FSU Opening Nights Names Leon County Schools Educator Scott Leaman 2026 Arts Advocate Award Winner
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Opening Nights at Florida State University has officially named Scott Leaman, Fine Arts Chair at Lincoln High School and Secondary Music Curriculum Developer for Leon County Schools, as the recipient of the 2026 Arts Advocate Award.
The award was presented at the Opening Nights Season Announcement on June 16 by FSU Provost Jim Clark. In accepting the honor, Leaman spoke to the importance of arts education, reflecting on the lasting impact he has witnessed through artists visiting schools as part of the Opening Nights In Class Program.
The annual award celebrates an outstanding local educator who goes above and beyond to expand access to the arts, inspire student growth, and champion creative education as an essential piece of core learning.
Leaman is widely recognized across the district for shifting the educational focus from individual achievement to enabling collective success. Guided by a classroom philosophy that welcomes all students—”You do not have to be a great singer to take this course. It is my job to make you a singer”—his initiatives have fundamentally expanded the scope of music education in Leon County.
“Scott’s impact goes far beyond the walls of a single rehearsal room,” said Jordan Phillips, Education & Engagement Manager for Opening Nights at FSU. “By building creative, non-traditional pathways for students and directly investing in the growth of our community’s educators, he ensures that the arts remain accessible to everyone. He perfectly embodies the spirit of this award.”
Leaman’s tangible contributions to the district include expanding curriculum offerings to introduce both rock orchestra and class piano, securing critical resources for fine arts faculty, and co-creating the self-sustaining Tenor-Bass Day to revitalize choral singing across the county.
In addition to his district-wide advocacy, Leaman has built a vital bridge to the next generation of educators by partnering each semester with Florida State University’s choral methods classes. Through this collaboration, FSU undergraduates regularly step into his classroom to gain invaluable, hands-on teaching and conducting experience. Leaman is also an FSU College of Music alumnus (BME 1992, MME 2003).
As the 2026 Arts Advocate Award recipient, Leaman will receive a sponsored educational engagement program for his school or district track through Opening Nights during the 2026–2027 academic year, alongside Producer’s Circle benefits for the upcoming performance season.