From WCS inFocus
Three Williamson County Schools teachers are showing their dedication to the arts and earning recognition from the Tennessee Art Education Association (TAEA).
The TAEA announced the recipients for its annual awards, which includes educators and sponsors of the year as well as other contributions to the association. In order to receive the award, the recipient must be nominated by a colleague and then have the application materials reviewed by a panel of judges.
Fairview Middle School’s Michelle Vinci was named the Middle Level Art Educator of the Year.
“I was so honored and humbled to even be nominated for this award,” Vinci said. “Working with the students at Fairview Middle has been so incredible over the years, and I learn from them every day. While my subject is for students to learn and appreciate art, I truly hope they feel valued and important in a space they can enjoy expressing themselves.”
Independence High School’s Andrea Howard received the Secondary Art Educator of the Year award.
“It is a great honor to be selected as Secondary Art Educator of the Year,” Howard said. “I am very grateful that my peers thought of me for this award.”
Summit High School’s Beth Affolter was named the National Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year.
“It was already an honor just to be nominated,” Affolter said. “I love working with my National Art Honor Society; it is really the highlight of my day. Each year we grow in number and try and reach out even more to the community. This fall will be working on a community/school collaborative stained glass window project for the fine arts hallway.”
All the award winners will be officially recognized on November 1 at 7 p.m. at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
