MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2023
MAEA Lifetime Achievement Award – June Krinsky-Rudder, Revere, MA
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year – Jennifer Ferrari, Bedford Public Schools, Bedford, MA
Early Childhood Art Educator of the Year – Julia Mullins, Lynn Public Schools, Lynn, MA
Elementary Art Educator of the Year –Amy Brown, Chelmsford Public Schools, Chelmsford, MA
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Jessica Lazarus, Pembroke Public Schools, Pembroke, MA
Museum Education Art Educator of the Year – Martine Malengret-Bardosh, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
Retired Art Educator of the Year – Lois Hetland, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Emma Baker, Lynn Public Schools, Lynn, MA
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2022
MAEA Lifetime Achievement Award– Maureen & Ralph Caouette, Fitchburg Public Schools & Wachusett Regional School District
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year – Jessica Daviso, Lowell Public Schools
Early Childhood Art Educator of the Year – Susan Fisher, Lesley University
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Amy Hussey, Reading Public Schools
Middle Level Art Educator of the Year – Ursina Amsler, Masconomet Regional School District
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Erin Sutton, Lynn Classical High School, Lynn
Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year – Julie Baker, Marlborough Public Schools
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year – Susan Barahal, Tufts University
Retired Art Educator of the Year – Anne Kress, Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools
Community Art Educator of the Year – Joy Murrieta, Main Idea
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Elanna Honan, Boston University
Rising Star Secondary Student Award – Jacob Baronas, Worcester Public Schools
Distinguished Service Within the Profession – Maureen Creegan-Quinquis, Lesley University
Distinguished Service Outside the Profession – Lee Yonika, Worcester Public Schools
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2021
MAEA Lifetime Achievement Award – Eva Kearney, Winthrop Public Schools
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year – Ann Villarreal, Worcester Public Schools
Higher Education Preservice Art Educator of the Year – Ivy Mayer, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Early Childhood Art Educator of the Year – Bridget O’Leary, Dedham Public Schools
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Catie Nasser, Middleton Public Schools
Middle Level Art Educator of the Year – Louis Martinez, North Brookfield Public Schools
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Kristyn Shea, Easton Public Schools
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year – Christopher Hall, Boston Public Schools
Retired Art Educator of the Year – Marie Meegan, Salem Public Schools
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year – Pamela Bower-Basso, Tufts University/School of the Museum of Fine Arts
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Chesley Chapman, Falmouth Public Schools
Rising Star Secondary Student Award – Hannah MacLean, Franklin High School
Distinguished Service Within the Profession – Brenna Johnson, Franklin High School
Distinguished Service Outside the Profession – Mary Keefe, Massachusetts House of Representatives
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2020
MAEA Lifetime Achievement Award – Timothy O’Connor, New England Art Education Conference, Boston
Art Educator of the Year – Lizzie Fortin, Worcester Public Schools
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Jacob Ginga, Weston Public Schools
Middle Level Art Educator of the Year – Jonathan Hansen, Mendon-Upton Regional School District
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Amanda Davis, Hull Public Schools
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year – Lora Barrett, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Museum Art Educator of the Year – Julie Bernson, deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, Lincoln
Early Childhood Art Educator of the Year – Mary Geisser, Bunker Hill Community College, Boston
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Callie Mulcahy, Worcester Public Schools
Distinguished Service Within the Profession – Robb Sandagata, Davis Publications, Worcester
Distinguished Service Outside the Profession – Marc Mastrolia, Ride Studio Cafe, Lexington
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2019
MAEA Lifetime Achievement Award – John Michael Gray – Fine Arts Coordinator, Newton Public Schools, Newton
Art Educator of the Year – Jaimee Taborda – Oxford High School, Oxford
Early Childhood Art Educator of the Year – Meg Kuker – The Family Cooperative, Watertown
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Alexandra Etscovitz – Memorial Spaulding Elementary, Newton
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Anne Charron – West Springfield High School, West Springfield
Museum Art Educator of the Year – Christine Jee – Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover
Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year – Patty Klibansky – Lynn Public Schools, Lynn
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Jacob Ginga – Field Elementary, Weston
Community Art Educator of the Year – Deb Smook – New Bedford Art Museum/Artworks!, New Bedford
Distinguished Service Within the Profession – Liz Rudnick Reiser – Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston
Distinguished Service Outside the Profession – Candace Lee Heald – AHA!, New Bedford
NAEA National Middle Level Art Educator 2019 – Alice Gentili – Mendon-Upton Regional School District
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2018
Art Educator of the Year – Patty Bode – Amherst Regional Middle School, Amherst
Early Childhood Educator of the Year Award – Cathy Weisman Topal – Smith College, Northampton
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Simone Kivett – Lincoln-Thomson Elementary School and Hood Elementary School, Lynn
Middle-Level Art Educator of the Year – Tobey Eugenio – Our Sister’s School, New Bedford
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Erin Uptegrove – Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton
Higher Educator of the Year Award – Vivian Poey – Lesley University, Cambridge Museum
Art Educator of the Year – Laura Howick – Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg
