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2023 Award Winners

Help Us Celebrate the 2023 TAEA Award Winners


Photo of Gretchen Bell-Young
TAEA Educator of the Year
Gretchen Bell-Young

"I truly enjoy learning and making art not only with my students every day, but also with other art professionals all over Texas. The ideas shared keep me inspired to continue to advocate on the importance of art in EVERYONE's lives."

Photo of Tracey Hall
Outstanding Educator - Elementary Division
Tracey Hall

"All children, even the tough ones, need someone to push them to find their passion and to believe in themselves. For many children that passion may be found in the arts."

Photo of Canon Cavazos
Outstanding Educator - Middle School Division
Canon Cavazos

"I believe the purpose of education is to ensure all students learn and grow to the best of their ability. As an art teacher, I believe every student is an artist; each deserves the ability to create beautiful art in an environment that is safe."


Photo of Amber Forgey
Outstanding Educator - High School Division
Amber Forgey

Amber has recently begun volunteering with TAEA through her role as Region 13 representative (2019 through present) and most recently as a Leadership Scholar cohort.

Photo of Kaileigh Newman
Outstanding Educator - Supervisor / Admin
Kaileigh Newman

"Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons as we live this daily to support the whole student."

Photo of Kara Czepiel
Principal of the Year
Kara Czepiel

"Whether in the classroom, the museum, or the community, I aim to make a lasting impact on individuals and society by fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the arts in everyday life."


Photo of Scott Benson
Friends of Art
Scott Benson

He has attended most of the TAEA conferences in his forty-five-year career and has been a supporter of TAEA in many facets over this time.

Photo of Suzanne Greene
Outstanding Educator - Retired Division
Suzanne Greene

Represented TAEA on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives and has many former students who are art teachers.

Photo of David Moya
Outstanding Educator - Higher Education
David Moya

"I found satisfaction with the efficiency I was able to create meaningful connections with my culture and identity."


Photo of Erin Whitmore
Outstanding Educator - Museum Division
Erin Whitmore

Old Jail Art Center

Photo of Sidney Boyles
Student of Art
Sidney Boyles

"The only natural talent that an artist has is the desire to create; everything outside of that is a skill that they have learned."


Division Outstanding Art Educator Awards


Elementary Art Educator

1986 Cynthia Broderick
1987 Dale Battle
1988 Louise Hudgins
1989 Ann J. Worley
1991 Georgia Blaydes
1992 Lynn Bryant
1993 Ginger Goodman
1994 Elizabeth Harris-Willett
1995 Marilyn Wylie
1996 Ardith Warner
1997 Lois E. Pendley
1998 Cynde Powell Riddle
1999 Linda Malcom
2000 Sonia Novy-Pace
2001 Jan Dodd
2002 Rhonda Ann Sherrill
2003 Sherry Grace White
2004 Pamela McKnight
2005 Alisa Meli
2006 Kay Jackson Fleming
2007 Ronelle Howell
2008 Denise Clyne-Ruch
2009 Samantha Melvin
2010 Nancy Walkup
2011 Jean King
2012 Melissa Schulman
2013 Tamra Alami
2014 Rebecca Bailey
2015 Pamela Arnold
2016 Christina Cook
2017 Mary Tavares
2018 Jen Holsinger-Raybourn
2019 Kelley Quinn McGee
2020 Gretchen Bell
2021 Carolyn Scalan
2022 Julie Gallow
2023 Tracey Hall

Middle School / Junior High Art Educator

1989 Robert "Mitch" Wilson
1991 Joseph (Joey) Doyle
1992 Barbara Sumlin
1993 Seppo Aarnos
1994 Georgia Blaydes
1995 Jennifer Yanak
1996 Sharon Warwick
1997 Susan St. John Strickland
1998 Iris Broussard Williams
1999 Cappie Dobyns
2000 Madelene Buzan
2001 Paula Ard
2002 Bruce Sifrit
2003 Suzanne Goodrich Greene
2004 Cynthia J. Newlin Garrett
2005 Terese Frigo Kitts
2006 Raquel Beechner
2007 Janis McCorkle
2008 Beverly Beesley
2009 Eileen McClellan
2010 Cecilia Pichini
2011 Stephanie Walton
2012 Lisa Miller
2013 John Davis
2014 Christina Vanhamersveld
2015 Christine Grafe
2016 Kimmy Winnubst
2017 Sharon K. Miller
2018 Rhonda Goff
2019 Sarah Kersh
2020 Matt Grundler
2021 Sara Massey
2022 Larry West
2023 Canon Cavazos

