The evening celebration began with a reception featuring delicious desserts. Prominently displayed in the reception entryway were displays featuring the honorees numerous activities and projects for which they were being honored. 

VAAE Board Chair, Diane Kemble welcomed honorees and guests followed by comments by Vermont Commissioner of Education, Richard Cate. Talented students, Nora Clark, Rivendell Academy, Nishan and Tavid Bingham, Elden Kelly, Mt. Mansfield UHS, Sheryl Hadeka, Burr & Burton Academy, Molly McEachen, Mt. Abraham UHS, Ethan Snyder, Otter Valley Union High/Stafford Technical Center, and Abbi Ziegler, Hartford High School, provided an array of entertainment including dance, vocal and instrumental music. At the conclusion of the evening, Award co-chairs, Andrea Haulenbeek and Ray Pellegrini summarized each honored guest’s accomplishments and achievement before VAAE Chair, Kemble presented each honoree a certificate of merit.

David Allen became a music teacher at the age of 36 in 1991 after years of working as a carpenter and a logger. He had always been involved with music as a hobby, but wanted to make it his profession. David’s love of children and music made music education the logical choice. With the support of his family he went back to Johnson State College in 1986 to get his degree in music education. David is very appreciative that both Franklin and Woodbury Schools have a respect for the Arts, which makes it a pleasure to teach.

David has been the percussionist in the orchestra for the Lamoille County Players at the Hyde Park Opera House as well as playing in local dance bands. He enjoys writing music and spending time with children at recess.
 

Carole’s principals say that she has consistently proven to be knowledgeable, personable, responsible, and talented in her work with children. She demonstrates a strong understanding that in order to help children learn, they must first buy into the fact that you really believe in their abilities to tackle any challenge you put forth. Learning, after all, best takes place in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect and Carole has continually impressed her administrators as she models this atmosphere. Carole’s influence transcends her classroom via her generous help assisting teachers to discover unique ways to integrate art within the academic classroom. 

She routinely takes on a myriad of school-related projects, like making a Westshire kite with the school motto, “Together, W.E. Can.” Other examples include her helping students design calendars and cookbooks for their families. She also hosts an annual Family Play In Clay Night at each school. Unequivocally, Carole is definitely worthy of any and all recognition bestowed upon her for her dedicated service in the fields of education and the arts.
 

Besides teaching, Jaimie organizes the performing arts field trips, organizes musical assemblies, and has begun a monthly repertoire assembly in where students read poetry, show art work, play cello or piano solos, and share student interests. The students love this and are very supportive and respectful of the efforts of their peers. She works with the art teacher to produce shadow puppet plays, and is working with the literature teacher to produce a middle school musical and an elementary level musical this spring.

Bernstein has also established herself within the Hartland community by her participation in a community band and chorus and in town plays produced by the Hartland Performing Arts organization. Quite simply, Jaimie Bernstein is a remarkable person who makes herself available to students and staff whenever a need arises. Her energy is amazing, and her love of children drives her work. She’s a gem! 
 

While many others teach the arts as something separate declaring “Today we will study drama” or “art” or “music”, Nancy makes it a part of all daily experiences whether the subject is geography or math. Amid many enthusiastic compliments about Nancy’s teaching, Carolyn DiCicco from the Barnard Store described Nancy’s classroom as “a purposeful full time stage.” 

Nancy also does the specific. When the music teacher is in Barnard staging a musical production, Nancy uses the rest of the week to help children learn lines, choreography, and stage comfort. No student who has come Nancy’s way finds the arts or performance either mysterious or scary or unapproachable. Nancy’s model has that kind of effect. 
 

After Ellie graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, she taught Special Education for two years before “retiring” to raise her four sons. During those years she was never far from schools, logging thousands of volunteer hours in various school systems. Later, when her sons were older, Ellie returned to teaching after receiving her Masters degree in Education at Lyndon State College.

Whether teaching or volunteering, Ellie says, “my heart was in the arts. I feel very strongly that children should have an opportunity to perform on stage and I have worked countless hours making that possible. My jobs are not particularly glamorous because I always help where I am needed from ironing costumes, solving problems on show nights, pinning up costumes, braiding hair, setting up a stage, listening to lines, or being a stage manager. I have watched child performers grow into accomplished actors and actresses.”
 

Most recently, Dorinne collaborated with River Arts in Morrisville and arts students in the artist in residence program, Our Language is Art: History, Community, and Youth, which was supported by the Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Rural Partnership. Career Academy students currently lead the culminating event of Hyjinx, a community arts festival to be held on May 21, 2004 in Morrisville.

As an art and social studies teacher and personalized learning supervisor, Dorinne has created numerous arts programs with the mission of integrating the arts school-wide, fostering student engagement and expression, promoting diversity and tolerance, and establishing youth-adult partnerships to work together for a better world.

Flack studied portrait painting and artistic anatomy at the Art Students League in NYC. She was a portrait artist on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and received her bachelors and masters degrees from Castleton State College.

