WCPS recognizes art teacher of year
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 16, 2012 1:46 PM
Forty-three student artists and an outstanding art educator from Wayne County Public Schools were recognized during the recent annual visual arts awards reception.
Merle Elam, an art teacher at Rosewood Elementary, was named Zeno Spence Elementary Art Educator for 2011-12.
For 21 years the district, in cooperation with the Arts Council of Wayne County, has hosted the awards reception.
Ms. Elam is in her 25th year in education. She came to the district in 2004-05.
Hope Meyerhoeffer, WCPS director of visual arts, introduced the school system's 43 award-winning artists, with special recognition given in several categories, including Superintendent's Choice Art for grades K-12; Scholastic Art, recognizing students who won Scholastic Art awards at the regional competition at Barton College earlier this year; and the top districtwide Christmas card design.
Superintendent's Choice Art
Grades K-2: Katie Wagner of Eastern Wayne Elementary, first; Taylor Mack, Tommy's Road Elementary, second; and Diana Ortiz, Meadow Lane Elementary, third.
Grades 3-5: Eugenia Wooten, North Drive Elementary, first place; Amya Spruill, School Street Elementary, second; and James Reser, Fremont Elementary, third.
Grades 6-8: Jaydyn Kincaid, Spring Creek High, first; Juan Trejo Acevedo, Grantham, second; and Emily Ritcher, Eastern Wayne Middle, third.
Grades 9-12: Shyla Ames, Spring Creek High, first; Ashley Cornelio, Goldsboro High, second; and Ana Pantoja, Southern Wayne High, third.
Honorable mention: Arianna Martinez, Brogden Primary; Diana Villanueva, Brogden Middle; Brenton Cox, Charles B. Aycock; Kiyona Teachey, Carver Heights; Jeremiah Edwards and Riley Lancaster, Northeast Elementary; John McIvey, Northwest; Billy Strickland, Rosewood Elementary; Logan Sutton, Spring Creek Elementary; Jayda Martinez, Dillard Middle; Abigail Lanier, Grantham; Jeremiah Harris, Greenwood Middle; Cindy Tamayo, Mount Olive Middle; Jacob Blankenship, Norwayne Middle; Waverlea Brown, Rosewood Middle; Ashton Walker, CBA; Rebekah Royal, Eastern Wayne High; and Nicole Jefferson, Rosewood High.
The Superintendent's Choice Art will be displayed for a year along the hallways of the district's administrative offices on Royall Avenue.
Other awards
Scholastic Art - Gold Key: Nicholas Hilker, CBA; Alaina Ruggery, Eastern Wayne High; Mya Coleman, Mount Olive Middle; and Jessica Wallace, Spring Creek High.
Scholastic Art - Silver Key: Nicholas Hilker, CBA; Alaina Ruggery and Stephanie Smith, Eastern Wayne High; Eric Gonzalez, Dominic McClarin and Leonardo Mora, Mount Olive Middle; and Morgan Howell and Alicia Loy, Spring Creek High.
Christmas card district winner: Alsa Ruona, Eastern Wayne Middle.