Joe Holliman - Colorado Art Educator

He has demonstrated true leadership in his classroom, at his school, in his district as well as at the state level.  He has served as the CAEA Treasurer and co-coordinator of the Spring Conference, Art for Us since 2004.  Joe has served on the Littleton Schools Art Council since 1993, as well as served as chair for the district’s curriculum writing committee.  At his school, Joe has been involved with the Century 21 program and definitely leads by example for his students and colleagues.

Student success is truly a priority for him, and though he has been teaching for “a while” he keeps his instruction fresh.  Joe has a great sense of humor, which keeps his classroom “interesting and fun.”

Joan Hitchens writes “His patience and ability to encourage all pupils in various media can be substantiated by the quality and variety of art which flows from them.  They respect his talent, value his advice, and love his classes – all attributes validating him as a great teacher and certainly a viable candidate for the Colorado Art Educator of the Year.”  Joan – we couldn’t agree with you more!

Joe Holliman’s quiet strength and dedication to art education make him a great advocate and the perfect Colorado Art Educator of the Year!

Deborah Snider - Higher Ed

Deborah Snider is a working artist as well as being an educator of educators.  Nominator Fran Born says, Deborah “recognizes the work which others do and is very quick to praise and honor those same people.  She is deeply involved in our school district and its art programs and instructors, giving all who would ask extra help in a very professional manner with lots of humor thrown in.  She is demanding of both herself and those around her, which creates the excellence in the arts for which we all strive.  She is quick to laugh at herself, and quick to use humor to defuse troubles which may arise with colleagues and students.  She is always firm, fair and loyal.”

Looking at her resume would cause your head to spin, leaving one to wonder how one person could do so much. It demonstrates how varied her interests and abilities truly are. As Mary McGuire writes, “It is hard to know where to start to list Deborah’s accomplishments and contributions because she gives of her time, energy, expertise and spirit in so many ways to so diverse a collection of good causes.”  She definitely sets the bar high for herself and those around her but she is also willing to help and to provide the tools and skills necessary to achieve

Angie Willsea - High School

Within the school community at Gateway High School Angie’s contributions are numerous and extend well beyond her art program.  She has sponsored Student Council, the Interact Club, LINK Crew, Empty Bowls, and organized Freshman Seminar.  She is the Art Department Chair, mentoring new teachers and keeping curriculum fresh and updated with the state standards. Within the district she has worked with the High School Instructional Design Committee and Design Advisory Committee to plan future art instruction space in a new high school.  For the past three years and counting, Angie has developed the highly attended Empty Bowls event, which raises awareness and money for the hungry.  Angie received a $1,000 Boettcher Foundation teacher award to establish Empty Bowls.  She has been recognized as the 2002/03 and 2008/09 GHS Staff of the Year and GHS Staff of the Month multiple times.

One could now take the time to list any number of taskforce chairs, committees, and responsibilities Angie oversees within CAEA that are in addition all the aforementioned activities she assumes, but in summary Angie does A LOT.  She is a driving force behind many of the CAEA happenings, from registration, to hospitality, and now putting together this year’s awards program.  If there is a need, Angie is always at the ready to step in.  She truly embodies the Walt Disney quote. Dana Breese concludes, “the most persuasive reasons to award this honor to Angie Willsea were written by a former student, Sherre Delaney: ‘Mrs. Willsea teaches not only self-confidence but, [how to develop] confidence in your work.  She’s strict when it comes to accuracy and [having] patience, and she will never tell you that your artwork is ugly, even if it is.  She works very well with her students and we all love her!’”

