Twenty Vermonters were recently honored at the Vermont Alliance for Arts Education Annual Supervisory Union/District Arts Education Awards Evening. Vermont School Superintendents were asked to select an individual who had made a significant contribution to the arts in their school supervisory union/district. This year fifteen superintendents responded with honorees coming from Brattleboro and Bennington to Newport, Vermont.The evening began with a reception at the Red Clover Café, Vermont State House in Montpelier. Following VAAE Board Chair, Jonathan Silverman welcoming comments, David Wolk, Vermont Commissioner of Education, talked on supporting arts in education . Talented Vermont students performed: vocalist Heather Davis, instrumentalists; Jeremy Borne, and Justin Sorrell. Sean Baggs and Tim Whitney directed by CVU senior, Emily Carvey performed a sketch, and the Middlebury Union Middle School’s World Percussion Ensemble
performed African rhythms.VAAE Awards Chair Gene Childers and Commissioner Wolk presented an Awards Certificate to the following Honorees:
Sharon Biddle, Danville School
Sharon is an outstanding artist and arts educator, published poet and professional painter. Sharon combines her passion for the arts with an exemplary arts educational program that enables her students to connect their artistic talents to their lives and the world.Judi Simon Bouton and Dee Mann, Hartland Elementary
Judi Simon-Bouton is Enrichment Coordinator for Hartland Elementary School. She has brought numerous artists into the school for residencies and performances. Judi and music teacher Dee Mann attended the Metropolitan Guild’s course, “Creating Original Opera.”
Dee and Judi lead a fifth grade class through the creation of an original opera. Dee Mann has been a Vermont music educator for five years. She is a certified elementary school teacher and maintain a small studio of Suzuki piano students.Justin T. Burns, Montpelier High School
Justin, a Montpelier High School senior, has been involved with the production of a hallway mural depicting a range of student and staff personalities and activities. The scaffolding remains a constant in the hallway.Jill M. Dutton, Barstow Memorial School
Jill is a very talented arts educator teaching K-8 students at Barstow Memorial School. Jill, a talented artist herself, recognizes the importance of self-expression, and begins
each year with K-8 students painting self-portraits in oil pastels or watercolors.Stephanie Gallas, Cornwall, Bridport
Stephanie works in three of our elementary schools and also finds time to write grants and implement the Millennium Project. For the past seven years, Stephanie has played an integral role in our annual Spring into the Arts festival which showcases our students’ work.Gartner Family, Rutland City School Dist.
Allen Gartner is currently the Vermont Arts Council Board of Trustees and Preservation Trust of Vermont. Allen received the Vermont Arts Council Business Award for support of
the arts, and enjoys playing the piano and flute, and listening to jazz.Sandra Gartner serves on the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and is Vermont’s liaison to the national arts center. She is co-director of a theater project for teens at risk, and a tutor in the Rutland Alternative Academic Placement program.
Karen Gartner serves as the Housing Chair for the 2000 Vermont All State Music Festival
and is a member of the Rutland City School Board. A Pediatric Physical Therapist, Karen enjoys singing in many area ensembles, and is involved with community arts organizations.Edward Gartner has served on the boards of several community and statewide arts origaniz-ations. He received the Vermont Arts Council Business Award for support of the arts, and has served on the board of Crossroads Art Council.
Mary Ann Haagen, Marion Cross School
Since 1981 Mary Ann has taught and integrated music into all parts of the school’s curriculum. Fourth graders studying Africa also experience African drumming, and third graders exploring the westward movement, learn pioneer songs. Mary Ann also directs
the chorus and gives instrumental lessons.Jozuf Hadley, Oxbow Union High School
Jozuf is a Visual Arts teacher at Oxbow H S. “Had,” as students call him has made the art room a safe place to be creative. Jozuf’s other activities include creating cast figure sculptures with students, yearbook advisor, and school play director. (continued on page 3)Susan Hagan, Springfield School District
Susan, Director of The Dance Factory, merits this recognition for her contribution to arts education and student dance programs. She has choreographed school productions, served on the Arts Project Committee, and each year contributed a portion of the Nutcracker proceeds to educational arts endeavors.Anne Hamilton, North Country Union H S
Anne is Choral Director and MIDI composition teacher. She directs the school Concert Choir, Select Choir, Women’s Ensemble and Men’s Ensemble. A member of ACDA, Anne is the founder/conductor of Northsong chamber choir. She has been a guest conductor at district music festivals, and co-directs MusiCamp.Kris Fitts-Hoppe, St. Johnsbury School Dist.
Kris is an active volunteer in our schools and community. As the St. Johnsbury Elementary Schools visual arts program coordinator, she spent countless hours developing hands-on creative activities for the students. Kris is involved in many community organizations.Jerry Keezer, Poultney Town School
Plant Manager for the Poultney Schools, Jerry has made significant contributions to forwarding the Arts in Poultney. Jerry has helped the Art and Music departments acquire and maintain needed equipment to improve presentation of the Arts.Jeanne McWaters, Bennington
Since retiring, Jeanne has remained active in the schools as a liaison between the schools and the Vermont Arts Exchange. She organizes the art teacher meetings and volunteers her time in classrooms with activities such as box making and bookmaking. Jeanne is a vital link for the arts in the schools.Karen Perry, Irasburg
Karen has worked in theatre for twenty years. Since coming to Irasburg in 1998, she has filled the void in theatre arts through her brainchild, the Vermont Family Theatre. Her productions are open to children and adults of all ages who wish to enhance their creative abilities, and encourage the abilities of others.Rebecca Raymond, Manchester Elementary Middle School
Rebecca has been the visual arts educator at the Manchester Elementary Middle School for the past eight years. Initially working with a K-8 population of under 400 students, she now works with the more than 500 students on a regular basis.Seth A. Richardson, Brattleboro Union HS
Seth, a senior at Brattleboro Union HS, lives and breathes the technical end of music and drama. As a self-taught student technical director, he has given countless hours to community productions as well as to every stage program at Brattleboro Union HS.