Working to Recognize Quality Arts Educators
Who are the educator professionals supporting you? Who has positively influenced your practice and career? Honor them today with a request to nominate.
Thank them for helping you to be the teacher you are now.
Please make it your goal to nominate a fellow arts educator this year!
Nominations are due annually on the first Friday in January. (*First Friday in April for Preservice.)
All nominee application Packets are due February 1st. (*June 1st for preservice.)
Thank them for helping you to be the teacher you are now.
Please make it your goal to nominate a fellow arts educator this year!
Nominations are due annually on the first Friday in January. (*First Friday in April for Preservice.)
All nominee application Packets are due February 1st. (*June 1st for preservice.)
Awards Information:
For the Nominator:
Check to see if the nominee is an MAEA Member. Need help with this? Contact [email protected]
Complete the Nomination Form no later than the first Friday in January.
(*The first Friday in April for Preservice nominations.)
Nomination Form
For the Nominee:
Completed award packets must be submitted no later than February 1st. (*June 1st for Preservice Student application packets.)
Incomplete packets will be considered invalid.
Maine Art Education Association Awards Categories:
Maine Art Educator of the Year (AEOY)
Elem/Middle/High AEOY
Retired AEOY
Community AEOY
Supervision/Administration AEOY
Museum AEOY
Higher Education AEOY
New to the Profession AEOY
Preservice AEOY
Outstanding Service With the Community (formerly To the Community)
Outstanding Service In the Art Classroom (formerly Through the Profession)
Outstanding Service To the Profession
Distinguished Art Educator
All nominations - except Retired and Preservice Students - will be considered a nomination for the Maine Art Education Association Educator of the Year.
Check to see if the nominee is an MAEA Member. Need help with this? Contact [email protected]
Complete the Nomination Form no later than the first Friday in January.
(*The first Friday in April for Preservice nominations.)
Nomination Form
For the Nominee:
- Review the rubric specific to the award for which you are being nominated.
- Complete the Standardized CV Form. Located in the folders specific to the award for which you are being nominated.
- Compile and submit up to three letters of support.
- Required for Preservice Student Art Educators completing their final student teaching placements:
- Artwork (up to 20 images, 200 second limit) Provide url for YouTube upload.
- Philosophy of Teaching Art
Completed award packets must be submitted no later than February 1st. (*June 1st for Preservice Student application packets.)
Incomplete packets will be considered invalid.
Maine Art Education Association Awards Categories:
Maine Art Educator of the Year (AEOY)
- The highest-scorer chosen from a pool of nominees from the current and recent years.
- Previous years’ nominees and awardees are strongly encouraged to update and resubmit their applications for consideration.
Elem/Middle/High AEOY
- For teachers with more than three years of art teaching experience.
