|
Year |
Educator of the Year |
Distinguished Service of the Year |
City |
For |
| 2006 | Gaby Lucas, Choreographer | Olathe, KS | Extraordinary rapport with faculty and students, especially those with disabilities, as choreographer for The Jellybean Conspiracy in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and throughout the State of Kansas. | |
| 2006 |
Nancy
Rose , Adaptive Music Teacher, Greiffenstein Special Day School
and Instructor, Wichita State University and Susan McHugh , Adaptive Music Teacher, East Wichita Schools |
|
Wichita, KS | Both have served students who have all types of disabilites, ages 3-21. As "cooperating teachers" they have also mentored many student teachers, winning accolades from all for their work |
| 2005 | Joell Ramsdell, Music Teacher |  |
Olathe, KS | Develops each student's potential in self-contained and inclusionary settings. By making adaptations to equipment and removing barriers, his special needs students typically move from singing one or two words to singing most of the words of a song and participating with their peers. |
| 2005 | |
Tina Blatter, Visual Artist, Workshop teacher of visual arts | Kansas City, MO | Legally blind from birth, Tina was told she could not pursue a career in art. She taught herself and has become an artist who has conducted arts workshops throughout the midwest and even Brussels, Belgium. She capitalizes on her abilities as she continues to teach and to exhibit her work. |
| 2004 | Dr. Anne Meeker Miller, Music Therapist for early childhood education, Blue Valley School District |  |
Olathe, KS | Exemplary work with sign language and music, emphasis on inclusion and sharing her knowledge with parents and other professionals. Her books and CDs show parents and caregivers how to encourage language development for young children. |
| 2004 | |
Barry Bernstein, Music Therapist & Consultant, Blue Valley School District | Lenexa, KS | "Bongo Barry" as he is known to children in Kansas City and throughout Kansas, has presented Unity with a Beat for families and has collaborated with AAI for Rhythm Weaving and The Art of Learning teacher training. |
| 2003 | Della Molloy Music Therapist, Kansas State School for the Blind | |
Parkville, MO | Dedication to students at the Kansas State School for the Blind, through imagination, confidence building and a 'process before product' approach that allows everyone a valued place on the stage. She draws out amazing performances in creative and unusual ways. |
| 2003 | |
Michael (Mike) Toombs, President and founder of Storytellers, Inc. | Kansas City, Missouri | High quality arts programming for children of all abilities, races and socio-economic levels. Believes that "Art is a change agent for society's difficulties." His workshops include Kidzone, TREC Alternative School in USD 500, Jobs Programs, at Summer Science Academy. |
| 2002 | Barbara Adams, Art Teacher, Kansas School for the Deaf | |
Olathe | Fostering imagination, confidence and success through the artistic abilities of students at the Kansas School for the Deaf, throughout more than 31 years of dedicated service. |
| 2002 | |
Connie
Burket, Executive Director, Kansas Alliance for Arts Education and Dr. Dee Hansen, Assoc. Professor of Music, Baker University |
Salina
Lawrence |
Both worked tirelessly and successfully for one credit hour of arts education for high school graduation. They are also strong advocates for inclusive learning in arts education and programming |
| 2001 | Lanell Finneran - Special Education Teacher/Drama Therapist, Bert Nash Therapeutic Classroom | |
Lawrence | Leadership in and advocacy through national and state arts organizations, effective integration of comprehensive arts programming to enhance learning, and innovative arts programming in her community |
| 2001 | |
Bob Ault - Owner/Director, Ault's Academy of Art | Topeka | Development of new, individualized techniques in treating people working through mental issues; outstanding work on behalf of individuals with disabilities through therapeutic arts programming, and earlier leadership in bringing art therapy to the State of Kansas. |
|
Minnis, Myrna (the oogly lady) - Independent Instructor |
|
Leawood |
Promotes diversity through clay sculptures: each is unique and good |
|
|
2000 |
|
Martin, Dr. Howard - Director, Living Drama Program, Missouri Repertory Theatre |
Westwood Hills |
Jelly Bean Conspiracy-drama about disabilities using children with disabilities |
|
Horning, Sondra - Art Teacher, USD 308 |
|
Hutchinson |
Workshops for teachers of special education and art |
|
|
1999 |
|
Prideaux, Roger - College for Living Instructor, Prairie Developmental Center (PDC) and Eastep, Marsha - Para, PDC |
Atwood |
Our County-Portrait of a Community-PDC-driven celebration of rural community life |
|
Koehn, Boyd - Special Ed Teacher USD 282 |
|
Elk Falls |
Natural materials/craft art |
|
|
1998 |
|
Fedder, Dr. Norman, Ph.D. - Professor, K-State University |
Manhattan |
Creative Drama, Drama Therapy with Special Populations, Principles of Drama Therapy |
|
Kremeier, Nancy - Art Teacher, Oak Hill Elementary |
|
Overland Park |
Beethoven Day - Oak Hill Elementary & Cultural Diversity, Peculiar MO |
|
|
1997 |
|
Bonds, NedRa - Art Teacher, Donnelley College |
Kansas City |
World traveler: Cultural diversity, storytelling, quilting, maskmaking |
|
Dick, Beverly - Executive Director, Very Special Arts Kansas |
|
Wichita |
Programming included Adopt-a-School, Arts for Children in Hospitals, Young Playwrights, and Start with the Arts |
|
|
1996 |
|
Edlund, Hon. Richard and White, Kathleen |
Kansas City
Prairie Village |
As State Representative, advocate of the arts for children with disabilities Advocate on the Kansas State Board of Education on behalf of the arts for children with disabilities |
|
Davis, Maureen - Drama Teacher, Shawnee Mission North HS |
|
Overland Park |
Incorporates students of the Development Center into regular education, creating a model of inclusive education in theatrics |
|
|
1995 |
|
Morgan, Ellen - Executive Director, Association of Community Arts Agencies of Kansas (ACAAK) |
Salina |
