Terlene Terry-Todd

and the Fairfax County Public Schools

 

Leading an innovative pilot program in dance, Terlene Terry-Todd has become the first full-time dance teacher in the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). In a program designed to integrate dance into the fine arts curriculum, Terry-Todd currently teaches 100 students movement, ballet, tap and jazz in an exciting new initiative at South Lakes High, Langston Hughes Middle and Hunters Woods Elementary Schools.

"We are constantly wondering why there was no dance program in the public high schools here", explains Terry-Todd, "So Toni and I decided to try to get something started". Terry-Todd, Toni McMahon, president of the Arts Council of Fairfax County and Marie Sterne, FCPS coordinator for health and physical education, proposed a grant that resulted in a six-week pilot funded by the Mobil Corporation.  All three women are members of the Arts Council’s Dance Advisory Panel.

 

The grant placed Terry-Todd in Twain and Langston Hughes Middle Schools, where she taught dance to all seventh and eighth graders as part of their physical education classes. It was a resounding success. "It was so great to see kids who would normally say, "Nah, I don’t dance," recalls Terry-Todd, "and to see how fantastic they felt after they had done it."

 

Following the well-received six-week program, a position was created for Terry-Todd to initiate dance in the FCPS. Banking on the proven success at Langston Hughes, South Lakes integrated dance into its curriculum as well. The dance classes were initially offered as physical education electives. The Dance Elective is now a full one year credit course in the Fine and Performing Arts Department.

©2003 Reston Institute for the Arts