High School Art Educator

1986 Debbie Gallatin
1987 Lourena Cook
1988 Jayla Davis
1989 Marsha Hogue
1991 Pauline G. Gawlik
1992 Barbara Pratt
1993 Patsy Eldridge
1994 Daphna Lilienstern
1995 Joan Maresh
1996 Jonnie Gilliam
1997 Martha Kiel
1998 Roberta Ann Sajda
1999 Fred Woody
2000 Robert Parker
2002 Cheryl Evans
2003 Tamera Westervelt
2004 Kathleen Cunning
2005 Michael Hall
2006 Nicole Brisco
2007 LaRee Morris
2008 Mel Basham
2009 Connie Young
2010 Trish Klenow
2011 Alicia Moore
2012 Kim Timmons
2013 Jami Bevans
2014 Christine Miller
2015 Mary Hierholzer
2016 Amy Semifero
2017 Sarah Waggoner
2018 Stacy Sanchez
2019 Julie Smith
2020 Joan Finn
2021 Mandy Clarson
2022 Maureen Doebbler
2023 Amber Forgey


Higher Education Art Educator

1986 Rebecca Felts
1987 D. Jack Davis
1988 Dr. Ollie Jensen Theisen
1991 Richard Scherpereel
1994 William McCarter
1995 Dr. Betty Copeland
1996 Nancy W. Berry
1997 Nancy Walkup
1998 Jim Henderson
1999 Teri Cummings
2000 Pam Stephens
2001 Karen Keifer-Boyd
2004 Fred L. Woody
2005 Dr. Christine B. Bain
2007 Michelle Kraft
2008 Amanda Allison
2009 Paul Bolin
2010 Kina Kundu
2011 Teri Evans-Palmer
2012 Kara Hallmark
2013 Sherry Snowden
2014 Amanda Alexander
2015 Kathie Walker-Millar
2016 Heidi Powell
2017 Sean Justice
2018 Dr. Joana Hyatt
2019 Besty Murphy
2020 Edie Wells
2021 Lilia Cabrera
2022 Andre Peralta
2023 David Moya

Supervision / Administration Educator

1986 Lou A. Davis
1987 Judy Beckham
1988 Jerry Frey
1989 Patricia J. Jones
1991 Sandra Campell
1992 Ola Underhill
1993 Janice Wiggins
1994 Tina Farrell
1995 Jerry Frey
1996 Beverly Fletcher
1997 Juan R. Garcia
1998 Lynda Jo Alford
1999 Kristen Marstaller
2000 Sarah Sanders
2001 Joey Doyle
2002 Frances Camille Bach
2004 Janice Truitt
2005 Charlsey Sharon Chumley
2006 Gloria Hill
2007 Deborah Kidwell
2009 Allen Miller
2010 Fran Bolte
2011 David Stevens
2012 Mary Lou Johnson
2013 Tim Lowke
2014 Sara Chapman
2015 Karri Clark
2016 Myron Stennett
2017 Laura Grundler
2018 Dr. Michaelann Kelley
2019 Stacia Gower
2020 Shannon Raygoza
2021 Sandra Newton
2022 Sally Doyle
2023 Kaileigh Newman

Museum Educator

1986 Susan Mayer
1987 Nancy Berry
1988 Donna Vliet
1991 Beth Schneider
1993 Fran Prudhomme
1994 Linda Powell
1995 Susan Sternberg
1996 Elizabeth Reese
1997 Terri Thornton
1999 Mary Burke
2000 Libby Cluett
2001 Grace Bries
2002 Victoria Burke
2003 Carrie Robinson-Cannon
2004 Nora J. Christie
2005 Michaela Black
         Eva Buttacavoli
2006 Nicole Stutzman
2007 Valerie Loupe Olsen
2008 Rebecca Martin
2009 Stacy Fuller
2010 Melinda Mayer
2011 Lauren Fretz
2012 Jennifer Beradino
2013 Kate Carey
2014 Kaela Hoskings
2015 Rosemary Hickman
2016 Jennifer Restauri
2017 Elizabeth Garcia
2018 Natalie Svacina
2019 Emily Cayton
2020 Eepi Chaad
2021 Denise Gonzalez
2022 Kathryn Mitchell
2023 Erin Whitmore


Student of Art Education

2010 Amanda Batson
2014 Shaun Lane
2015 Jacqueline Cardenas
2016 Shelby Johnson
2018 Lizah Vaillancourt
2020 Carla Santillana
2021 Mikhaela Boyles
2022 Chloe Morrel
2023 Sidney Boyles

Outstanding Retired Art Educator

2019 Donna Andrich
         Janice Wiggins
2020 Robert Parker
2021 Donalyn Heise
2022 Kathy Hendrick
2023 Suzanne Greene


Texas Art Educator of the Year


1977 Alice Webb
1978 Bill Francis
1979 Marvin Moon
1980 Ida Miller
1981 Janet Fox
1982 Judy Beckham
1983 Jeanne Rollins
1984 P. Henderson
1985 Katherine Reid
1986 Marvin Platten
1987 James M. Clarke
1988 Dr. Phyllis Miller
1989 Nancy Miller
1990 Dr. Jack Davis
1991 Rebecca (Beck) N. Felts
1992 Dr. Cynthia Gambell Broderick

1993 Pat Jones
1994 Sara Chapman
1995 Pauline Gawlik
1996 Kay Savay
1997 Tina Farrell
1998 Keith Arney
1999 Dr. Dennis Fehr
2000 Barbara Pratt
2001 Nancy Walkup
2002 Gloria McCoy
2003 Janice Curl Wiggins
2004 Elizabeth Willett
2005 Joey Doyle
2006 Walter C. Holland
2007 Kristen P. Marstaller
2008 Dale Battle