Bringing culturally diverse arts programming to Kansas residents, inclusive of those with special needs, and freely donating time and services to AAI |
|
Peterson, Wilena - Teacher, Garfield School |
|
Garfield |
Integrated students with disabilities into her regular classroom, gradually expanding arts programming into entire school. Led primary grades as they composed and presented an opera. |
|
|
1994 |
|
Harry, Belinda - Asst. Director, Special Ed SE KS Special Ed Co-op |
Pittsburg |
Supporter of arts education for children with special needs; leadership for Kansas Federation Council for Exceptional Children and the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEKCAP) HeadStart Program |
|
Horton, Vickie - Music Director, Kansas State School for the Blind; Music Therapist, Wyandotte Special Education Co-op |
|
Kansas City |
Music Instructor and Therapist |
|
|
1993 |
|
Apt, Denise and Smith, Shelby |
Iola Wichita |
Advocacy for Accessible Arts programming Advocacy for Accessible Arts programming |
|
Herl, Tammy - Art Therapist Prairie View Mental Health Center |
|
Newton |
Writer: Finding Light at the End of the Funnel, Art Therapy, and Art Teacher. District Resource Coordinator, Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) |
|
|
1992 |
|
Welsbacher, Betty - Professor, Special Music Education Wichita State University |
Wichita |
Author, Consultant, designed & implemented 3-tiered degree program Special Music Education. Co-founder/consulting teacher, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program; Member, Kansas Advisory Planning Committee and Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs. |
|
Jones-Johnson, Jacqui - Outreach Coordinator, Kansas School for the Deaf |
|
Olathe |
Collaborations between KSD and Theatre for Young America; Deaf Interpreter, Speech Therapist |
|
|
1991 |
|
Freeman, William - Director, Accessible Arts, Inc. |
Kansas City |
Creator/First Director of Arts for the Handicapped/ Accessible Arts, Inc. Movement Therapist and Expressive Arts Educator specializing in service to children with disabilities and youth at-risk, and those who serve them |
|
Boese, Sherri - South Central Director of Very Special Arts Kansas |
|
Wichita |
Started special music program at Holy Family Center; Produced and directed The Special Music Maker videotape distributed worldwide. Consultant, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program. District Resource Coordinator, Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) |
|
|
1990 |
|
Gleason, Mary - Coordinator, Arts Programming for Special Students |
Ulysses |
Long-term teacher and advocate for arts programming to serve children and youth with disabilities |
|
Martinez, Kay - Art Therapist/Director of Art Therapies, Parsons State Hospital |
|
Parsons |
Developed Leisure Education Department to expand arts opportunities for residents. Consultant, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program. District Resource Coordinator, Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) |
|
|
1989 |
|
Buckley, Gerry - Director, Gallaudet University Regional Center |
Overland Park |
Advocacy of arts programming for persons with disabilities. Chair, Kansas Advisory Planning Committee and Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs |
|
Burnside, Bonnie - Adaptive Music Teacher, Kansas City USD 500 |
|
Kansas City |
Developed assessment tools, Goals for Adaptive Music and Music Progress Charts. Statewide leader in arts in special education. Consultant, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program. District Resource Coordinator, Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) |
|
|
1988 |
|
Marshall, James E. - Director of Special Education, Kansas School for the Deaf |
Topeka |
Initiated and guided the establishment of statewide training program in arts in special education for special and arts education teachers and related service personnel |
|
Dugan-Kutchins, Ellen - Case Manager, Johnson County Mental Retardation Center |
|
NE Johnson County |
Began art lessons for staff and students later-displayed in gallery |
|
|
1987 |
|
Craighill-Moran, Maureen - AAI Program Coordinator and Hoernicke, Placido A. (Art) - Assoc. Professor of Special Education, Fort Hays State University |
Merriam
Hays |
Coordinator of Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) Leadership and dedication in development and implementation of Kansas Arts for the Handicapped Program. Consultant, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program; Member, Kansas Advisory Planning Committee and Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs |
|
Daniels, Daisy |
None
|
Topeka |
Education Program Specialist, Special Education Section, Kansas State Department of Education. Co-founder and first Coordinator, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program and Member, Kansas Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs |
|
|
Bernstorf, Elaine - Teacher; Music in Special Education Consultant, USD 259 |
None |
Wichita |
The first special music education teacher in Wichita and a leader in bringing special education children into music programs. Consultant, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program; Member, Kansas Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs |
|
|
Ault, Bob - Art Therapist, Menninger Foundation; Director, Graduate program in Art Therapy, Emporia State University; Director, Ault's Academy of Art |
None |
Topeka |
Chair of committee which wrote Kansas Arts Commission guidelines to assure equity in funding for projects serving special-needs individuals; nationally recognized author and speaker for arts and disabilities. Consultant, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program; Member, Kansas Advisory Planning Committee and Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs |
|
|
Welsbacher, Betty |
None |
Wichita |
Author, Consultant, designed & implemented 3-tiered degree program Special Music Education. Co-founder/consulting teacher, Kansas Arts with the Handicapped Program; Member, Kansas Advisory Planning Committee and Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs. |