Katie Morris 

Art Educator High School

Holton, KS

Katie Morris has served as an art educator in Kansas for the past 16 years.She currently teaches at Holton High School. Her school leadership roles include serving on building and district leadership teams, mentoring new teachers, NEA officer and negotiator, and Jackson County Arts Council president, vice president and secretary. She co-founded the Jackson County Art Walk and has planned and implemented two public mural projects. 

Morris has been active at both the state and national levels of the Art Education Association. She has been on the KAEA board since 2007, the KAEA Communications and Social Media Chair since 2011 and regularly attends and presents at state and national conferences. She was named the KAEA Outstanding Elementary Art Educator in 2014 and the KAEA Outstanding K-12 Art Educator in 2021.

Morris earned a Master’s in Art Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a Bachelor of Science in Education, Art Education with an Art History minor from Emporia State University, and has completed numerous continuing education courses at Friends University and Baker University.

In addition to being a full time art educator Kate Morris is a practicing artist and has been included in many juried shows across the state, including the prestigious Symphony in the Flint Hills Art Exhibition & Auction. She has completed seven public murals in Kansas. Her photography has been featured in the KANSAS! Magazine Photography edition numerous times. She also contributes articles to the professional art education  journals “Arts & Activities” and “School Arts”.

The letters of recommendation and support for Katie Morris contain many accolades: 

In her letter of nomination Dr. Charity-Mika Woodard of Emporia State University, notes that Katie Morris “ has demonstrated her dedication to promoting art education and fostering connections among educators across the state. Her tireless efforts to engage with fellow educators, creating advocacy materials, presenting at conferences, and overall being at the KAEA Board’s beck and call for all things technology, shows her dedication and passion for the arts and her role as a leader in our community. Dr Woodard goes on to say that Katie’s ”dual commitment to teaching and creating art not only enriches her own practice but also inspires her students to explore their creative potential. ” Woodard concludes, “I believe that she is exceptionally deserving of this recognition due to her unwavering commitment to her students and the broader art community.”

Traci Frazier, Holton High School Counselor in her letter of support proclaims that “Katie stands out as the best art teacher I have ever seen…Her dedication, creativity, and passion for teaching make her exceptionally deserving of this honor.”

Holton High School Principal Jeremy Truelove states that “Katie Morris embodies the qualities of an Outstanding Art Teacher. Her dedication to reaching every student, her commitment to pushing them to be their best, her active involvement in the community, her efforts to recognize student artwork, and her unwavering passion for inspiring young artists make her an exceptional candidate for this prestigious award.”

Lisa Lang 

Art Educator Elementary

Lisa Lang is a highly respected Kansas art teacher who serves as the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School Art Teacher. Lang earned a Bachelor’s of Science in K-12 Art Education from Kansas State University and has continued her learning participating in many professional development webinars and courses. 

According to Rev. C. Jarrod Lies pastor of St. Francis of Assisi “Lisa has been a steady and creative presence in our school for over 16 years. She brings care and clarity to her work, always focused on helping her students grow, not just as artists–but as people. Her impact is seen in the classroom, in the art that fills our halls and in the confidence she helps nurture in her students.” 

Lang is an emerging leader in the KAEA and currently serves as the KAEA Board Regional Chair. She regularly presents and participates in KAEA workshops, has been on numerous conference planning committees,  and was Co-Chair of the KAEA 2024 Fall Conference.  

Lang generously shares her talents by providing professional development for her fellow teachers. She is co-chair of the Wichita Diocesan Professional Development Committee and chair of the St. Francis PD committee. She also serves as a mentor for student teachers in Art and is a presenter at the Wichita Diocesan Teacher to Teacher Summer Learning Institute.

Lang maintains a personal creative practice and has exhibited her art in Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, Delaware, and Florida. 

Mrs. Mary Carter, Principal of St. Francis of Assisi concludes “ Mrs. Lisa Lang’s “expertise, passion and dedication to both her students and her profession make her a clear and deserving choice for this prestigious award”

Grace Luther 

Art Educator Middle School

Grace Luther is a highly respected Kansas art educator who has served as Iola Middle School Art Teacher for 5 years. “She has excelled in the classroom and…. continually goes above and beyond to help and encourage students.”  according to Iola Middle School Principal Brad Crusinbery.

Luther’s educational credentials include an Associates Degree in General Education from Neosho County Community College and a Bachelors of Art in PreK-12 Art Education from Bethany College.

Luther is an active member of KAEA previously serving in the role of Southeast Kansas Regional Coordinator and currently as the Middle School Representative to the KAEA board. According to Dr. Charity-Mika Woodard “She has been instrumental in supporting Southeast Kansas art education events, volunteering her time and expertise to help organize and promote drive-in professional development sessions that have strengthened our regional network of art teachers.”

