FDC Teacher of the Year Award
Download: Teacher of the Year Application (PDF)
Pat Hawkes
Dancensations Dance Center
In addition to structuring her classes around the fundamentals of dance, our teacher of the year incorporates important life lessons such as teamwork, loyalty, courtesy, and friendship into her classes. She teaches with discipline and consistency while treating each child with love and respect and takes the time to understand her students as individuals.
Her passion for dance and teaching has attracted a terrific teaching staff that includes several former students. At her studio everyone pulls together to support each other and the local community. From adopting a family in need each holiday season to performing at local senior citizen homes, she has instilled compassion in her staff and students and taught them the importance of making a positive impact in people’s lives.
The success of her studio can be realized through the numerous awards received at countless competitions attended over the past 22 years. Even more importantly though, her successful teaching style can been seen through her students. They are instructed to hold their heads high no matter what award they are given and are encouraged to show good sportsmanship to their fellow teammates and competitors. Additionally, dancers are taught that to reach their potential, their greatest competitor in life must be themselves. She has created a sense of family at her studio and an environment in which dancers feel comfortable and confident in expressing their talent and reaching for the impossible.
Our teacher of the year has always led by example and displayed courage and determination even through the recent loss of her husband and personal cancer diagnosis. She can turn a negative situation into a positive learning experience and is a reminder to both parents and students alike of what it means to live life to the fullest. She makes every dancer feel special and appreciated and has made an impact in lives of countless students. Through her mentorship of youth, she continues to impact the future of dance.
Her passion for dance and teaching has attracted a terrific teaching staff that includes several former students. At her studio everyone pulls together to support each other and the local community. From adopting a family in need each holiday season to performing at local senior citizen homes, she has instilled compassion in her staff and students and taught them the importance of making a positive impact in people’s lives.
The success of her studio can be realized through the numerous awards received at countless competitions attended over the past 22 years. Even more importantly though, her successful teaching style can been seen through her students. They are instructed to hold their heads high no matter what award they are given and are encouraged to show good sportsmanship to their fellow teammates and competitors. Additionally, dancers are taught that to reach their potential, their greatest competitor in life must be themselves. She has created a sense of family at her studio and an environment in which dancers feel comfortable and confident in expressing their talent and reaching for the impossible.
Our teacher of the year has always led by example and displayed courage and determination even through the recent loss of her husband and personal cancer diagnosis. She can turn a negative situation into a positive learning experience and is a reminder to both parents and students alike of what it means to live life to the fullest. She makes every dancer feel special and appreciated and has made an impact in lives of countless students. Through her mentorship of youth, she continues to impact the future of dance.