New Art Teachers and Award Recipients

Viewpoint; View from the Classroom »
By Jeff Young,Professor of Art, Art Education »

Congratulations to the following 2022-2023 Department of Art and Design alums who earned the B.A. in Art: Art Education Emphasis and secured teaching positions starting last fall:

Emily Guthro, Greenbrier High School, Greenbrier, AR
Charles Johnson, Conway High School, Conway, R
Rainy Winberry, Robinson Elementary School, Pulaski County Special School District, Little Rock, AR
Abby Yanosick, Maumelle High School, Pulaski County Special School District, Maumelle, AR

We wish them the best as they start off on their teaching careers!

Brynn Ward receiving her scholarship from Arkansas Art Educators President Roger High at the AAE Fall Conference. Photo by Jeff Young

Brynn Ward receiving her scholarship from Arkansas Art Educators President Roger High at the AAE Fall Conference. Photo by Jeff Young

In other art education program news, Brynn Ward, who completed her student-teaching at Parkview High School with mentor Matt TerAvest last fall, was selected by the Arkansas Art Educators as the organization’s first recipient of the AAE Future Teacher Art Education Scholarship. The announcement was made at the AAE Fall Conference November 3rd. At the conference, Brynn also presented “Community Collage,” a teaching unit focused on leading students to explore important places in their local community through painting and collage.

Shirley Tipton - Teacher of the Year! Photo supplied by Shirley Tipton

Shirley Tipton – Teacher of the Year! Photo supplied by Shirley Tipton

Shirley Tipton, 2006 B.A. in Art: Art Education Emphasis, was selected as 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year at Hot Springs World Class High School, an International Baccalaureate School in Hot Springs, where she has taught art for the last nine years. Shirley maintains relationships with two galleries in Hot Springs at which her students display their artwork twice a year. Her students also worked with Perrion Hurd, an artist living in Little Rock, to create an outdoor mural in Hot Springs.

Shirley Tipton and student working on the outdoor mural. Photo supplied by Shirley Tipton

Shirley Tipton and student working on the outdoor mural. Photo supplied by Shirley Tipton

The Art Education group hosted its annual fall Dinner with An Art Teacher in November. Shelly Elliott, AP Art History and AP World History teacher at Cabot High School, spoke to the group about keeping high school students engaged in art history and creating an environment that allows conversation about sensitive subjects. Everyone enjoyed the presentation, the conversation and the delicious potluck spread.