Dr Woodard concludes “Grace is a dedicated and inspiring art educator whose commitment to her students, colleagues, and the broader art education community sets her apart as truly exceptional…Her passion for art education, dedication to her fellow teachers, and genuine care for her students make her an exemplary candidate for this honor.”

Mary St. John 

Art Educator High School

Topeka, KS

Mary St John is a highly respected Special Education Art Teacher who serves the Topeka, KS Capital City Schools as an Art teacher and Special Education provider.  Daniel L Bullock, Assistant Principal for Capital City School says of Mrs. St John.“From the moment she stepped into our community, it became clear that she embodies the creativity, passion and dedication that we seek in our teachers.”

St John has been a member of KAEA and NAEA since 2007 and actively participates in attending conventions and workshops. Last year she presented a workshop at the KAEA fall conference and attended the NAEA convention in Louisville KY.  

St John’s educational credentials include a Master of Science in Education (High Incident), University of Kansas, a Bachelors of Science in Education (Art Education), Emporia State University, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Photography), Emporia State University, and an Associates Degree, from Johnson County Community College.

Mary St John’s students participate each year in the Kansas Youth Art Month Exhibition. She also seeks opportunities for students to show their work by helping plan and support  student art exhibits. Her own creative work has been exhibited in a variety of venues in Kansas. Her publications include articles for local journals and newspapers on connections between art and mental health

In her letter of nomination Megan Wendelton notes that “A very special characteristic that Mary has is deep empathy for her students. She works with kids that can come to school with a variety of challenges. Her art room is a safe space for these kids to express themselves and she places a priority on their well-being.”  

Kristen Johnson

Hoxie, KS

Kristin Johnson is a highly respected art educator who currently teaches K-8 Art and 9-12 Graphic Design in Hoxie, KS. She has been teaching art in public, private and home schools across Kansas and Michigan since 1990. 

In her nomination of Johnson, Linda Nelson-Bova explained “I am constantly impressed by the quality of the work and the projects that she does with her students at all levels.  She may teach in a very small school district, but Kristin and her colleague have developed a very good art program.” 

According to Kristin's former superintendent Jim Howard, now Superintendent of Schools / Elementary Principal for USD 335; North Jackson “What truly sets Kristin apart is her unwavering commitment to her students' holistic development. She doesn’t just teach art; she cultivates confidence, critical thinking, and joy in creative expression. Her students’ achievements, both in and beyond the classroom, are a testament to her influence.”

Johnson’s educational credentials include a B.A. in Studio Art/Art Education and a minor in Sociology from Bethel College, St. Paul, MN, and over 40 credit hours in art, education and related fields from Michigan State, Central Michigan University and Friends University.

Over the years Johnson has attended state and national Art Education Association conferences and her students' work has been featured in the Kansas portion of the Youth Art Month NAEA Convention Exhibition for the past three years. Currently Johnson is a member of the USD #412 Collaborative Leadership Team. Her leadership endeavors also include serving her church through prayer support at Christ Community Church.

Kristin Johnson maintains an active creative practice and frequently presents workshops featuring gourd art and the decorative use of pyrography, fibers, alcohol inks and dyes. Her workshops and exhibitions of gourd art have reached many parts of the US including Kansas, Colorado, North Carolina, New Mexico, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Arizona, Kentucky and across continents as far as the U.K., Denmark, New Zealand, and Africa.

She has also “had the privilege of painting murals in Michigan and Kansas in schools, churches, homes, businesses, independent living apartment complexes… and seasonal window paintings for businesses in Quinter, Hoxie, Colby, and Hill City, KS.”

Olivia Willis 

Pre-Service Emporia State University

Olivia Wills was nominated for this award by Dr Charity-Mika Woodard, ESU Associate Professor of Art Education. According to Dr. Woodard ”Oliva exhibits exceptional leadership and dedication to the field of art education.”

Willis is a student at Emporia State University where she plans to graduate in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education 3D Emphasis with a Minor in Art History. She is the Pre-Service Representative to the KAEA Board. In this role she led the Pre-Service division meeting at 2024 KAEA Fall Conference and Co-hosted Creation Station for 2025 Youth Art Month celebration in Topeka.

Derek Wilkinson ESU Professor of Art reports that Willis is recognized as “a dedicated student (with) strong leadership skills that make her an excellent candidate for this prestigious award.” 

Katherine A. P. Iselin, ESU Art Program Director agrees, “Olivia is an exceptional scholar who also excels in working collaboratively.”  

