Written by TAEA President-Elect, Melody Weintraub
We just wrapped on another great state conference led by the amazing Janis Nunnally! As President-Elect for the past two years, I have chaired the TAEA Art Educator Awards. Next year, our new President-Elect, Dr. David Meade will chair this event. This year The Clay Lady Campus hosted our event with over 70 people attending on Thursday Evening before our Conference. The 2020 TAEA Awardees include the following:
2020 Tennessee Art Education Association Art Educator Awards
Tennessee Art Educator of the Year…………………………. Carol Eckert
(University of Tennessee at Martin)
West Region Art Educator of the Year………………………. Melanie Anderson
(Arlington High School)
Middle Region Art Educator of the Year……………………… Terri Barton
(Lakeview Elementary)
East Region Art Educator of the Year…………………………. Paige Burchell
(Sevier County School System)
Elementary Art Educator of the Year…………………………… Cheryl Burchett
(Beaumont Magnet Academy)
Middle Level Art Educator of the Year…………………………. Gulcan Demirtas
(Shelby County Schools)
Secondary Art Educator of the Year……………………………… Heather McHugh
(Brentwood High School)
Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year…… Allison Ross
(Metro Nashville Public Schools)
Museum Art Educator of the Year………………………………… Kate Renner
(Memphis Brooks Museum of Art)
First Year Art Educator of the Year……………………………..… Brendalynn Triplett
(Drummonds Elementary)
National Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year……………. Cheri Jorgenson
(L&N STEM Academy)
Higher Education Student Achievement Award……………… Reese Kougher
(University of Memphis Graduate)
(Forest Hill Elementary School)
Friend of TAEA……………………………………………………………….. Danielle McDaniel
(The Clay Lady Campus, Nashville)
The reception took place inside The Clay Lady gallery. This year’s Awards Reception had a Superhero Theme due to our Conference keynote being Marvel Comic Artist Sanford Greene. Signs reminding teachers that “Art is Our Superpower!” were scattered about on the tables. Following with that theme, my 7th Grade Students made and donated “Power Mugs” to sell at the event to benefit the Conference Scholarship Fund for Pre-Service Teachers. Over $340 was raised at the event through the sale of these ceramic Superhero-Themed Mugs! My school donated the glaze and clay.
The presentation of awards was held on the patio of The Clay Lady Campus. Each awardee was presented with a beautiful plaque and was introduced by the person or people who nominated them. Awardees were also honored during our general session at the conference. It has been an honor for me for the past two years to help these educators be recognized for their contributions to our profession and for the impact they are making in the lives of children and adults everyday. Please consider nominating a colleague for an award next year! This is not only a great way for them to feel appreciation, but it’s also a great advocacy tool for their program!