Deborah Frain - Middle School

“One of Deborah’s greatest teaching assets is her painstaking approach to curriculum development. All of her lessons demonstrate a deep understanding of different learning styles, and offers a variety of approaches to help entice creativity from every student.” – Natalie Barnes, Advisor & Adjunct Instructor, Art Education, Department of Art, Colorado State University

“Deborah is an outstanding mentor for art education teacher candidates. She has a willingness to carefully consider difficult issues in art, education, and curriculum. She is a natural leader in the classroom posing critical questions, making insightful comments, and interacting in a respectful manner with her students and student teachers.” – Connie Bethards, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Art & Design, University of Northern Colorado

“As an English teacher, I see how students communicate with words, but when I see their artwork, I see how they communicate with symbols and color. Through Deborah’s art classes, students have the opportunity to authentically exhibit their talents and understanding of the world.” – Beth Wilms, International Baccalaureate Coordinator, Language Arts Teacher, Lesher Junior High School

Deborah has been a CAEA member for over 16 years, is a member and alumni of ArtSource, is on the CAEA Fall Conference Planning and Awards Luncheon Committees, and serves on the Art Source Content & Organization Committee. These accomplishments are the outward manifestation of a dedicated arts education professional.

Sue Patterson - Elementary

As the art teacher at Boyd Elementary School, Sue Patterson has inspired and engaged the entire education community of Alamosa.  Boyd Elementary principal, Dianna Rodriquez, elaborates on some of Sue’s achievements; “She takes advantage of every teachable moment to provide an unforgettable experience.”  She secured famed author/illustrator, Judy Schachner of Skippy Jon Jonesfor a unique guest visit.  During the Salmonella outbreak last spring, Sue lead a group of 2ndand 3rd graders through the community to create a documentary entitled Water 911 complete with photos, a script and a power point presentation given to the Alamosa School Board and received local TV station coverage.

Beyond the classroom setting, Sue Patterson is noted for her mentorship of other educators through the Adams State College art education program. She acted as sole creator of the K-12 art program that Adams State now offers, and invites art education students into her classroom every semester, so that they may benefit from her exemplary teaching abilities.

Sue has attended CAEA conferences for 19 years, and in this time held offices, offered workshops, and seen to the smooth operations of the conference experience, often traveling many miles to attend meetings and functions. Joyce Centofanti writes, “[Sue] has many years of experience in the field of teaching and within the professional world as an artist.  Her accomplishments are many and she has excelled in everything that she has undertaken…Sue Patterson stimulates intellectual and artistic assessment in her students and peers.  She cares about the effectiveness of her teaching and her supervisor duties.  She has significant scholarship and with her energy and skills that would make a significant contribution to becoming the CAEA Elementary School Art Educator of the Year.”

Janelle Maria Sowers - Private Independent Charter

At her school she has worked to expand the art curriculum to include the areas of claymation, computer art and set design. Janelle has served as the Director of the Catholic Schools Art Show for the past several years.  This consists of 23 K-12 schools showing at the Colorado Convention Center downtown, a huge undertaking by any standard.  She was also able to get $3,400 worth of display grids for the show through her pursuit of grant funding. Pam Starck writes, “She constantly searches for ways to make her teaching more interesting and more informative.  She is uncompromising in her quest for quality educational opportunities for all of her students.”

Janelle has served CAEA through her work as representative for Private/Independent/Charter Schools and has recently taken on the position of ArtSource liaison. Janelle will also be finding and organizing volunteers for the 2009 – 2010 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and has served many hours herself to help ensure the Scholastics program is a success.

In addition to her classroom and CAEA responsibilities Janelle is a working and exhibiting artist.  She maintains a website showcasing her work and has shown in galleries as well as participated in the Larimer Art Association Chalk Art Festival. Shedraws much inspiration from the natural world around her and is able to provide inspiration to those who come in contact with her through her quiet strength.

Kyle Wimmer - Rookie

Kyle’s students are able to create amazing artwork and can speak about their work referring to history and art history and can use the language of the elements and principles of art when talking about it, a point made in each of the letters written in support of Kyle’s nomination.  Jean Schneider writes, “His students create works that far exceed the quality of many high school students.  Further, his students can describe the elements of their work with an eye and understanding using terms I didn’t learn until college in an art history class.  Kyle encourages more critical thinking and expression than any language arts class and inspires more creativity than in any course we offer in middle school.”

Kyle Wimmer’s room serves as a safe haven for his students, who feel comfortable talking with him about problems andfeelings. An acceptance that translates to viewing his room as a safe place for making art.  The adage “You have to teach kids that you care before they will care what you teach” holds true in this case.  Through his mentoring he has shown students he cares and he will even keep in contact with his mentees as they go on into high school.

