Educator
of the Year and Distinguished Service of the Year
in
Arts and Disabilities Awards
Presented
annually by Accessible Arts, Inc.
and the Kansas State Board of Education
***Nominations
for the next year***History
of the Awards***
Choose
from the years below.
2004
Educator of the Year
Anne Meeker Miller - Music
Therapist for early childhood education, Blue Valley School District
City
Olathe, Kansas
For
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.
Distinguished
Service of the Year
"Bongo" Barry Bernstein, Music
Therapist & Consultant, Blue Valley School District
City
Lenexa, Kansas
For
"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.
Year
2003
Educator of the Year
Della Molloy - Music Therapist, Kansas State
School for the Blind
City
Parkville, Missouri
For
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.
Distinguished
Service of the Year
Michael (Mike) Toombs, President and Founder
of Storytellers, Inc.
City
Kansas City, Missouri
For
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
Educator of the Year
Barbara Adams,
Art Teacher, Kansas School for the Deaf
City
Olathe
For
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.
Distinguished
Service of the Year
Connie Burket, Executive Director,
Kansas Alliance for Arts Education
and
Dr. Dee
Hansen, Assoc. Professor of Music, Baker University
City
Burket: Salina; Hansen: Lawrence
For
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
Year
2001
Educator of the Year
Finneran, Lanell - Special Education
Teacher/Drama Therapist, Bert Nash Therapeutic Classroom
City
Lawrence
For
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
Distinguished
Service of the Year
Ault, Bob
- Owner/Director, Ault's Academy of Art
City
Topeka
For
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
Year 2000 City For Distinguished
Service of the Year City For 1999 Educator of the
Year Horning, Sondra
- Art Teacher, USD 308 City Hutchinson For Workshops for teachers
of special education and art Distinguished Service
of the Year Prideaux, Roger
- College for Living Instructor, Prairie Developmental Center (PDC) City Atwood For Our County-Portrait
of a Community-PDC driven celebration of rural community life
1998 Educator of the
Year Koehn, Boyd - Special
Ed Teacher USD 282 City Elk Falls For Natural materials/craft
art Distinguished Service
of the Year Fedder, Dr. Norman,
Ph.D. - Professor, K-State University City Manhattan For Creative Drama,
Drama Therapy with Special Populations, Principles of Drama Therapy 1997 Educator of the
Year Kremeier, Nancy
- Art Teacher, Oak Hill Elementary City Overland Park For Beethoven Day -
Oak Hill Elementary & Cultural Diversity, Peculiar MO Distinguished Service
of the Year Bonds, NedRa
- Art Teacher, Donnelley College City Kansas City For World traveler:
Cultural diversity, storytelling, quilting, maskmaking 1996 Educator of the
Year Dick, Beverly
- Executive Director, Very Special Arts Kansas City Wichita For Programming included
Adopt-a-School, Arts for Children in Hospitals, Young Playwrights,
and Start with the Arts Distinguished Service
of the Year Edlund, Hon. Richard City Kansas City For As State Representative,
advocate of the arts for children with disabilities and White, Kathleen City Prairie Village For Advocate on the
Kansas State Board of Education on behalf of the arts for children with disabilities 1995 Educator of the
Year Davis, Maureen
- Drama Teacher, Shawnee Mission North HS City Overland Park For Incorporates students
of the Development Center into regular education, creating a model of inclusive
education in theatrics Distinguished Service
of the Year Morgan, Ellen
- Executive Director, Association of Community Arts Agencies of Kansas (ACAAK) City Salina For Bringing culturally
diverse arts programming to Kansas residents, inclusive of those with special
needs, and freely donating time and services to AAI 1994 Educator of the
Year Peterson, Wilena
- Teacher, Garfield School City Garfield For 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. Distinguished Service
of the Year Harry, Belinda
- Asst. Director, Special Ed SE KS Special Ed Co-op City Pittsburg For 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 1993 Educator of the
Year Horton, Vickie
- Music Director, Kansas State School for the Blind; Music Therapist, Wyandotte