Willis works in the ESU campus gallery and at Michael’s Arts and Crafts (Overland Park) and Iselin asserts that “Olivia’s regular engagement in so many facets of the artistic world have helped inform her creative and scholarly endeavors, both of which will make her a superb art educator ”

Airion Rivero 

“Airion Rivero embodies the qualities of an outstanding art museum educator. Her passion for providing a welcoming, meaningful, and fun experience for everyone who visits WAM, and her commitment to creating excellent programs and resources for children, teachers, and families make her an exemplary candidate for this award.” reports KAEA President Natalie Brown in her letter of nomination. Brown adds “She consistently goes above and beyond in providing art programing and resources for the students and teachers in our community” 

Rivero is the Manager of School and Family Programs at the Wichita Art Museum where she directs the Wichita Art Museum Docent and Museum Teacher Program and serves as the museum’s Teacher Advisory Committee Chair. She is a Mentor and Supervisor for the Greater Wichita YMCA Job Prep Program, a 2023 Storytime Village, Storytime in the Park Featured Reader, and has served as a Fine Arts Professional Development Facilitator for the Maize, Andover and Wichita Public Schools. 

Rivero’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Art in Art History from Arizona State University, certification in numerous teaching strategies from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and over 200 hours of Yoga Alliance Teacher Training.

According to Shawn Chastain, Wichita Public Schools Fine Arts Coordinator and 2012 KAEA Outstanding Administrator, “Airion has served as a tremendous resource for Kansas Art Educators at the local, district and state levels…(she is) one of the best Arts Museum community partners I have ever worked with and can’t think of anyone more deserving of a KAEA Award ”

Megan Wendleton 

According to KAEA Board Secretary Shannon Wedel, “(Megan) has been an active member of the KAEA YAM Committee since 2013 and has committed hundreds of hours of service to YAM initiatives.  She has done a great deal of work, including working on certificates and prizes for participants, YAM Flag recipients, and competition winners for the awards reception, and has been an area representative collecting artwork since 2014.  Over the years, she has also worked on a number of  the YAM Scrapbooks, which have received national recognition”  

The YAM committee and KAEA board appreciate that Megan was instrumental in working with the office of U.S. Congressional Representative Sharice Davids to award KAEA’s YAM event with an official Congressional Proclamation in 2025.  

Megan Wendleton is a highly respected Kansas art educator. She was recognized as the 2015 Outstanding Middle Level Art Educator and the 2019 Overall Outstanding Art Educator. She currently serves as a middle school art teacher for the Olathe Public Schools. 

Shannon Wedel concludes “I cannot think of any other non-board  member who has put in the amount of time and effort into KAEA that Megan has.”

Danielle Dierenfeldt 

Principal Hiawatha Elementary School

Hiawatha, KS

The Hiawatha USD 415 students and Hiawatha Elementary Art Teacher, Katie Miller nominated Danielle Dierenfeldt for this award because “she has lifted elementary art education up in our community, making it viewed as a valued and needed resource.” 

Katie Miller explains, she has “encouraged all educators to take students to areas in our local community and beyond to allow them to experience art.  She has office frames dedicated to rotating student artwork in and out to celebrate the visual arts, and she ensures that artwork is seen on her morning announcements daily.” 

Mrs. Dierenfeldt has encouraged the implementation of adaptive art classes to help support IEP goals, build self confidence and skills in students who were struggling emotionally, physically or academically. She has also been instrumental in getting students involved in the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau’s fiberglass maple leaf project. With her support students have been able to participate in the community initiative and paint one of the large leaf sculptures for display at the school. 

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Katie Miller concludes…Danielle Dierenfeldt “goes above and beyond celebrating artistic accomplishments of our students, whether that be a personal, district, state or national nod.  She ensures no matter what, each student feels like a rockstar for their effort in visual arts.”

Hiawatha Chamber & Visitors Bureau 

Hiawatha, KS

Katie Miller’s letter of nomination clearly explains why she nominated the Hiawatha Chamber & Visitors Bureau for the Association’s Art Enhancer Award:

“The HCVB has a long history of supporting the arts in the NE Kansas community and encouraging others to create and celebrate art.  To start the organization has a long tradition of having students create temporary window murals for our historic Hiawatha Halloween Parade.  Businesses (clear) off their windows and students from elementary school to High school paint these windows with tempera paint to celebrate the theme of the year.  It not only gets students out into our community, it celebrates the arts and adds to the beauty of our town.

The organization offers multiple international art contests in recognition of Halloween traditions as well, a logo contest for the current Halloween theme as well as a Horror/Halloween photo contest.  Entries are received from around the world cementing our little NE Kansas community as a place that celebrates the arts, encourages others to celebrate the arts as well as promotes our communities commitment to creativity.

Recently the organization has worked to start adding fiberglass maple leaves painted and decorated by local artists to our community to help celebrate our moniker the City of Beautiful Maples.  This project recognizes our long standing history of lifting up the arts and artists from our community, celebrating the creative thinkers and problem solvers who are from Hiawatha and so much more.

The organization constantly goes above and beyond to celebrate the arts and brings people into our community to enjoy, celebrate and view arts, which is why I feel they are so deserving of this award.”