Alief ISD is proud to celebrate two outstanding staff members who were recognized through The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s 2026 Arts in Action Awards Program. The annual program honors exceptional student artists and dedicated educators from across the Greater Houston area for their creativity, talent, leadership, and commitment to arts education.
Sarah Assaf, a student at Miller Intermediate Performing and Visual Arts, was selected as the Dance Arts in Action Award recipient, in recognition of her artistic talent and dedication to dance. Her dance educator and director, Mariah Lavallais, nominated Sarah for the honor and expressed her pride in the recognition. “Sarah is so deserving of this award, and her mom is beyond proud, as am I,” Lavallais shared.
Alief ISD also celebrated Sarah Nagy, a performing arts educator at Youngblood Intermediate, who was selected as one of the inaugural Educators in Action honorees. This new recognition was introduced in 2026 to celebrate educators whose passion, dedication, and commitment make a lasting difference in the lives of students and their school communities.
The 2026 Arts in Action Awards Program received 57 student nominations from teachers and school administrators across the region. Six students were selected, representing choir, orchestra, band, visual arts, theatre, and dance. Two educators, one in visual arts and one in performing arts, were also recognized in the program’s inaugural Educators in Action category.
To celebrate this year's honorees, The Pavilion hosted its first-ever Arts in Action Reception, bringing together students, educators, families, and nominators for an evening of recognition.
These honors highlight the talent, creativity, and dedication found throughout Alief ISD and reflect the district's continued commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities to explore their artistic abilities and grow through the arts.