Art Teachers Earn State Educator Awards Across Three States
Art educators in North Carolina, Idaho and Virginia have received statewide recognition for their work. Ashley Carmichael, a new art teacher at Creekside Elementary School in Pitt County, was named the North Carolina Art Educators Association’s Preservice Art Educator of the Year. BYU-Idaho art department chair Josh Hobbs received Idaho’s Art Educator of the Year honor for his work improving instruction and helping students grasp complex concepts through hands-on learning. Harrisonburg High School teacher Jauan Brooks was also named Virginia Art Educator of the Year, recognized for inspiring students of varied skill levels and encouraging them to develop their own artistic styles. Reports differ on whether Brooks’s award is designated for 2026 or 2027.






