Elections are now open for the positions of Secretary and Treasurer. Though both are running unopposed please cast your vote of support.

Secretary – Jaimee Taborda

Jaimee Taborda cares deeply about instilling the values of artistic thinking in her students through the Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) approach to art education. A high school art educator of eleven years, she bridges contemporary art practices with current education concepts to provide a rich and diverse learning environment. She continuously challenges herself to learn more, both as an educator, through professional development, and as an artist, through studio classes. In addition to working as an artist and teaching full time at Oxford High School in Oxford, MA, Jaimee currently serves as department head of Unified Arts, adviser for art club and the National Art Honor Society, Adjunct Professor at Gordon College, and the new Interim Secretary for the MAEA. Jaimee is passionate about art education and strives to instill a love for the arts in all of her students.

Treasurer – Helen Downey

A member of the first graduating class of art majors from Framingham State College Helen Downey began teaching art in 1976 in the Marlborough Public Schools where she taught until she retired in 2012. During her thirty-six year career, Helen was as a facilitator for an Art Frameworks study group, presented at both MAEA and NELMS conferences, served a year as treasurer of the local Teacher’s Union, and received an M.Ed in curriculum and instruction from Lesley University. As K-12 Art Coordinator for 3 years, Helen was instrumental in the development and promotion of the department’s Permanent Collection. A member of the MAEA board since 2007 she became co-chair of the YAM committee in 2014 and has most recently served as treasurer and youth art month committee chair. Despite her retirement Helen remains involved in and a proponent for art education.