"The best part about being a teacher is seeing students accomplish something they thought they couldn't. I remember one student who was planning on dropping out of school until I submitted her art work in an art show and she won an honorable mention. Seeing things like this reminds me why I wanted to become a teacher."

-Donna Anderson
South Doyle High School

KCS has national art teacher of the year

The National Art Education Association has selected a Knox County art educator to receive the 2008 National Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award.

Donna Anderson, art teacher at South-Doyle High School, will be presented at the NAEA National Convention in New Orleans March 27. The award honors an outstanding Art educator from our nation whose dedication to art education merits recognition and acclaim.

According to NAEA President Bonnie Rushlow, the award is given to recognize excellence in professional accomplishment and service by a dedicated art educator. Anderson exemplifies the highly qualified individuals who are active in the field of art education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best to the profession.

The membership of NAEA includes elementary, secondary, middle level and high school art teachers in 50 states, representatives from America's major art museums, State Departments of Education, arts councils, and major colleges and universities throughout the United States and 66 foreign countries.

Anderson started her college career at Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tenn. and later transferred to Middle Tennessee State University to earn her Bachelors Degree. She also holds a Masters Degree in art education from The University of Tennessee.

"The best part about being a teacher is seeing students accomplish something they thought they couldn't," said Anderson. "I remember one student who was planning on dropping out of school until I submitted her art work in an art show and she won an honorable mention. Seeing things like this reminds me why I wanted to become a teacher."

A 32 year veteran, Anderson started teaching with Knoxville City Schools and came to the Knox County School System when the two systems merged in the late 1980s. She has been teaching art at South-Doyle High School since 1991.

The National Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award is not the first time Anderson has been recognized for excellence. She is a three time Fulbright Scholar. The awards made it possible for her to travel widely in Japan, Egypt and Israel. She has also been the Art Educator of the Year for Tennessee, and the Secondary Art Educator of the Year for Tennessee twice.

"Out of all the awards this one has meant the most to me," said Anderson. "On Christmas Eve, I went to the mail box and saw the letter. I came running into the house saying 'does this say I won'. I wasn't sure if I won until I took the time to read the letter. I was shocked. This was one of the best Christmas presents ever."

Anderson is the first Tennessee educator to receive this award.