Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) recently shared that Kendra Smith, a dance teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
According to MCPS, she is one of 14 public school educators in the Washington, D.C. area to receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, which are given annually to high school teachers who create innovative performing arts experiences for their students. Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts has awarded grants to 14 teachers at public high schools and middle schools in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC to fund music, dance, and theater projects in their classrooms.
The grant will support Smith’s arts initiative, titled Fostering Relationships Using Intergenerational Techniques (FRUIT), which is a collaboration with the ClancyWorks Dance Company and the Jewish Council for the Aging: InterAges Program. The program will involve 15 to 20 of her students engaging in weekly classes with a diverse group of older adults, using creative movement to share personal stories. This program aims to enhance students’ self-expression through dance, encourage their participation in the arts, and foster connections with mentors from different generations.
MCPS shared that Smith has a longstanding relationship with Dr. Adrienne Clancy, the founder of ClancyWorks, dating back to Smith’s undergraduate studies at Towson University, where Dr. Clancy conducted master classes. Smith expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Working alongside Dr. Adrienne Clancy and her skilled teaching artists has enriched the lives of everyone involved in ways that can only be appreciated through movement. Serving as a host for the second consecutive year has also contributed to my growth as an educator. This unique initiative has created an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds can forge lasting relationships and cultivate a community centered on artistic and cultural expression through dance.”
With 16 years of experience as a Maryland Pre-K-12 teacher, Smith has spent the last three years at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). She is a former professional ballet and modern dancer and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Education as well as a Master of Arts in Dance Education. Her expertise includes contemporary ballet, modern, lyrical, and concert jazz, alongside teaching tap, hip-hop, partnering, yoga, and creative movement. At Kennedy, she offers a range of dance classes, including dance as a fine art and physical education, and serves as the sponsor for the school’s majorette dance troupe.