West Columbia, SC - Tonya Fryer, principal at Saluda River Academy for the Arts, has been named 2017 Arts Administrator of the Year.
The annual award is given by Palmetto State Arts Education. It recognizes administrators who are champions of arts education.
Fryer has been principal for 16 years at Saluda River Academy for the Arts, a previous recipient of the prestigious Schools of Distinction in Arts Education from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“As principal of an arts-emphasis school, I try to foster a love for the arts by providing whatever support is needed to ensure that our children have rich learning experiences in core content subjects and in the arts,” Fryer said.
At Saluda River, students have weekly standards-based arts lessons in art, music, theatre and dance; enjoy special events such as Artist-in-Residence Week; and participate in other arts-related learning.
“Several years ago, when schools across the nation had to make deep budget cuts, Lexington Two demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that our children continued to have a complete educational experience by protecting the arts,” Fryer said.
Fryer, who also enjoys attending performances of Midlands area arts groups in her time away from school, will be recognized Oct. 5 at the Palmetto State Arts Education’s Arts Integration Conference in Columbia.
“Being named the Palmetto State Arts Education Organization’s 2017 Arts Administrator of the Year is an honor not just for me, but for Saluda River Academy for the Arts and Lexington School District Two," Fryer said.
“It is a reflection of the support for the arts of our community, and it is my privilege to be a part.”
