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Osage educator named Elementary Art Teacher of the Year
by Warren Haacke, Press-News Reporter
Osage elementary art teacher Cyndi Spears loves listening to children and watching them create. In fact, Spears has a sign next to her door that describes her philosophy of teaching and art.
"Beside my door hangs a sign which reads "Creative Thinking Center, Ms. Spears," said Spears. My philosophy of art and education also hangs beside the sign:
"In this room we do not learn how to be an artist. Instead we learn how art touches our lives in the past, present, and future. We learn to find the artist inside us. We learn to be creative thinkers."
Apparently Spears has had a lasting impact on many students over the years. The 29-year veteran of teaching was recently informed that she has been selected the 2008-09 Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for the State of Iowa.
"I learned of my award the first week of school," said Spears. "I really did not believe the letter which notified me of the honor. I read the letter several times to convince myself of its message. I will have the honor of being recognized at the Art Educators of Iowa conference in Dubuque, Iowa the first weekend in October."
Spears continued, "As a teacher, one always wonders if students are absorbing your philosophy. Then, when you least expect it, one of them comes along and affirms your hopes. I have had so many unexpected memory makers from present and past students who have been impacted by my class. They warm my heart and drive my passion. This honor came to me through a nomination of a former student of mine, Jessica Schwab Balsley. She always wanted to be an art teacher, even when she was in elementary school. In high school she would come to my class and help and absorb as much as she could on how to be an effective art teacher. We worked together, not only until her journey was complete and she got her first art teaching position, but also throughout her first year of teaching. I am so very proud of her commitment and dedication. It is such a legacy, and I am humbled by the experience."
Spears grew up in northeast Iowa. Her parents are Ronald and Mary Spears.
She attended North Fayette High School and graduated in 1974.
After graduation, Spears attended Wartburg College and graduated from that institution in 1978.
Spears then taught for three years at Fayette where she was the K-12 art teacher, a coach for two sports and prom supervisor.
She then came to Osage in the fall of 1982.
Spears stated that her experience as a summer camp counselor was the "push' she needed to pursue her career as a teacher.
"The most valuable job I ever had was being a camp counselor at EWALU in Strawberry Pt., Iowa," Spears stated. "I worked there all four of my college summers, and the experiences I had with kids of all ages reinforced my decision to be a teacher."
"My original intent was to become a counselor," she said. "I quickly abandoned that idea and decided to use my gifts to motivate and inspire others to be creative."
Spears teaches nearly 500 students in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade and also has a high school art class the second semester.
"I travel to all three school buildings four times every day," she chuckled. "I'm on the move a lot."
Spears went on to talk about her perspective and philosophy of teaching art.
"First, I want to say I love teaching art," she said. "I love listening and watching kids create."
Spears continued, "For most people attending an art class seems very intimidating. People assume that one must be highly skilled at drawing to be considered an artist. My art classes are designed to promote creativity. Art integrates all the curriculums. Art requires one to use his/her higher order thinking skills to process information. How one solves problems creatively is essential to every successful student. Most people appreciate the esthetic qualities of a finished piece of art and do not realize how complicated the process of solving the visual challenges can be. Art also defines a culture. To understand what people create and relate to visually, and why, is very important in understanding one another."
Elementary Principal Mark Knudtson stated, "Ms. Spears is extremely deserving of this honor. She is as enthusiastic about her teaching now as when she first started as a teacher. The students can see that and they all love her very much."
In her free time, Spears combines a love of travel and art.
"I love traveling to see art of any form, from architecture to art history and then bringing the joy I experienced back to my students," she stated. "Art is not exclusive to anyone. We are all artists and all creative thinkers. We just happen to be successful at different levels."
Story created Sep 30, 2008 - 11:55:43 CDT.
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