Hues News

2017 - 2018
Summer 2018 Western Ohio Art Education Association Newsletter

Mark Your Calendars! Congratulations to our 2018 Western OATs

 June 2-9, 2018
Summer Exhibit
Dayton Metro Library
Dayton, Ohio
 June 26-27, 2018
Summer Symposium
University of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
 July 18, 2018 /12-2pm
Summer Awards
Luncheon– Bennett’s
Publical
Miamisburg, Ohio

Melanie Huffman Jessica Evans

Greenville City Valley View Schools

Read about our Outstanding Art Teachers inside this edition of Hues News

Summer Awards Luncheon July 18, 2018

Celebrate our Regional Award Winners!
Come celebrate our Western Region Award Winners at
our WOAEA Summer Awards Luncheon. This year it
will be held on Wednesday July 18th from 12-2pm at
Bennett’s Publical at 67 S Main St in Miamisburg, Ohio.
We will be honoring our two OAT’s (outstanding art
teacher) Jessica Evans and Melanie Huffman. We will also be honoring our Distin-
guished Business Winner, Rosewood Arts Centre, our Distinguished Citizen Winner,
Gracie Sadaris and our Distinguished Educator Winner, Jeff McPheron and finally, our
Student Award Winner Morgan Bukovec. Thanks to all the nominators for reaching out
YPAE/YAM Recap cover
to nominate these amazing individuals! We would love you to join us, if you can make it
please RSVP by July 11th via email to indsay.gustafson@ketteringschools.org
Inside this issue:

Summer Awards Luncheon 2

Hope to see you there to recognize our Western Award Winners!
Western OATs 3
Connect with us and follow the links to Western social media
New Paula’s Corner 4

Professional Development 6-9

 PAGE 2

Greetings From Our Regional Director

Megan Newton Greetings Western Members!

I hope you had a fabulous end to your school year and you are finding
time to relax. We have several WOAEA events coming up this summer
for your professional and artistic needs. Our Western region summer
show will be on display in the beginning of June at the Dayton Metro
Library. Special thanks to co-chairs, Joan Lucas and Alexis Gentry, for
their hard work and dedication to this show! We are so thankful this
show is back in action.
This summer we are celebrating the WOAEA awardees at Bennett’s
Publical in Miamisburg for a luncheon. This charming restaurant is a
new addition to the Miamisburg community and we would love to share
our celebrations with the entire region!!
Everyone in the Western region is invited to Bennett’s Publical on July 18th from 12-
2pm for appetizers. Our lovely RD Elect, Lindsay Gustafson, will be hosting this event. Please
RSVP to Lindsay at lindsay.gustafson@ketteringschools.org by July 11th. We hope to see you
there!
I am excited to announce our two Outstanding Art Teachers who were voted on at conference
this past November. Congratulations to Jessica Evans and Melanie Huffman. Western region is
also celebrating Jeff McPheron as our Distinguished Educator and Rosewood Arts Center as
our Distinguished Business/Organization. If you have ever taken a class at Rosewood then you
understand how truly special this place is to our community.
Gracie Sadaris is a seventh grade student from Brookville, Ohio and is our Distinguished
Citizen for our region. I am particularly inspired by Gracie and feel that her story is important
to share.
In the Brookville Intermediate school there is not a certified art teacher for grades 4-8
plus their art program has been replaced by STEAM. Although, we know the benefits of
STEAM there are still debates out there on whether or not STEAM allows for expression that
only the visual arts can achieve. This student has recognized the need for the visual arts at this
crucial developmental age level. Gracie has been a champion for the arts in her district and at
her young age she has collected over 200 signatures to bring the visual arts back to the Inter-
mediate school. Recently, she presented at the school board meeting on the value and im-
portance of the arts. Her drive and aspiration is a lesson to us all.
It is sometimes easy to feel devalued or that your program is not getting the nourishment
it needs by the community, students, and/or district. Gracie is someone who reminds us that
there are people out there who recognize the importance of our profession. What is most im-
portant to me is that our young people are the champions for our programs. Anyone who says
that kids only care about their phones clearly have never spent time with our students. Our
students are passionate, caring, kind, expressive, and clearly value the visual arts.
I hope this summer you take time to reflect on your importance to this profession
and to your community. You are a treasure to your students. You provide your students
with the opportunity to find their artistic voice and express themselves freely as they
navigate through life. Bravo!

