PGCPS Art Educators Earn National & State Honors

PGCPS Visual Art Instructional Supervisor Dr. Elizabeth Stuart Whitehead is the recipient of the 2024 National Art Educator award by the National Art Education Association (NAEA)! This prestigious award, determined through a peer review of nominations, recognizes one NAEA member for extraordinary achievements and service of national significance during previous years. 

“Elizabeth Stuart Whitehead exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars, and advocates who give their best to their students and the profession,” said NAEA President Wanda B. Knight.

Additionally, Vansville Elementary School art educator Virginia Bute-Riley was named Maryland State Art Teacher of the Year. 

With a passion for nurturing creativity and celebrating diversity, Virginia has made a profound impact on her students and the broader educational community.

As the Arts Integration Team Leader at Vansville, Virginia spearheads efforts to infuse arts across the curriculum and shares her expertise across PGCPS by presenting at new teacher trainings, mentoring student teachers, and contributing to the development of elementary art curriculum.

One of Virginia's greatest joys in teaching is the opportunity to interact with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. In her art room, she fosters an environment of exploration, sharing, and celebration of ideas and life experiences. Through her guidance, students learn to organize, select, and represent their experiences in their artwork, empowering them with tools for expression and communication.