Supervision/ Administration Art Educator of the Year – Dr. Luci Prawdzik – Somerville Public Schools, Somerville
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Brittany LeBold – Claypit Hill Elementary School, Wayland
Community Art Educator of the Year – Lauren Savoia – New Bedford Art Museum/Artworks!, New Bedford
Higher Education Preservice Art Educator of the Year – Taylor Penning – University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Dartmouth
Distinguished Service Outside the Profession – Lella Gandini – U.S. Liaison for the Reggio Emilia Program of Early Childhood Education
Rising Star – Jacob Cabral – Fairhaven High School, Fairhaven
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2017
Art Educator of the Year – Katherine Douglas, Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), Middleboro
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Amy Green, Ashley Kindergarten School and Fausey Elementary School, West Springfield
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Christine Menard Neville, Fairhaven High School, Fairhaven
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year – Lisa B. Fiore, Ph.D., Lesley University, Cambridge
Supervision /Administration Art Educator of the Year – Jacqueline Francisco, Fall River Public Schools, Fall River
Museum Art Educator of the Year – Sara Egan, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year – Peter Flister, Youth Villages-Germaine Lawrence Campus, Arlington
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Tim Chaves, Whitcomb Middle School, Marlborough
Friend of Art Education – Lisa Donovan, Ph.D., Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams
Community Arts Educator – Andrea Green, Summit Montessori School, Framingham
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2016
Art Educator of the Year – Stacy Lord, Worcester East Middle School
Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Melissa Mastrolia, Conant Elementary School, Acton
Middle School Art Educator of the Year – HoYin Yuen, Barnstable Intermediate School
Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Mary Beth Eldridge, Taconic High School, Pittsfield
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year – Maureen Kelly, Professor of Art Education, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Supervision /Administration Art Educator of the Year – Timmary Leary, Visual Arts Liaison, Worcester Public Schools
Museum Art Educator of the Year – Dr. Laura Thompson, Director of Education and KidSpace, MassMoCA
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year – Gemma Flavin, Landmark School, Manchester by the Sea
Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year – Amanda Russell, Merrill School & Mitchell Elementary School, Bridgewater-Raynham School District
Friend of Art Education – Jocelyn Almy-Testa, Extras for Creative Reuse, Lynn
Community Arts Educator – Kathleen Lomatoski, Family Programs Coordinator, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2015
Art Educator of the Year- Alice Gentili | Miscoe Hill Middle School, Mendon
Elementary Art Educator of the Year- Meg Largey | Gerana Community School, Springfield
Middle Level Art Educator of the Year- Billy Claire | The Fay School, Southborough
Secondary Art Educator of the Year- Corinne Adams | Falmouth High School
Higher Education Educator of the Year- Laura Reeder | Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Museum Education Educator of the Year- Suzi Fonda | Museum of Fine Arts
Friend of Art Education- Deborah Simmerman | Administrative Assistant, Art Education, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Community Arts- Dean Nimmer
Special Needs Educator of the Year- Mary Silvestri Simmons | The Learning Center for the Deaf, Framingham
Exceptional New Educator of the Year- Angela Chouinard | Whitcomb School, Marlborough
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2014
Art Educator of the Year- Dr. Ruth Starratt | Boston University, Boston
Exceptional New Educator of the Year- Alexis Kornblum | Clough Elementary School, Mendon
Elementary Art Educator of the Year- Paige Coviello | Horace Mann Laboratory School, Salem
Secondary Art Educator of the Year- David Stockbridge | Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough
Higher Ed. Art Educator of the Year- Aimée DeBose | Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston
Community Arts- Noelle Foye | Artworks! New Bedford
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year- Laura Evonne Steinmann | Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts, Jamaica Plain & Mattahunt School, Mattapan
Museum Art Educator of the Year- Jennifer DePrizio | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Friend of Art Education- Jonathan Rappaport | Arts|Learning
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2013
Art Educator of the Year- Christopher Whitehead | Worcester Art Museum
Elementary Art Educator of the Year- Greta Anderson | Old Rochester School District
Middle School Art Educator of the Year- Eve DelGreco | Susan B. Anthony Middle School – Revere
Secondary Art Educator of the Year- Sarah Dugan | Woburn High School
Higher Ed. Art Educator of the Year- Dr. Rebecca Plummer Rohloff | Salem State University
Supervision/Administration Art Ed.- Jane Hogan – Art Director | Franklin Public Schools
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year- Lolly Lincoln | Cambridge Public Schools
Rising Star Award- Priscilla Portes | Milford High School
Museum Art Educator of the Year- Emily Scheinberg | Peabody Essex Museum
Friend of Art Education- Bhakti Oza | Sargent Art
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2012
Mass. Art Educator of the Year- Kristi Oliver | Marlborough High School, Marlborough
Elementary Art Educator of the Year- Sally Lividini | Spring Street School, Shrewsbury
Middle School Art Educator of the Year- Alice Gentili | Miscoe Hill Middle School, Mendon
Secondary Art Educator of the Year- Sheila Tetler | West Boylston High School, West Boylston
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year- Martha Taunton | University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year- Kay Furst | Elementary Natick, MA
Art Education Administrator of the Year- Constance Moore | Director of Humanities, Winthrop Public Schools, Winthrop
Museum Art Educator of the Year- Christopher Whitehead | Worcester Art Museum
2012 Friend of Art Education- Jodi Schmidt -Director | EXCL Recycle Center Boston/Lynn, Massachusetts
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2011
