Art Education Leadership Award Winners 2023

Awarded to visionaries who continually inspire their peers in the art education community through their online school gallery on Artsonia.

Amy Ahmed

Sappington Elementary School (St. Louis, MO)

We strive to welcome all students in the Sappington art room. Having choice and creating a unique artistic voice is important in our classroom.

My background is in Visual Art, Dance, and Interdisciplinary Arts with degrees from Lindenwood University and Columbia College. I have taught all ages from PreK - 12th grade and just really love being around kids.

Nicole Bastiaanse-Fritch

West District Elementary School (Unionville, CT)

Art is a record of mankind's history even before we could read or write, humans were creating art! So, it's important!

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Painting, Drawing and Digital Media from Marist College, in Poughkeepsie NY. I studied at the Leo Marchutz School of painting and drawing in Aix-en-Provence, France. I earned my visual arts teaching certificate from SCSU and Master’s in Holistic Thinking from The Graduate Institute. I completed an additional 30 credits and earned my Technology Integrations 6th level certificate from the Dominican University in December 2022! I began teaching in Enfield and moved to Farmington for the wonderful opportunity to teach your children!!

I love art! I’m frequently commissioned for portraits and various art projects. I love to garden and spend time with my husband Mike, who is a teacher too! also a teacher, and my two daughters, my two dogs Brady and Piper, our 6 chickens and my daughter's lizard!

John-Paul Butcher

Platteville High School (Platteville, WI)

I graduated college in 2001 with a degree in Art Education and got my Master's in Art Education in 2015. I have taught in Yuma, Co....Iowa-Grant...and Osseo, WI. and now I've been teaching in Platteville since 2016. The HS Art Program has grown since I've had the honor of teaching here. I teach 21 different art classes. We have a 1st-12th grade art show and display/rotate 36 pieces or art every month around the community as well as display artwork on Artsonia for friends and families to see how talented their kids are!

Jennifer Crancer

YES Prep Southeast Secondary School (Houston, TX)

Art runs the world. Art is life!

My teaching career started in 2002 in Houston, TX. Over the years I have taught Kindergarten, Chemistry, Health, and Art (Middle School Art, Art I, Art II, Art III, and AP Studio Art). Art is not always easy. It can challenge the brain in ways that other subjects cannot. This is a big reason why I love to teach it. It allows students to dive deep into their amazing brains and pull out ideas that the greats would not have thought of. My class is a project-based class that encourages creative thinking and processing. Students leave my class with the knowledge that Art IS the reason we breathe. It helps every other career be creative and critical in their thinking. It truly is an Art to be able to create. Through our projects, students learn to identify the elements of art and principles of design. Their knowledge of art history drives their creative ideas in each project. It truly is amazing to watch their ideas come to fruition! My students are worth every second we put in, everyday. They have taught me so much and I look forward to having more joyful classes in the future.

Take a look at the thousands of pieces my students have uploaded this year and in the past. Their work is so inspiring!

Erica Gresock

Grand Blanc East Middle School (Grand Blanc, MI)

I teach 6th and 8th-grade art in Grand Blanc Michigan. I have been teaching art to middle schoolers for more than 25 years and I absolutely love it! I have an art degree from Michigan State University and education degrees from U of M Flint and Marygrove College. My husband and I plan to live and sail around the world on a sailboat when I retire in a few years. I am so blessed to have had so many wonderful students go through my art classes. It's really fun to see what they have accomplished and how they use art in their lives even after they leave middle school.

Yasemin Luca

PS 20 John Bowne Elementary School (Flushing, New York)

I am one of the Visual Arts Teachers at P.S.20 John Bowne Elementary School, in Flushing, New York. I am very excited to be a part of this creative school! I enjoy each and every one of my students ranging from 3 Pre-K through 5th Grade.

Being a Visual Arts Teacher ensures that creativity and expression are experienced in The 127 Art Studio.
It's an art-making world, so let's create and express ourselves through the ARTS. Remember, art is in your heART!

Molly Marshall

Nickels Intermediate School (Byron Center, MI)

Art is the best! When I was a young adult I knew that making art with kids was what my life’s work would be. I attended college at Kendall College of Art and Design to earn a BFA in Visual Communications and also my Visual Art Teaching Certification. I went on to Western Michigan University to earn a Master's in Art Education as well. I have been teaching art in Byron Center since 2010, and I love it! Being able to spend time daily everyday with kids creating is pretty special! There are so many things to learn about art, and I believe it’s my job to try and let kids experience and experiment with as many different forms of art-making that I can. I have the best artists in my school, and I love being able to showcase their work and show off their talents!

Beth Messman

St. Johns Lutheran School (Two Rivers, WI)

I've been an elementary teacher at St. John's Lutheran School for almost 30 years. I earned my bachelor's degree at DMLC in New Ulm, Minnesota. I live along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, where we have amazing beaches and countless sources of inspiration for creating art. Our school is located just outside the city near a cedar swamp, where we've developed a unique outdoor learning center for our students. We often see sandhill cranes, turkeys, songbirds, and white-tail deer sharing the same trails as our students! We are blessed with daily glimpses of God's handiwork.

I enjoy creating art experiences for my students. It is rewarding to see the unique gifts of the children shine through in their artwork. I LOVE that Artsonia provides a platform on which to share our school's amazing artists and their work. I can't wait for you to visit our gallery. Enjoy!

Stephanie Middaugh

James B. Eads Elementary School (Munster, IN)

I have been teaching art for 9 years! I love seeing what my students create every day! I hope you enjoy browsing James B. Eads Elementary’s Artsonia gallery!

Stephanie Moench

Liberty Corner Elementary School (Corner, NJ)

Elementary Art teacher at Liberty Corner School since 2019. Art Educator since 2008.

Amy Nipe

Indian Land Elementary School (Fort Mill, SC)

Every artwork is worth 1000 words!
Your child has a lot to say. Many times they tell their stories through pictures.

I have been teaching art since 2001, and have loved all the stories I have uploaded to Artsonia!
I am always surprised with how talented our students are and I love to share them with you!

Marnie Phillips

Clarendon Avenue Elementary School (Mukwonago, WI)

She is a graduate of UW-Madison & Cardinal Stritch and a Mukwonago High School Alumna. She absolutely loves to teach art and strives to make every art lesson fun, yet educational. Ms. Phillips especially loves to see the creativity that she can evoke in her students and the pride on their faces when they accomplish difficult tasks. She will continue to look for more ways to showcase their artistic talents.

Ben Pinciotti

Cassingham Elementary School (Bexley, OH)

Ben is the art teacher at Cassingham Elementary School.

Natalie Strough

Stanberry Elementary School (Stanberry, MO)

Natalie is the art teacher at Stanberry Elementary School.

Carrie White

Aspen Ridge Preparatory School (Erie, CO)

Mrs. White believes in the power of art to bring joy and confidence, and to teach problem-solving skills, patience, and expression. She hopes to inspire her students to enjoy the process of expressing themselves through their artwork, while growing and connecting with each other in a supportive artistic community.

She has 11 years of public school teaching experience, along with six years teaching private art lessons and leading large-scale collaborative painting events. Ms. White absolutely loves helping others find their creative spark.

Ms. White enjoys spending her free time with her family and two rescue dogs. She loves stopping to sketch the awe-inspiring landscapes all around Colorado, reading, and learning new art and craft mediums. She is thrilled to be part of the ARPS community and enjoys watching her students grow year after year.