Dr. Daryl Ward has spent his life supporting cultural arts and public education. He is currently the executive director of the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance – a nonprofit organization which champions Polk’s arts community and advocates for arts education in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

Mr. Ward began his career in public education and spent 15 years working as a teacher in public schools before serving as principal at Harrison School for the Arts from 2013 – 2019. He taught as an adjunct professor of education at Florida Southern College. He is a past president of FAAE and has also served on the board of Arts4All Florida in addition to serving on the Arts Education Council for Americans for the Arts.

He holds multiple degrees, including a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from USF.

The FAAE Board partners with the following arts education organizations and invites board representation from each organization:

• Florida Music Education Association
• Florida Art Education Association
• Florida Dance Education Organization
• Florida Association for Theatre Education