Barbara was immediately drawn to the computer when they first entered the educational domain as a teaching tool and first used it as an art tool for her family business, Flack Family Farm. To bring computers into the art classroom, she applied and received a WEB project grant.

The bottom line for Barbara is not the equipment or the interaction with all sorts of marvelous people, but to be a part of the learning experience. To share information and ‘be there’ when someone ‘gets it’… to be present and instrumental in this learning process – that’s the joy of the teaching profession.
 

Anne says, “My work in Art Education begins with my students. I always feel fortunate to be teaching this age. Their enthusiasm and lack of fear give their art an immediacy that is always remarkable. I enjoy collaborating with teachers as I find that a multimedia approach to subjects always helps the learning process. I also feel that by creating continual displays of artwork the students take greater pride in their work and the staff and public are more aware of the value of art and its role in education. I also enjoy working with the larger community. Students, teachers, parents, and Frog Hollow Clay Studio created a Japanese style water garden on our school grounds for all to use and enjoy. This year we joined with Edmunds Middle School and Project FEED to create murals for the shared cafeteria based on Vermont Agriculture. Who couldn’t love a job like this?” 
 

Her ability to inspire the school as a whole is hard to describe but simply put, “to see Becky and the whole student body singing, using sign, and students attentively following her lead is a wonderful sight.” The numerous ways that Becky has worked to build confidence, respect, and pride in her students is a unique gift to the school. Becky’s wealth of experience and love of music offers students extensive opportunities to have music play an integral part in their lives. The Windsor State School thanks her for touching the lives of the students in such a meaningful way. 
 

Katarina's students have participated in many shows and contests including: district and regional art show, VATA's youth art month exhibit in Montpelier, Water Week Poster Contest, UVM Math Poster Contest, Aviation Calendar Poster Contest and the Organ Donation and Transplant Poster Contest. She works hard to collaborate with a variety of teachers on cross curriculum project and is currently working with the school counselor on integrating visual art into the personal development curriculum. She loves teaching art and feels that her enthusiasm toward art is being reflected in her students' work.

On at least two occasions, the PTO has sponsored ARTS DAY to celebrate the end of the school year. The PTO has provided funding for art supplies and materials to support his event, and another such event is already being planned for this year. The students at this rural school have been exposed to a wealth of artistic endeavors. The PTO membership has not only provided financial support, but numerous volunteers and enthusiastic supporters in the community. The Mettawee Community PTO is and will continue to be a firm believer in arts education. "It is an honor to submit the Mettawee Community School Parent-Teacher Organization as the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union honoree," wrote Superintendent, Greg Scieszka.

Meg's students have displayed student artwork in the Essex Town School District office, and visitors could not believe that the work was done by middle school students– they assumed it was done by high school students. Essex staff and students are indeed fortunate that Meg works in Essex, and they are pleased to recognize her for her many achievements.

Miller serves as treasurer of the Vermont Arts Teachers Association and is a member of the Youth Art Month Committee that organizes and displays student art at the Vermont State Capitol each March. Meg also has been an active member of the Vermont Institutes' Art Assessment Committee.
 

At Richford Elementary, her time is split between general music and instrumental lessons. She directs a beginning and an advanced band. Her band participates in the Music in the Round Concert, a concert where students join with other local school bands to play together. All the district music teachers working together create this concert. When Lynn took over the instrumental position, she began a marching band that marches in local parades. She also codirects a musical each year. For the last several years, this has been a Christmas musical and usually includes around 40 students. 

Lynn brings music alive to the community. She directs a Community Chorus for a Christmas show, and for a spring variety show. The singers' ages range from 8 to 85. Lynn is happy to report that music is very much alive and appreciated in the town of Richford.
 

Carl has guest-conducted numerous festivals throughout Vermont, and teaches a Jazz/ Gospel chorus at the Flynn, where he is also music director for the FlynnArts summer musical with Robin Fawcett. Recchia’s students regularly perform throughout the community and have received high praise for their quality performances. His students especially enjoy performing for, and spending time with, the senior citizens in Chittenden county.

Carl served as music director for a number of local theatres during his career, both in New Hampshire and Vermont and also has served as co-manager of the All State Chorus at the Vermont All State Music Festival. 

In 1998 Carl was named in the fifth edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, nominated by former students. Carl and some of his student chorus members performed for the entire CSSU staff at the opening day of the 2003/4 school year. As a member of the CSSU Music Curriculum Committee, Carl exhibits a passion for student learning and a commitment to arts education across the supervisory union. 
 

Ann came to Vermont for the first time to attend a music camp and did so for seven summers, three as student, and four as a counselor and teacher. She is a Graduate of Hope College in Holland, Michigan with degrees in music education and church music/organ performance. She engaged in graduate studies at Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Jersey State College and University of Vermont. She has written and received grants to bring artists to schools, and works at integrating music with classroom teachers and art and physical education teachers.