Art Educator of the Year- Dr. John Michael Gray | Retired, Newton, MA
Elementary Art Educator of the Year- Sharon Santillo – Greenmeadow Elementary School, Maynard, MA
Middle School Art Educator of the Year- Melinda Pimentel | Joseph Case Junior High School, Swansea, MA
Secondary Art Educator of the Year- Kristi Oliver | Marlborough High School HS
Higher Ed. Art Educator of the Year- Cathy Smilan | Assistant Professor and Director of Master of Art Education Program, UMass- Dartmouth
Museum Art Educator of the Year- Gillian Bonazoli – Worcester Art Museum | Art All-State Coordinator
Art Ed. Supervisor of the Year- Kathy Ivanowski, Visual Arts Liaison | Worcester Public Schools
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year- Maria Eydenberg | Clara Macy Elementary School, Bellingham
Friend of Art Education- Jim Welu | Director, Worcester Art Museum
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2010
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year- June Krinsky-Rudder | Revere High School, Revere
Elementary Art Educator of the Year- Martha Parish Chap.m.an | Ayers Ryal Side School, Beverly
Middle School Art Educator of the Year- Kristen Ripley | Chenery Middle School, Belmont
Secondary Art Educator of the Year- Donna Sartanowicz | Brookline High School, Brookline
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year- Patricia Bode, Director of Art Education | Tufts University in Affiliation with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
Supervisor/Administrator- Marie Shack, Art Liason | Wilmington High School, Wilmington
Museum Art Educator of the Year- Michelle Grohe | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year- Carolann Tebbets | Milford High School, Milford
Friend of Art Education- Dan Hunter, Executive Director | Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts and Sciences (MAASH)
MAEA Art Educator of the Year 2009
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2009 Dot Arthur | Bentley School, Salem It should be noted that (during this transitional year – when we are moving to a single MAEA conference in the fall, and aligning our awards schedule with that of the National Art Education Association, as well as moving to digital communication only) the only award presented in 2009 (for the 2008 – 2009 school year) is that for the Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year. We elected to present this award, as the state awardees receive recognition at the national convention – this year in Minneapolis, MN – and we wanted to make sure that our nominee would receive proper recognition. In accordance with the national guidelines, our nominee was submitted to the NAEA before October 1, 2008. In 2009 – 2010, we will resume the awarding of Art Educators of the Year, and Friends of Art Education. These awards were presented at the Massachusetts Art Education Associations Fall Conference (at University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, on November 14, 2009)
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2008
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2008 Eva Kearney | Winthrop High School, Winthrop
Elementary Art Educator of the Year Bonnie Miur | Elmwood Elementary School, Hopkinton
Middle School Art Educator of the Year Leia Roberts | Miscoe Hill School, Mendon
Secondary Art Educator of the Year Sue Gallagher | Gardner High School, Gardner
Higher Education Art Educator of the Year Maureen Creegan-Quinquis | Salem State College, Salem
Supervisor/Administrator Diana Adams-Woodruff | Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton
Museum Art Educator of the Year Sandy Weisman | Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston
Special Needs Art Educator of the Year Emily Boulger | Danvers High School, Danvers
Friends of Art Education – We Have Three Winners! The Boston Globe (for 58 years of support for Scholastic Art Awards) State Senator Stephen Brewer (for support of art education/Youth Art Month) Rob Kenyon (Crayola – for all he does, but especially for assistance given to Somerville School that lost everything in fire)
MAEA Art Educators of the Year 2007 – 1977
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2007 Maureen Caouette, Holden
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2006 Kimberly Kent, Stoneham
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2005 Timothy O’ Connor, Boston
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2004 Ralph Caouette, Holden
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2003 Marie L. Meegan, Salem
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2002 Pauline Joseph, Cambridge
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2001 Diana Hampe, Dedham
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 2000 Theresa Craddock, Sharon
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1999 Ronald Trent Anderson, Amherst
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1998 John MacPhee, Holliston
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1997 Shirley B. Bloom, Brookline
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1996 Dale Bentley, Framingham
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1995 Ann Malachowski, Dedham
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1994 Nancy E. Sheehan, Malden
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1993 Edward McDonough, Norwood
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1992 Robin McGoff, Marshfield Hills
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1991 Joy M. Seidler, Holliston
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1990 Susan Wheltle, Arlington
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1988-89 Not awarded
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1987 Jeffrey Melzack, Lincoln
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1986 Stephen Smalley, Bridgewater
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1985 Marion H. Eckhardt, Brewster
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1984 Tura Britton Dudley, Sutton
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1983 Pasquale Morano, Boston
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1982 Sr. M. Antonine Egan, Boston
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1981 Carleton Reed, Westwood
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1980 Robert Bertolli, Boston
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1979 Madeline Brown, Dedham
Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year 1977-78 Not awarded