The Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is designed to assist performing arts centers and other presenting organizations throughout the nation develop and expand educational partnerships with their local school systems, with a special emphasis on the professional development of teachers. In 1992, this program was awarded the Association of Performing Arts Presenters’ Dawson Award, which recognizes innovative and successful projects.

The Performing Arts Centers and Schools’ program is based on the belief that educating teachers is essential to any effort designed to increase the artistic literacy of young people. The Kennedy Center’s extensive experience with its local professional development programs for teachers, established in 1976, provides the basis for this national program. Decatur City Schools was the first school system in Alabama to join this partnership.

The Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts and the Decatur City Schools are members of the Kennedy Center Partners in Education. Selected because of their demonstrated commitment to the improvement in education in and through the arts, the partnership team participates in collaborative efforts to make the arts integral to education.