Lincoln Center & NYC Department of Education Name Winner of 2016 Lincoln Center Arts Teacher Award

Lincoln Center Education, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, is pleased to present the 2016 Lincoln Center Arts Teacher award to Dana Monteiro, a high school music teacher at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem. The Lincoln Center Arts Teacher Award-part of DOE's annual Big Apple Awards, a teacher recognition program open to all full-time teachers in public schools across New York City-is presented to an arts teacher for making a difference in the lives of his or her students and for going above and beyond in their role as an arts educator. Mr. Monteiro is the fourth recipient of this outstanding recognition, and will receive a $3,500 classroom grant to enhance and further his work with students, as well as access to Lincoln Center opportunities.

Mr. Monteiro has 15 years of teaching experience, and throughout his career has maintained a clear focus and dedication to his students via his passion for music. He is a student of Brazilian samba, a musical form that encourages communication, engagement, and improvisation, and has brought these ideals to his classroom. In teaching percussion and samba rhythms to his classes, he has fostered group activity, discussion, and creativity to scores of students, developing a sense of community among them while also teaching them about the culture of the art form. He is recognized for a non-traditional and forward-thinking approach, and his belief in the importance of arts education in urban schools. His students have performed at TED Talks, the Clinton Global Initiative with the Roots, Brasilfest at South Street Seaport, Carnival with Alô Brasil at the World Café in Philadelphia, Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Broward County Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has also started Harlem Samba, a Brazilian percussion ensemble modeled after the samba school baterias of the Rio de Janeiro carnival. The group's members are students, alumni, and friends of the Frederick Douglass Academy, a high-performing public high school in Harlem, New York City.

"We are delighted to continue Lincoln Center's celebration of excellence in classroom teaching with this year's Lincoln Center Arts Teacher Award. Partnering with the New York City Department of Education on this recognition is a highlight of ours since we started in 2013," said Russell Granet, Executive Vice President, Lincoln Center Education, Community Engagement, and International. "Samba music introduces students to important concepts like structure, bonding, and improvisation-all of which are lifelong skills learners of any age should master. We applaud Mr. Monteiro's innovative teaching methods, built from his own studies in Brazil, and how they continue to create a school culture that exemplifies how the world is better with music, creativity, and imagination."

"Arts instruction is a critical component of a student's education and dedicated teachers like Mr. Monteiro have such a unique ability to inspire creativity, build confidence, and provide students with an outlet to express themselves," said New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. "Each year the Big Apple Awards recognize the profound impact that passionate educators can have on our students and their families, and I want to congratulate Mr. Monteiro and all of this year's recipients for their tireless work to bring high-quality education to our students. These teachers have not only distinguished themselves as exceptional educators, but they've also come to represent the countless teachers across our city who, each day, go above and beyond for their students."