Registration has closed for the 2025 Annual Fall Conference.
Registration has closed for the 2025 Annual Fall Conference.
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.
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.
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.
K-12 Art Educator of the Year
College of Western Idaho | Nampa, Idaho
Registration has closed for the 2025 Annual Fall Conference!
Per the Idaho Art Education Association's Bylaws, the recommended slate of nominees must be introduced to the membership via email and website 30 days prior to the annual business meeting which takes place at the fall conference. Approval of the 2026-2029 slate of nominees is requested by members in attendance at the IAEA fall conference on October 3-4, 2025.
IAEA is now accepting nominations for several positions. If you are interested in learning more or would like to be considered, please click below to learn how you can be a part of IAEA!
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Sketchpad Spring 2025