in Stanly County: Running Creek Elementary, Central Elementary, East Albemarle Elementary, Richfield Elementary, Millingport Elementary, Aquadale Elementary and Locust Elementary.
At some of his schools, he established a chorus group for third, fourth and fifth grades, with as many as 80 students participating. However, due to COVID restrictions and then room availability, he has been unable to hold chorus but looks forward to the day when he can do that again.
“I love the sound of kids singing,” he said.
Dickens received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music at Pfeiffer University in 2003 and his Masters of Music in Music Education in 2014.
Dickens lives in Albemarle with his wife, stepson and son. He has a stepdaughter who lives in the Aquadale area. He and his wife have entered a new chapter in their lives by fostering.
Besides teaching, he is currently the pianist at New London United Methodist Church. He has a personal rule for himself and that is if he is asked to play piano at a funeral, as long as he is in town, he drops everything to make sure he can assist. He paints houses on the side which has become a flourishing side gig for his family. His faith in God is important to him.
Dickens joins previous Fine Arts Educators of the Year awardees Lori Watson, music teacher at Stanfield and Locust elementary schools; Michelle Osborne, art teacher at Central Elementary; Stacy Bottoms, art teacher at West Stanly Middle School; Jessica Kiser, band/music teacher at Albemarle Middle School; Frank Poolos, band director at North Stanly High School; Rebekah Crisco, art teacher at North Stanly Middle School: Derek Smith, band director at West Stanly High School; Randy Fike, art teacher at West Stanly High School; Wanda Maness, art teacher at South Stanly High School; and Julie Starnes, art teacher at Locust Elementary. For the year 2021, the Arts Person and Fine Arts Educator of the Year awards were combined and honored all arts educators in the county for their dedication to aspiring youth to pursue the arts during the pandemic.
The Stanly County Arts Council was founded in 1974, promoting and supporting all art forms in the community for over 50 years. Its mission is to encourage and promote broad-based cultural and educational activities in the arts throughout Stanly County.
The Stanly County Arts Council is supported by private donations and by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
For the latest information on the arts in Stanly County, visit www.stanlycountyartscouncil.org.