Artfully Yours,, Megan Newton


Western Outstanding Art Teachers
Melanie Huffman
Greenville City Schools
Melanie Huffman grew up on
a farm outside of Russia,
Ohio. She graduated from Edi-
son State Community College
with an Associate Degree, re-
ceived her Bachelor in Educa-
tion from Wright State Univer-
sity, and received her Masters
Degree in Teacher Leader
from Wright State University. Melanie currently lives
in Versailles with her husband and her dog Kobey.
She has 3 children, 1 boy & 2 girls, who are now
adults and she comes from a large family, 7 brothers
and sisters. Melanie has been teaching for 29 years at
Greenville City Schools. She teaches High School
students, grades 9 through 12, and has also taught 5 th
and 6 grades. Melanie teaches about 125 students a
th
day.
Melanie said the reason she decided to become an art
teacher was partly because of one of her art teachers.
She said “I had a wonderful art teacher named Ardiss
Luce in High School and I loved art.” Melanie says
the thing she enjoys most about teaching art is seeing
the joy on the students’ faces when they have created
something phenomenal!
Melanie says that her preferred medium is pencil. She
loves to create pencil drawings. When she’s not
teaching Melanie draws commissioned portraits and
sports drawings. Being so family oriented it would
not surprise you that she also enjoys drawing for fam-
ily and friends.
Melanie has other interests beyond the art realm. She
is an avid runner and has run several marathons and
5Ks. Melanie loves watching High School sports,
probably because her three children were highly in-
volved in sports. Melanie loves to travel and has tak-
en students on trips to Europe several times. She has
even traveled across the United States with her hus-
band on their Harley with a group of friends.
It’s easy to see why Melanie was nominated by her
peers for outstanding art teacher. She balances a love
for teaching art, a love for being active, and a love for
family. Within that balance is an educator who has
nurtured and inspired thousands of art students for
nearly 30 years! Well done Melanie, you are truly an
Outstanding Art Teacher!
PAGE 3
Jessica Evans
Valley View Schools
Jessica Evans’ journey to becoming
an art teacher started early and was
grounded in a desire to make art,
share her experiences through art
and help others. She grew up in the
small village of Carlisle, Ohio. Jes-
sica graduated from Miami Univer-
sity in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Art. She lives in
Carlisle with her husband Jeremy. They’ve been married 5
years, have a 2 year old daughter named Ivy and are expecting
their 2 child this year. To complete their small family they
nd
have a Lynx Point Siamese cat named Jax.
Jessica has been teaching art in the Valley View School dis-
trict at the Junior High Level for 8 years. She currently teaches
Drawing & Painting I & ll and Ceramics at the Junior High,
working with approximately 140 7 & 8 grade students daily.
th th
When asked why she decided to become an art teacher, Jessica
said that she was inspired by a former art teacher who mod-
eled so many exemplar connections with students. The con-
nection she had with this teacher was vital and with her confi-
dence led Jessica to pass on her love for art and drive to help
others.
Jessica enjoys working side by side with her students, chal-
lenging their ideas and working through the art process with
them. Through her instruction she encourages her students to
be kind and treat others with respect. Jessica shows her excite-
ment about art because she believes her students can pick up
on that excitement and carry it over into their work. Jessica
says this about her teaching: “I make lessons that will not just
teach a process about making art, but push to analyze the deci-
sions being made. Watching my kids’ confidence soar and
ability to connect is one of the most enjoyable moments as an
art educator”.
When creating her own art Jessica enjoys ceramics and acrylic
paints. Due to balancing family life and a busy schedule she
says most of her art making opportunities happen in the class-
room or during the summer. Jessica also enjoys spending time
with her family, working on small projects, renovation, and
interior decorating. She might be a good person to take shop-
ping because Jessica enjoys finding a bargain and prides her-
self at discovering new treasures while shopping.
It’s no wonder Jessica Evans thrives as an art teacher and is
being recognized by her peers. It’s clear that she was not only
born to be an artist but she has a passion for inspiring others to
create art! Congratulations Jessica on being one of our Out-
standing Art Teachers!
PAGE 4

Paula’s Corner

Welcome to the Art corner!

