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art educators of the year
nominate now for
The 2025-2026 AWARDS

Nominating an outstanding art educator for an educator of the year award is a great way to show your appreciation and recognize the hard work and dedication of teachers who go above and beyond.

Nominations are due June 1! Award recipients will be announced at the Idaho Art Education Association conference in October. To nominate a teacher, simply complete the form below and submit the required materials before the deadline.

We encourage all IAEA members to think of those educators who influence your own teaching practices or inspire your art-making and take the time to recognize their contributions to the community.

Consider the characteristics of outstanding art educators. Think about their ability to touch the lives of young children and encourage them to flourish and grow. Consider those who inspire lifelong learning through their actions and example. Consider those who reach out to others to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with others to support student learning through visual arts.

To nominate an amazing Idaho educator, follow the steps below.

Step One

Complete the nomination form below or open the form in a new window here: IAEA Educator of the Year Nomination Form

Step Two

Once you complete the nomination application, you will need to submit additional support materials to president.iaea@gmail.com including:

a letter of support from someone other than the nominator who works with the nominee in a professional capacity
a letter of support from the nominee's principal, superintendent, supervisor, or director

If you need assistance, please email president.iaea@gmail.com

ARTROOM Grants FOR TEACHERS

IAEA Art Room Grants! Art room grants can be used for a variety of projects and materials, including but not limited to art supplies directly related to the enhancement of art education within your classroom. Funds must be used within 6 months following an award. Recipients can receive up to $250 per grant. Art room grants are available to current IAEA members who have not received a grant from IAEA in the past two years.

Application deadline: October 1st

Click here to apply for an ART ROOM GRANT!

Congratulations!

IAEA’s 2025 Art Educators of the Year

Each year, the Idaho Art Education Association recognizes the hard work, dedication, and contributions of art educators in Idaho. IAEA accepts nominations from the community and selects art educators whose work and service has significantly impacted visual art education in Idaho in their division or category. One award recipient is named the Idaho Art Educator of the Year and is recognized at the National Art Education Association Convention.

These outstanding art educators will be recognized at IAEA's annual Fall Conference on October 3, 2025 in Nampa, Idaho.

DANIELLE FORSBERG

2025 Idaho Art Educator of the Year

"Danielle is an exceptional visual arts educator whose dedication to promoting the arts extends far beyond her classroom. Her ability to consistently fill her classes to capacity is a testament to the engaging, supportive, and inspiring environment she creates for students. Her passion for the arts is contagious, and students are not only excited to be in her class—they are deeply engaged in meaningful artistic exploration and expression."

“Danielle exemplifies everything we hope for in a teacher—dedication, creativity, leadership, and a deep commitment to her students and the subject she teaches. Her dedication to the field of art education is evident in every lesson she teaches. A true out-of-the-box thinker, Danielle brings fresh, creative ideas to the classroom and to the school community at large. She consistently seeks ways to engage students in meaningful artistic expression and problem-solving. Her approach helps students see art not just as a subject, but as a powerful tool for communication, connection, and personal growth."

Danielle is an Art Teacher and Yearbook Advisor
at Homedale High School in Homedale, Idaho.

melissa thompson

High School Art Educator of the Year

"Melissa is a powerhouse of a teacher! She piloted the Art For Well Being class and has mentored other high school art teachers throughout the state. She is a dedicated teacher who truly cares about her students and their learning. She is one of our school Learning Leaders and organizes professional development sessions centered on art for our staff. Melissa has high expectations that her students rise to, often winning awards throughout the state. She requires her students to engage with public art and to seek out opportunities to be connected to the world of art.”

Melissa is an Art Teacher at Boise High School in Boise, Idaho.

“Karen is a connector in the truest sense. She actively engages our community in meaningful ways, inviting local support for our schools through donations, shared art displays, and collaborative public projects. Her ability to bring people together—students, families, community members, and fellow educators—is a gift that continues to strengthen the bonds within our small town.

In the classroom, Karen helps students discover their identities as artists and makers. Through her integration of STEAM skills and cross-curricular collaboration with other teachers, she makes learning dynamic, relevant, and deeply personal. Whether incorporating science, history, or math, she brings an interdisciplinary approach that engages students of all abilities and interests. For students, having a real, working artist as a teacher makes big dreams feel tangible. She shows them that creativity is not just a subject in school—it is a way of life, a path of purpose, and a means of connection.”

Karen is the K-12 STEAM Teacher for Potlatch School District in Potlatch, Idaho.

Karen rohn

K-12 Art Educator of the Year

Congratulations to IAEA’s 2024 Art Educators of the Year

Michele Chmielewski

Distinguished Service within the Profession
& 2024 Idaho Art Educator of the Year

Michele is an Assistant Professor of Education at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

candy canning

Community Arts Educator of the Year

Candy is the Owner, Director & Facilitator at Catalyst Arts Collaborative in Boise, Idaho.

Leatha Morgan

Elementary Art Educator of the Year

Leatha is an Art Teacher at Fernan STEM Academy in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

SARAH SESSIONS

Junior High Art Educator of the Year

Sarah is a Visual Art Teacher at Hillside Junior High School in Boise, Idaho.

celebrating amazing
idaho educators!

Michele Chmielewski from North Idaho College and Tara Kennedy from Foothills School of Arts and Sciences will be celebrated at the National Art Education Association 2025 annual convention in Louisville, KY. These two Idaho educators join the list of incredibly dedicated art educators who are honored at the highly-attended national event.

Congratulations to Michele and Tara!

CONGRATULATIONS!

In recognition of her support of Idaho students and service to her community, Melissa Ricks, is IAEA’s 2023 High School Idaho Art Educator of the Year and the 2023 - 2024 Idaho Art Educator of the Year. Melissa's award was recognized at the National Art Education Association Convention in April 2024.

In recognition of her contributions to the art education community and her dedication to Idaho students, Molly Devinaspre, is the recipient of IAEA’s 2023 Distinguished within the Profession Award.

Alison Bailey

2022-2023 Idaho Art Educator of the Year
and
2022 High School Art Teacher of the Year

In recognition of her commitment and service to Idaho students and the community, Alison Bailey, is IAEA’s 2022 - 2023 Idaho Art Educator of the Year and the 2022 High School Idaho Art Educator of the Year.

Jasmine Reed

2022 Elementary Idaho Art Educator of the Year

In recognition of her commitment and service to Idaho students and the community, Jasmine Reed, is IAEA’s 2022 Elementary Idaho Art Educator of the Year.

Jasmine Reed

CONGRATULATIONS!

Amber Poelstra

2021-2022 Idaho Art Educator of the Year

In recognition of her commitment and service to Idaho students and the community, Amber Steele Poelstra, is IAEA’s 2021 Idaho Art Educator of the Year.