Awards

After reading more about the awards and the nomination process below, click here to begin the nomination process.

Providing Opportunities to:

• Recognize excellence in the many outstanding members of the TAEA organization.
• Collect attentions on quality art education throughout Texas.
• Advocate the standard of quality art education throughout the state of Texas.
• Develop support of those individuals who deliberately provide quality art education consistently in Texas.
• Provide tangible evidence of ongoing achievements in art programs statewide.
• Earn collegial respect within divisions and professional learning communities.

TAEA strives to honor our hard working membership through recognition of their continued efforts and significant achievements in art education at the local, state, regional, and national level.

Yearly, at the state conference, the Awards are presented in each of these categories:

Texas Art Educator of the Year

Awarded to one TAEA member who has significantly contributed to the association and to art education on the state, local and / or national levels. Individuals will be honored for each of these awards once.

Division Outstanding Art Educator Awards

Awarded to one TAEA member from each division (Elementary, Middle School / Junior High, Senior High, Higher Education, Museum Education, Supervision / Administration, Art Education Student) who has significantly contributed to the association and to art education on the state, local and / or national levels. Please check ONE DIVISION ONLY on the TAEA Awards Nomination Form. Nominee must currently be employed in the appropriate division and must have worked at the level for at least two (2) years. Individuals will be honored for each of these awards once.

National Art Honor Society Sponsor Award

Awarded to an NAHS Sponsor for sponsoring an Exemplary National Art Honor Society Chapter OR an NJAHS Sponsor for sponsoring an Exemplary National Jr. Art Honor Society Chapter. Supporting evidence of achievements must be provided: letter of nomination, newsletters, photographs, and / or written records. Individuals will be honored for each of these awards once.

TAEA also desires to recognize those non-members who through their extensive and continued support efforts make our Art Education experiences the best possible for students in Texas.

TAEA School Principal of the Year Award

Awarded to one non-TAEA member of an Elementary, Middle School / Junior High School or Senior High in the state of Texas. The principal should have demonstrated unusual support for art education and for the visual arts. Supporting evidence of achievements must be provided: letter of nomination, newsletters, photographs, and / or written records. Individuals will be honored for each of these awards once.

Friend(s) of Art Education Award

Awarded to non-TAEA members (School Board Members, Superintendents, Administrators, Principals, Supply Dealers, Publishers, Advocates, and Others) who have significantly contributed to the association and to art education on the state, local and / or national levels. Letter of recommendation and supporting evidence must be provided: letter of nomination, newsletters, photographs, and / or written records. Individuals will be honored for each of these awards once.

TAEA may honor an individual only once in each category, although appreciates that the efforts of that individual are ongoing and ever growing continuously in their division or career placement. An individual can be honored again in a different division or area.

The Process

Who can nominate?
Any TAEA member may nominate someone in any category to the Awards Committee for consideration. Nominators may make several nominations for awards, but not multiples in a specific category.

Who is eligible for an award?
Any TAEA member who has held their placement for at least two years can be recognized as the Honoree in their Division. Any Friend of Art or Principal of the year does not need to be a member of TAEA to be eligible for these awards.

When do I nominate?
The ultimate deadline for all nomination forms and letters is June 5th of each year.

Where do I nominate?
Nomination suggestions may be made on an "Eye Spy" form at state conference, or at any Area mini-conference, and should be processed immediately to the Awards Chairman so follow up Nomination forms may be completed and submitted by the June 5th deadline to the committee. Nomination forms may be obtained in our Winter issue of the TAEA Star, online at www.taea.org, or by request from our TAEA Headquarter offices.

How do I nominate?
Select a deserving person who you would like to see recognized for their accomplishments in art education. Write a letter to the Awards Committee Chairman on the person's behalf outlining why you feel they are the deserving individual who should win this award. Complete the one page nomination form with all contact information for your nominee and provide it to the Awards Committee chair with your letter between Friday, November 15, 2024 and Monday, March 31, 2025. Collect one portrait (bust photo) of your nominee in print quality (JPEG, 300dpi) for submission AND enclose with the nomination letter and nomination form to the Awards Committee Chair.

Who can give me additional information?
The Awards Committee Chair can answer all your questions:

Shawn Knuckles
53 Hickory Drive
Belton, TX 76513

The Committee

Who serves on the Awards committee?
The committee is comprised of a chairman, who is named by the TAEA President for a two year term. Subsequent terms may be continued at the discretion of each new TAEA President. The committee also contains all Executive Board members, and at least two TAEA fellows. Finally, all remaining committee members are selected from throughout the six TAEA Areas, from those members who show leadership initiative, and may be currently serving in a leadership capacity for TAEA. All areas of the state are equally represented.

How are awardees decided upon?
Nominees are all asked to submit three letters of recommendation, their standardized VITAE form, and their short educational philosophy within six weeks of the closing of nominations. All Nominee's letters, documents of support, photos, Vitae, and supporting documents are collected electronically and submitted to every committee member on CD for balloting. All Committee members are asked to peruse the CD collection of each individual who was nominated, and to make a selection in each category or division of award. Ballots are then returned to the Awards Chairman by September 1. Nominees and Awardees are then notified of the ballot results following the receipt of all committee decisions.

The Honors

When are the awards presented?
The TAEA Executive committee recently voted to support a change in the process of Awards presentation. With the elimination of the Opening Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, the addition of the First General Session of Celebration of the Arts was instated. All Awards will be presented before the general membership as the state conference commences. Nominators will be asked to present their Awardees to membership, and the Honoree will be asked to give their "words of wisdom" to the art educators in the assembly at that time.

When are the awards publicized?
Press releases will be sent to the Honorees and their Supervisors by October 1 announcing their upcoming award ceremony at the state conference. Awardees are celebrated at the First General Session of the state conference. Bios of those awardees are published to the entire membership through the Winter edition of the TAEA Star following the state conference.

What are the expectations of the honorees?
Honorees will be requested to attend the First General Session of the state conference to receive their award. Honorees of each division will be requested to make a simple presentation at their Division meeting to their colleagues in their respective areas. Honorees, who are also NAEA members, may automatically nominated by our one of our Executive Board to the NAEA awards program the following year. All nomination submissions to NAEA must be complete by October 1 of the year following the TAEA Award receipt.

Are there any perks that come with the Honor?
The honor bestowed upon the individual, and the award received at presentation is currently all that is offered. A reception honoring the Awards recipients is a decision made by each Executive Council individually for each state conference event. No stipends or honorariums are attached to these honors, as this is a service based organization, not for profit.

Past HONOREES Words of Wisdom . . . .

Pam Arnold is a shining example of what every child deserves as a teacher. She just happens to teach ART!

As art teachers, we have such a wonderful opportunity to share our love and passion for the visual arts….but it takes more. It's our responsibility to help students understand that the arts are all about thinking and expressing what we know, understand and believe. Great teaching is a process that requires change and adjustments and the ability to evolve along with students. It is important to remember that we are not teaching students how to draw, but teaching them how to see so that they can draw.