Special Education Co-op City Kansas City For Music Instructor
and Therapist Distinguished Service
of the Year Apt, Denise City Iola For Advocacy for Accessible
Arts programming and Smith, Shelby City Wichita For Advocacy for Accessible
Arts programming 1992 Educator of the
Year Herl, Tammy
- Art Therapist Prairie View Mental Health Center City Newton For Writer: Finding
Light at the End of the Funnel, Art Therapy, and Art Teacher. District Resource
Coordinator, Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) Distinguished Service
of the Year Welsbacher, Betty
- Professor, Special Music Education Wichita State University City Wichita For 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 1991 Educator of the
Year Jones-Johnson,
Jacqui - Outreach Coordinator, Kansas School for the Deaf City Olathe For Collaborations
between KSD and Theatre for Young America; Deaf Interpreter, Speech Therapist Distinguished Service
of the Year Freeman, William
- Director, Accessible Arts, Inc. City Kansas City For 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 1990 Educator of the
Year Boese, Sherri
- South Central Director of Very Special Arts Kansas City Wichita For 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) Distinguished Service
of the Year Gleason, Mary
- Coordinator, Arts Programming for Special Students City Ulysses For Long-term teacher
and advocate for arts programming to serve children and youth with disabilities 1989 Educator of the
Year Martinez, Kay -
Art Therapist/Director of Art Therapies, Parsons State Hospital City Parsons For 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) Distinguished Service
of the Year Buckley, Gerry
- Director, Gallaudet University Regional Center City Overland Park For Advocacy of arts
programming for persons with disabilities. Chair, Kansas Advisory Planning Committee
and Advisory Council on Arts with Individuals with Special Needs 1988 Educator of the
Year Burnside, Bonnie
- Adaptive Music Teacher, Kansas City USD 500 City Kansas City For 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) Distinguished Service
of the Year Marshall, James
E. - Director of Special Education, Kansas School for the Deaf City Topeka For Initiated and guided
the establishment of statewide training program in arts in special education
for special and arts education teachers and related service personnel 1987 Educator of the
Year Dugan-Kutchins,
Ellen - Case Manager, Johnson County Mental Retardation Center City NE Johnson County For Began art lessons
for staff and students later-displayed in gallery Distinguished Service
of the Year Craighill-Moran,
Maureen - AAI Program Coordinator City Merriam For Coordinator of
Kansas Arts Resource Training System (KARTS) City Hays For 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 1986 Educator of the
Year Daniels, Daisy City Topeka For 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 Distinguished Service
of the Year None 1985 Educator of the
Year Bernstorf, Elaine
- Teacher; Music in Special Education Consultant, USD 259 City Wichita For 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 Distinguished Service
of the Year None
1984 Educator of the
Year Ault, Bob - Art
Therapist, Menninger Foundation; Director, Graduate program in Art Therapy,
Emporia State University; Director, Ault's Academy of Art City Topeka For 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 Distinguished Service
of the Year None
1983 Educator of the
Year Welsbacher, Betty City Wichita For 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. Distinguished Service
of the Year None Kansas
Arts Resource Training System (KARTS), a three-year Special Project, Model of
National Significance, funded by the U.S, Department of Education to the Kansas
State Department of Education
Educator of the
Year
Minnis, Myrna (the
oogly lady) - Independent Instructor
Leawood
Promotes diversity
through clay sculptures: each is unique and good
Martin, Dr. Howard
- Director, Living Drama Program, Missouri Repertory Theatre
Westwood Hills
Jelly Bean Conspiracy-drama
about disabilities using children with disabilities
and
Eastep, Marsha - Para, PDC
and
Hoernicke, Placido A. (Art) - Assoc. Professor of Special Education, Fort Hays State University
***Nominations for the next year***History of the Awards***
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