National Dance Association

2010 K-12 National Dance Educator of the Year

Freddie-Lee Heath, Ligon GT Magnet Middle School

His great enthusiasm, commitment, and creativity in dance education have all earned Freddie-Lee Heath the title of 2010 K-12 National Dance Educator of the Year. Currently serving as NCAAHPERD's President, Freddie-Lee Heath is known affectionately as "the dancing man." He continues to inspire young dancers at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School in Raleigh. In addition, he is actively involved in the North Carolina Dance Institute and acts as a freelance choreographer for a variety of theatre groups. His prior accolades include Teacher of the Year at Ligon 2001, Disney's American Teacher Awards Finalist 2001, Dance Association of NC Educators Middle School Teacher of the Year 2005 and K-12 Teacher of the Year 2005 as well as Dance Teacher Magazine's K-12 Teacher of the Year 2007. 

The honoree will be advocating for quality dance education as part of the AAHPERD Leadership Development Conference on Capitol Hill and participating in the NASPE Teacher of the Year retreat. Freddie-Lee's popular presentation "and All That Jazz....Fosse!!" will be presented at the 2011 AAHPERD national convention in San Diego (time TBA). The focus will deal with how to inspire students to work on "improv" skills, appreciate a direct link to dance history, and to learn FOSSE STYLE! "Come slink, slither and isolate the Fosse Way! DEOY 2010, Freddie-Lee Heath will share the style and history of choreographer Bob Fosse. This high-energy jazz class will include repertoire from 'Chicago' and 'Dancin'," enthusiastically notes Freddie-Lee.