- Excellence in teaching, making art, connecting with the community, advocating for art education, and participation and involvement with professional organizations (including the MAEA)
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Retired AEOY
- For teachers who have been retired for at least 3 years
- Excellence in teaching, making art, connecting with the community, advocating for art education, and participation and involvement with professional organizations (including the MAEA) - both before and after retirement
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Community AEOY
- For teaching artists, community arts organizations, and other non-traditional visual, design and media arts community members that support engagement in the arts
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Supervision/Administration AEOY
- For superintendents, principals, assistant principals, district art coordinators, or those in other administrative or supervisory roles
- Excellence in support of visual art education at the school or district level, shown through budgeting and scheduling decisions, participation in classes and events, inclusion of art educators in leadership and decision-making
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Museum AEOY
- For museum educators
- Excellence in developing and delivering innovative art education programming in a museum setting, facilitating connections with schools and the community
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Higher Education AEOY
- For educators teaching at the post-secondary level (associate, undergraduate, or graduate level)
- Excellence in teaching art education or visual, design, and media arts, making art, connecting with the community, advocating for art education, and participation and involvement with professional organizations (including the MAEA)
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
New to the Profession AEOY
- For teachers in the first three years of their art teaching career
- Emerging excellence in teaching, making art, connecting with the community, advocating for art education, and participation and involvement with professional organizations (including the MAEA)
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Preservice AEOY
- For teacher candidates completing their student teaching placements in the current school year
- Excellence in teaching, making art, connecting with the community, advocating for art education, and participation and involvement with professional organizations (including the MAEA)
- Awarded based on nomination and scored by the Awards Committee using the rubric
Outstanding Service With the Community (formerly To the Community)
- Excellence in involvement and participation in arts-related activities to connect with and benefit the school and/or local community
- Awarded at the discretion of the Awards Committee
Outstanding Service In the Art Classroom (formerly Through the Profession)
- Excellence in quality instruction and programming
- Awarded at the discretion of the Awards Committee
Outstanding Service To the Profession
- Excellence in service and participation in the MAEA
- Awarded at the discretion of the Awards Committee
Distinguished Art Educator
- Recognizing individuals who have made a significant impact in the profession over the course of their career
- Awarded at the discretion of the Awards Committee
All nominations - except Retired and Preservice Students - will be considered a nomination for the Maine Art Education Association Educator of the Year.
Links to application folders - Including Nomination Form, CV, Rubrics, and checklist,
can be found by clicking HERE.
Maine Art Educators of the Year: |
Maine Art Advocates of the Year: |
2025 Elise Pelletier
2024 Iva Damon 2023 Matthew Johnson 2022 Reagan Russell 2021 Jodi Thomas 2020 Amy Cousins 2019 Holly Houston 2018 Deb Bickford 2017 Suzanne Goulet 2016 Carolyn Brown 2015 Allison Foote Price 2014 Sandy Brennan 2013 Not awarded 2012 Linda Stanley 2011 Molly Mains 2010 Shalimar Poulin 2009 Kay McKeever Allison 2008 Sarah Tabor 2007 Charlie Johnson 2006 Wendy Libby 2005 Pam Ouellette 2004 Deloris White 2003 Karen Maxell 2002 Tom Block 2001 Kal S. Elmore 2000 Tory Tyler-Millar 1999 Manon Iodice Lewis 1998 Corliss Chastain 1997 Frank Chin 1996 Cathy Geren 1995 Debi Lynne 1994 Sandy Crabtree 1993 Stan Colburn 1992 Elaine J. Cyr 1991 Anne Tarbox 1990 Wendy Russo 1989 Charlotte Giovanella Fullam 1988 Not awarded 1987 Natasha Kempers Cullen 1986 Ray Lund 1985 Mary Ann Stankiewicz 1984 Gary Beckwith 1983 Chris Chapman 1982 Shelia Bohlin 1981 Dianne Noble 1980 Dr. Joanna J. Moore 1977-79 Not awarded |
2024 Robert Shetterly, Americans Who Tell the Truth
2023 Mia Bogyo, Center for Maine Contemporary Art 2022 Janet Parkhurst, Stained Glass Express 2021 Waterville Creates 2020 Susan Potters, MAAE 2019 Waterfall Arts 2018 Maine Education Association 2017 Saco Museum 2016 Maine College of Art 2015 Peter and Paula Lunder, Lunder Family Foundation 2014 Catherine Ring, MAAI 2013 Argy Nestor, Maine Department of Education 2012 Carol Trimble, MAAE 2011 Lauren Lessing, Colby Museum of Art 2010 Roxanne Quimby, Quimby Family Foundation 2009 Kennebunk Savings Bank 2008 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts 2007 Stacy Rodenberger, Portland Museum of Art 2006 Dr. Trudy Wilson, University of Southern Maine 2005 Dana Baldwin, Portland Museum of Art 2004 Karen Baldacci, First Lady 2003 Jane Amero 2002 Victoria Wood 1999 Sharon Townsend 1996 Wes LaFountain |