awards

Art Educators of Minnesota appreciates and recognizes the outstanding leadership, dedication and community involvement of our members. We recognize these achievements through annual awards including: MN Art Educator of the Year, Elementary Art Educator of the Year, Rookie Art Educator of the Year, Emeritus Art Educator of the Year, and Administrator Art Educator of the Year.

2024 Recipients

Man in a dark jacket and blue baseball cap smiling and standing outside a school building.

MN Art educator of the year

erin boe

Maple Grove Senior High

Woman with dark hair, maroon shirt, and colorful scarf smiling and standing in front of a bulletin board filled with art.

elementary Art educator of the year

April malphurs

Le Sueur-Henderson Public Schools

Woman with strawberry blonde hair and white tshirt smiling inside a vehicle.

Middle school Art educator of the year

maran wagner

Kennedy Community School

Man in a dark jacket and blue baseball cap smiling and standing outside a school building.

High School Art educator of the year

erin boe

Maple Grove Senior High

Woman with dark hair, maroon shirt, and colorful scarf smiling and standing in front of a bulletin board filled with art.

EMERITUS Art educator of the year

Susan Schmidt

Woman with strawberry blonde hair and white tshirt smiling inside a vehicle.

HIGHer Education Art educator of the year

Amanda Klauck

St. Cloud State University

Blonde woman with dangling earrings and black shirt smiling in front of a blue school portrait background

K-12 Art educator of the year

Erin Paulson

Glacier Hills Elementary
School of Arts & Science

Blonde woman with dangling earrings and black shirt smiling in front of a blue school portrait background

distinguished service within the profession

Mary Bruno

Bruno Press

A gentleman with white hair and beard smiling

distinguished service within the profession

heidi miller

Woman with a wavy red bob, long necklace, and black and green striped shirt smiling

distinguished service within the profession

Jennifer Penzkover

Arts Administrator - City of St. Cloud

Aem award qualifications

See the categories and specifications below for each award. Nominations for the 2024-2025 Awards will open in March 2024.

rookie art educator of the year

Awarded to a teacher in first 3 years of teaching. Candidate must show evidence of supporting state and national art education initiatives, demonstrate effectiveness in the classroom and in the school community, and show leadership and commitment to the art education field.

divisional art educator of the year

Division Awards awarded to an AEM member from each division who has significantly contributed to the individual's division in art education. (Elementary, Middle, Secondary, Higher Education, K-12, Museum Education, Service within Profession, Administration and Emeritus on the local, state and/or national levels)

minnesota art educator of the year

Selected from the award winners from each division. This award is recognized both at state and National level.

A candidate may be nominated in more than one category if professional career demonstrates qualifications.

If you have any questions regarding AEM Awards, please contact [email protected]