Kyle is passionate about what he does and in turn he has made his students passionate about art as well.  Anyone who works with kids (andespecially middle school) knows that they can be hard to keep engaged andmotivated.  Nominator Kim Williams says it best, “Finally, a middle school teacher who knows how to reach the kids on their level and to motivate them to do work inspired by the heart, the hand and the brain.”

Jeanne Shoaff - Museum

Natalie Barnes, CAEA President Elect and instructor at Colorado State University, recognizes Jeanne’s commitment to “the incorporation of education in every aspect of an exhibition. She feels strongly that the role of a museum is to educate the public and make the inaccessible more accessible through education.”

Jeanne is well versed in contemporary art forms and movements, and shares her knowledge and passion with ease and confidence. According to Gloria Boreson, Business Manager at FCMOCA, Jeanne conducted field trips and exhibition tours, has arranged gallery talks, and developed inventive gallery education activities for children and adults.

Kim Sheek - Marion Quin Dix

Even before Kim Sheek became President of the CAEA she was working hard on plans to streamline the membership data base, refining online conference registration, andrevamping the CAEA website. Her enthusiasm never waned, despite some difficult roadblocks along the way.

When Kim became president of CAEA she was fully aware of both the strengths and shortcomings of CAEA as a professional organization. One of her first tasks was to tackle our seriously outdatedmembership data base. That task was soon followed by a move to update the registration procedures for the fall conference. With the technical help Kim secured, CAEA was able to launch a registration system that shows registration information in real time, allowing CAEA to allocate limitedresources and serve its members much more efficiently.

The last task Kim has tackled was redesign of the CAEA website. With the help of a website specialist and her executive council, CAEA sponsored a new logo contest, sorted through existing information to rescue what was still relevant, and created an organized, professional website that reflects the creative focus of the Colorado Art Education Association.

Executive board member Natalie Barnes states, “As a member of Kim’s executive council I experienced firsthand the frustrations andobstacles Kim had to overcome. The project she undertook was monumental. But she was never afraid to face the opposition head on. She had the foresight to recruit a strong executive council that shared her vision and supported her decisions. I believe, that because of her sheer force of personality, CAEA has fully integrated itself into the 21stcentury. Kim Sheek defines leadership as outlined in the Marion Quin Dixon award.  I am honored to be able to write this letter, and firmly believe that she has more than earned this recognition.”

Dr. Diana Howard - Distinguished Leadership

Dr. Howard’s administrative career began 13 years prior to Kunsmiller, but her leadership and dedication through humanitarian work began with volunteering in the Peace Corps, and continued as a school librarian for 20 years.  Her commitment to providing to a quality arts education for every child is a humanitarian endeavor, illustrated by tireless research, networking with educational organizations, and grant writing. Dr. Howard has managed to rally the education and art communities towards her vision.

The Polaris School was Dr. Howard’s first success with her arts-integrated approach to teaching and learning.  Arts-rich thematic units, such as a 4thgraders study of Africa, including Ancient Egypt explored through professionally taught dance, Egyptian style portraits, model pyramid construction, complete with an entombment ceremony, illustrate some of the power of the arts in action.  Events, such as the annual Love of the Artsnight, a festival to gather the school community together with the greater arts community is just one of many examples of Dr. Howard’s gift for leadership.

Clearly, Dr. Diana Howard is a leader, but moreover a designer for the future of education.  “Every DPS child should have the opportunities afforded a Diana Howard school model,” states Jeannie Kaplan of the DPS School Board.  In closing, Kim Benson writes, “Dr. Howard is a true visionary who brings her heart and intellect to her calling as an educational leader.  She has proven that strong educational programs can exist in public schools and powerful learning comes naturally by engaging the whole child through arts integration.”

