Local Teacher Named Prang® Art Teacher of the Year
Art teacher at Charleston Middle School receives National Honor
Darbie Thompson is the art teacher at Charleston Middle School in Charleston, IL and a member of the first class of Prang Art Teachers of the Year. Darbie received 6 nominations from fellow teachers, students and parents and was repeatedly recognized for her dedication to her students, creativity, and overcoming personal obstacles to revitalize the school’s art program.
“Ms. Thompson has overcome her own personal obstacles to be inspiring art teacher,” said Kim Sherwood, the Careers and Technical Education Teacher at Charleston. “She produces and teaches amazing art (including her own amazing cake/cupcake decorating business), but she also offers student choice projects along with interdisciplinary projects with other building teachers based on their content.” For example, students created cuckoo clocks after a social studies interdisciplinary unit of Germany and avant-garde inspired figure drawings after learning about Ukraine.
Ms. Thompson also makes a huge impact on the community. “She and some of her students partner with our local community art group to produce local pieces and created fundraising events to support our local animal shelter”, continued Sherwood. “Ms. Thompson also spends most of her lunch time eating with students who want a little more art time or just a low-key place to sit and eat and chat.”
“Traditionally in our district, art was valued, but contained to a specific idea and curriculum,” said Jessica Rodriguez, a fellow teacher at Charleston. “Darbie came in and shook things up in the best ways possible. She started incorporating new types of art into her classes that students had not heard about previously including sewing, recycled art, and digital art. She managed to reach an entirely new group of students by showing them something that they never knew existed. It wasn't easy though; Darbie wrote grants and asked for support in these endeavors to ensure that the caliber of the classes she was offering remained constant. She knew that the students deserved the best education possible and did not rest until she knew that she could provide it to them.”
“This past school year was the first time in many years that art was offered, and every student participated” said Robert Lynn, the Principal at Charleston. “Students that previously had a distaste for art were suddenly excited to have art and disappointed they could only take it in one quarter. Beyond creating an appetite for art, Ms. Thompson reinforces everything our students are learning in their other courses into the art room.”
Darbie will receive Prang® and Dixon Ticonderoga products for their art room with a retail value of $5,000 and a handcrafted, custom plaque to commemorate being recognized. Additionally, Darby will be featured on the Prang website and social media accounts.
“We know art teachers are the unsung heroes of every school in the country,” said Steve Boyea, EVP Sales and Marketing for Dixon Ticonderoga Company, the makers of Prang. “The nominations were heartfelt and inspiring and revealed the incredible connection art teachers make with their students, colleagues, and communities.”
A highly esteemed committee selected the 10 art teachers from more than 2,000 nominations submitted. The committee included an art teacher, a working artist, industry executives and two thought leaders in art education.
CMS held a surprise assembly to honor Ms. Thompson for her achievement on September 22, 2022.
Art Teacher of the Year - Prang