2009 Nina Boothe
2010 Suzanne Greene
2011 Christina Bain
2012 Cheryl Evans
2013 Jackie Brewer
2014 Linda Fleetwood
2015 Sarah Sanders
2016 Tim Lowke
2017 Ricia Kerber
2018 Chris Cooper
2019 Samantha Melvin
2020 Mel Basham
2021 Christine Grafe
2022 Stacia Gower
2023 Gretchen Bell-Young



National Art Honor Society Sponsor Award


1988 Rhae Haxton
1989 George Martin Rex
1991 Elaine Wilkins
1992 Kim Wagner-Neuendorff
1996 Christine L. Cole-Killian
1997 Janice Truitt
1999 Carol Evans
2001 Meghan Martel
2002 Maria A. Brown
2003 Deborah Moore

2004 Trudy Knight
         Jana Marbut-Ray
2005 Tyra Gonzales
2006 Tamera Westervelt
2007 Susan McEwen
2009 Diane Bray
2010 Gloria Andrews
2011 Denise Dittmar
2012 Jennifer Easterling
2013 Douglas Darracott

2014 Colin McGrane
2015 Anne Quaintance-Howard
2016 Claudia Freeman
         Rena Urias
2017 Susan West
2019 Matthew Martinez
2020 Jessica Jones Gonzales
2021 Annie Watson
2022 Shelby Meier



TAEA School Principal of the Year Award


1991 Archie McAfee
1992 Don Williams
1993 Harrison M. Crenshaw
1995 Ed Wachtel
1996 Linda Clarke
1998 Gregory Marshall
1999 Douglas Hall
2000 Freddye Kelly
2001 Russ Chapman
2005 Richard Galvan

2007 Lynn Akin
         Wayne Schaper, Jr.
2008 Maria Sanchez
         Dalton Gregory
2009 Robert Sormani
2010 Karen Bessette
2011 Cheryl Freeman
2012 Gary Speegle
2013 Ted Vierling
2014 David Loycano

2015 Laurie Chamblee
2016 Angi Tims
2017 Shane McKay
2018 Kathy Cawthron
2019 Kimberly Jenkins
2020 Lee Wold
2021 Mandele C. Davis
2022 Tracie Robinson
2023 Kara Czepiel



Friend(s) of Art Education Award


1986 Joseph I. Zable
         Mary McElroy
         John Gilbreath
         Rudolfo Montoya, Jr.
1987 Richard Huff
         Elizabeth Hunt Maddox
         Linda Pack
         Gerard Stashak
         Archer M. Hunting. Gallery UT at Austin
1988 James and Eleanor Grace Martin
         Jerry Morris
1989 Elizabeth Krause
1990 Ann Symns
1991 Verna Escamilla
         Bansy Johnson
1993 Dr. Sandra Lanier-Lerma
         Tom F. and Charlene Marsh
         Jim Noble
1994 Jan Muhlert
         Judy Shimp
1995 David McCall
1998 John Logan (posthumous)
         Edith Jones O'Donnell
1999 Charles D. Hundley
2000 Tom & Lorry Hubbard
         Crystal Productions

2001 Dr. Elizabeth & Tom Sasser
         Gordon Huerd
2002 Nancy Dunn
         The University of Houston-Clear Lake
         (Dr. William Staples, President;
         Ms. Sandria Hu, Professor of Fine Arts;
         Ms. Resa Ott, Director of Alumni and
               Community Relations)

2003 Joseph Culotta
         Sax Arts & Crafts
2004 Joe Barnhart Foundation
         Connie Akers
         Saralene Oldham
         Culture Shapers and Ernie Fitzpatrick
2005 Penelope Speirer
2006 Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
         Ginger Head Gearheart
2007 Jim LaVilla-Havelin
         Duncan Klussmann
         Kenny Allen
2008 Marta Petraglia
         Carol Green

2009 Shelley Minnis
         Guy Giersch
         Kari Murphy
2010 Beth Dulle
         Gene Mittler
         Brenda Hoffman
         Shirley Hammond
         Cindy Breeding
         Edward and Betty Marcus Foundation
2011 Duane Sanford
         Nadine Winns
2012 Ben Gollehan
         Laurie Korn
         The O'Donnell Foundation
2013 Dohn Larson
2014 Chris Dyer
2015 Mark Burris
2016 Round Rock Arts
2017 Kathie Henson
2018 Dr. Sara Ptomey
2019 Janene Pearson
2020 Cheryl Craig
2021 Don Dinnerville
2022 Jody Henry
         Paul Shimp
         and Gay Selman
2023 Scott Benson



Service to Texas Award


2016 Elizabeth Willett


Lone Star Art Advocate Award


2016 Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott
2017 #K12ArtChat, Laura & Matt Grundler
2020 Kris Andrews
2021 Jenny Parry