Deborah Frain and Vickie Graber - Distinguished Service Within Profession

The journey of these banquet centerpieces begins with the CAEA conference theme.  Then Deborah introduces the idea to her students at Lesher Middle School and Vickie to her students at Eaton High School and the creation process comes to life.  Colleague, Joe Holliman remarks, “others might be content to just provide balloons and ribbon, but Deb and Vickie don’t accept mediocrity, they take the bull by the horns.”  Vickie andDeborah’s students are the masterminds behind such concepts as Abstract Tile Sculptures, Artist Box Heads, Oaxaca Figures and Visual Pun Fish.  Once complete, Vickie, Deborah, and students amass nearly 140 centerpieces for each conference!  Nominator ThadMcCauley reflects, “I don’t know how easily I would have ponied up ten dollars for the CAEA scholarship fund, but when I get a papier-mâché cat fish that looks like a cat and has fins like a fish…the donation becomes a no-brainier.”

Thad concludes, “These ladies are rock solidexamples of great art teachers, stellar art advocates, exemplary leaders, and humble servants.  Not only do they show distinguished service within the art education profession, they provide this service within our organization!”  We can all honor Vickie andDeborah’s service today through donating to CAEA scholarships and taking home a centerpiece, maybe two—it’s a no-brainer!

Steve Wood & Patty Smithsonian - Distinguished Service Outside Profession

Steve Wood and Patti Smithsonian worked their magic at Mountainside Elementary facilitating the creation of a two-story tall marionette based on the children’s story “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant).  This brought together students, staff and families in its creation.  Eileen Stammer writes in her support letter, “When Steve and Patti worked with Mountainside students to create the marionette it was clear that the project was well thought out, the volunteers were organized, and the mentor artists welcomed the hundreds of student artists.  They were so patient with both students and staff as the BFG came together involving everyone’s unique perspectives.”

Concrete Couch also assisted in the creation of a mural and other artwork at the Grant Library on the base at Ft. Carson.  Nominator Ramona Lapsley writes of the benefit this provided to this military community, “This helped build community, bring awareness to the library and helped fill the void of many hours with fathers out in the field or deployed.”

Patti Smithsonian and Steve Wood have helped to share their passion for the arts through their work with Concrete Couch.  This passion and support has helped the families at Ft. Carson deal with difficult times and provides a lasting beauty in their community.

Loveland Sculpture Group - Distinguished Service Outside Profession

“Each year the Loveland Sculpture Group fulfills its mission statement by donating proceeds from the show to ‘support art appreciation and art education’ in our public schools art departments.  A check is presented annually to each K-12 art teacher for their art program in the district,” writes Lia Devine.  The generosity of this group has allowed art teachers to purchase costly items such as kilns, a Pug mill and a rolling mill for metalsmithing, along with numerous tools and equipment enabling teachers to advance their programs and improve the overall studio experience.

Additionally, the Loveland Sculpture Group started the “Emerging Artist Tent” in conjunction with the Invitational, to showcase young artists working with clay.  Other opportunities supported through the show are media coverage for public school teachers and their programs and arranging professional artists to share with students about their visual media during the show.

In conclusion, Lia Devine writes, “I know of no other nonprofit organization thatdoes more to develop, promote and contribute to the quality of local public school arts programs in the state of Colorado.”

Representative Nancy Todd - Distinguished Service Outside the Profession

Representative Todd is always willing to support causes relating to education and has spoken to CAEA as part of the Breakfast With the Arts, as well as speaking at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.  She has also supported legislation addressing the need for our students to be equipped with skills necessary for the 21st Century.  Angie Willsea writes, “The topic of 21stCentury skills has been discussed at length in CAEA, especially in regards to the book “A Whole New Mind” by Daniel Pink.  I was impressed to see Representative Todd at Daniel Pink’s presentation last year because it is through those in the legislature that we will be able to make a change.  Nancy Todd is always willing to offer her support and she is one of those legislators whose door is truly open.”

Nominator Justine Sawyer, who taught with Representative Todd at Cherry Creek West Middle School, can speak from personal experience when she states; “Representative Todd always recognized the arts as an integral part of the education of children.  As a core teacher she reached out to me in the art department to collaborate on curricular units.  Representative Todd is an incredibly compassionate individual who always focuses on what is best for the education of the young people in our state.”

Theresa Ferg, Interim Chair of the Arts Resource Council, writes in her letter of support “Representative Todd understands it is the time for educators to connect the arts disciplines for successful academic programs of integrated subjects so that students’ opportunities for innovative careers can continue to increase.”