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WESTBROOK — The Maine Art Education Association recently honored seven of Maine’s art educators for excellent service to their profession, their schools and their communities at Wesstbrook Middle School library.
It was an evening filled with sincere praise and celebrated in typical fashion, with custom-made ceramic vases, flowers and, of course, pineapples. Holly Houston, recognition chairwoman for MAEA, began the evening talking about the “wonderfulness of art teachers,” and with each award presented that wonderfulness became more apparent.
Jodi Thomas presented the 2017 Outstanding Service to the Profession Award to Jody Dube from Lewiston High School. Dube is responsible for guiding students through the creation of pottery sold to help fund the Store Next Door, with the mission of supporting homeless students. In this endeavor, stated Thomas, Dube teaches students their “skills have monetary value and can be harnessed to make a difference.” Dube stated he was honored and humbled and thanked all teachers who do what they do every day, saying “In these challenging times, it is an important mission to be able to help kids be who they were meant to be and not just a test score.”
Lisa Ingraham presented the 2017 Retired Art Educator Award to Frank Chin, a former middle school teacher in Skowhegan. After more than 30 years of teaching Ingraham wondered how many students have a deep understanding of the arts because of Chin’s dedicated career. Chin said the best thing about teaching art is when things come back to you. He read a letter from a former student who, years after being in his classroom, wrote to tell him his kindness was transformative for her, urging him to to remember that while teaching may seem rewardless at times, “please make sure you know you make a difference.”
Kay Allison and Kate Cargile presented the 2017 Museum Art Educator of the Year Award to Anthony Shostak of the Bates College Museum of Art. Allison and Cargile spoke from their experience as nearby teachers at Lewiston Middle School, describing how Shostak makes the museum accessible to art students of all ages. They spoke of how Shostak is an asset, not only to Bates but also all the surrounding schools, especially citing his Thousand Words Project, which emphasizes art and literacy connections. Shostak, from Lewiston originally, expressed pleasure at working with teachers and honoring students and their growth in the arts.
Other art educators honored at the event included Deb Bickford of Westbrook High School, 2018 Maine Art Educator of the Year; Pat Savigny-Higgins from Marshwood High School in South Berwick, 2017 Distinguished Art Educator Award; Mandi Mitchell from Hermon High School, 2017 Secondary Art Educator of the Year; Laura Devin of Woolwich Central School, 2017 Middle/Elementary Art Educator of the Year.
Suzanne Goulet honored Bickford as outgoing president of the Maine Art Education Association; Goulet will serve as president for the next two years.
The Maine Art Education Association is a statewide professional organization, whose members are committed to excellence in visual arts education.
