Roosevelt Art Teacher Named Outstanding Secondary Art Educator

Becky Sue Johnson, a veteran art teacher at Roosevelt High School, has been named Outstanding Secondary Art Educator by the Art Educators of Iowa (AEI).

Johnson has been teaching art classes at Roosevelt High School for 17 years and in Des Moines Public Schools for 31 years, teaching elementary, middle and high school students. She will receive her award at the AEI Fall Conference in Des Moines on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011.

“Ms. Johnson’s pedagogical knowledge and commitment to students are evident every day in her classroom, and as she collaborates with staff to do whatever it takes to meet the needs of students,” said Kathie Danielson, principal of Roosevelt High School.

Johnson is a member of the Instructional Leadership Team at Roosevelt and is the chair of the Fine Arts department. She also has served on the Art Advisory Committee and the Art Department’s Curriculum Committee for Des Moines Public Schools. She has guided her students to become familiar with the Des Moines Art Center as a resource for their learning and has organized student trips to Europe.

“As passionate as I am about life, art, and learning, I am equally passionate about my teaching and my students,” said Johnson. “Teaching itself is an art, one that I continue to strive to master. It is my great honor to accept this award for something that I am passionate about and just driven to do.”

Art Educators of Iowa is a non-profit organization unified with the National Art Education Association and affiliated with the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education whose purpose is to promote excellence in visual arts education in Iowa through the advancement of knowledge and skills, professional development, service, and leadership.