Do you need or want credits to renew or up your pay…this is the
discussion for you!
Well guys, another year down and while other teachers are closing down, I seem
to be ramping up with 2 district art shows and 3 awards assemblies. This year
was great with collaboration and I have many ideas that will enhance the stu-
dents learning for next year.
If you are like me and can’t wait till summer to not only find my brain, but also
get more organized and plan some improvements for next year, then I have the
thing for you!!! I hate spending countless hours prepping for the following year
with no additional pay. I feel taking that time away from my family is not fair. But
we all do it for our students and our sanity throughout the school year.
Last year I discovered The Dominican University of California's Summer Curricu-
lum Course, EDUX 9972. http://dominicancaonline.com/edux-summer-course/
(read through and see what you think)
WOW! What a life changer!!! I couldn’t recommend anything greater than a
course where you do what you do and get grad credits that can go toward pay
increases. You will have to check with your school to see if they accept The Do-
minican University, I found the majority of schools will. The courses are ex-
tremely reasonable and this course will let you earn your choosing in credit
hours. Last year I worked 150 hours and earned 6 credit hours doing what I do
every summer…researching artists and art, writing lesson plans, making demos,
creating PowerPoints, organizing my back storage closets and laminating (yes,
even laminating)! You get credit for what you normally do. The really cool thing
is that it is cheap and you can pick and choose how many hours you want to put
in. I am doing 6 again this year.
How it works…you come up with an attack plan, log your hours, show up at a
quick informal meeting at Panera Bread at the end of the summer with other
teachers and poof- The Dominican University sends you a free transcript for your
school! I am in love!
If anyone has had any experience with their other online courses, please send
me an email. I would love to know what your experience has been!
Email any comments, suggestions or questions to ptreisch@ccliff.org and we will
put it in Paula’s Corner. Have a GREAT SUMMER everyone!
 PAGE 5

OAEA Mission Statement

* Build community for visual art educators by promoting professional growth and leadership.

Publicity
Attention "W ester ner s"
Now is the time for all good art PR Chair:
teachers to come to the aid of
their region! Are you especially
Heather Wackler
pleased with a particular art as- 6508 State Route 722
signment and/or art student? Arcanum, OH 45304
Take a picture, write a few
words, put them in an envelope 937-621-1908
or an e-mail, and send them abelhwackler@mdeca.org
along!

Regional Director:
Megan Newton
29 Fitzooth Drive
Miamisburg, OH 45432
937-271-1731
mnewton@miamisburg.k12.oh.us
Western Officers
PR Chair: Technology Chair:
Heather Wakler Kate Brookshire
6508 State Route 722 3736 Wenzler Drive
Arcanum, OH 45304 Kettering, OH 45429
937-621-1908 H: 937-643-9886
abelhwackler@mdeca.org kate.brookshire@vbcsd.com

Workshops Chair/Past RD Regional Exhibits Co-Chair: Newsletter Chair:

Darden Bradshaw Joan Lucas Bill Stanforth
3405 Sagamon Ave. 205 Nottinghill Lane 125 Allerton Road
Kettering, OH 45429 Troy, OH 45373 Dayton, OH 45405
W: 937-229-3207 937-308-0083 937-212-4223
C: 520-991-0548 jjjjluke@aol.com bill.stanforth@beavercreek.k12.oh.us
Dbradshaw1@udayton.edu camdenb@aol.com

Regional Exhibits Co-Chair:

Regional Director Elect:
Lindsay Gustafson
1824 Hazel Ave.
Kettering, OH 45420
937-689-5381
lindzg31@me.com
Awards Chair:
Ben Davis
1210 Nunnery Dr.
Miamisburg, OH 45432
937-776-0965
bdavis@miamisburg.k12.oh.us
Alexis Gentry Membership Chair:
55 West Van Lake Drive
Vandalia, OH 45377
937-361-0818 YAM/YPAE Chair:
valentine1618@gmail.com
HS Exhibits/
Secretary: Emerging Artists Chair:
Paula Treisch
1431 Williams Road
Wilmington, OH 45177
937-367-1845
ptreisch@ccliff.org
PAGE 6