West Orange, Hillside Art Teachers Earn Top National Award

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An art teacher in West Orange has earned a top national award to honor her efforts with New Jersey’s Youth Art Month, a program observed nationally every March to advocate for the visual arts in schools.

Recently, Kristy Lopez, an art teacher at West Orange Liberty Middle School, captured the Claire Flanagan Memorial Award. Lopez received the award along with Youth Art Month co-chair Karen Mannino, a teacher at George Washington Elementary School in Hillside.

The West Orange Board of Education recognized Lopez for her accomplishment at their Jan. 27 meeting.

"I am incredibly grateful for winning this award with Karen Mannino," Lopez said. "We really care about and believe in this program. We've had the pleasure of meeting so many students and their families at our receptions, giving these artists their moment in the spotlight and hopefully a glimmer of inspiration to pursue the arts."

• See related article: Get The Art Out, West Orange (How To Post Events On Patch)

West Orange district administrators said that along with Mannino, Lopez documented their Youth Art Month activities, noting observances, funding, participation, community support, special materials and proclamations.

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State chairpersons and their state art education associations are eligible for national recognition and financial awards for their participation in Youth Art Month and their impact on K-12 visual art education. Outstanding Youth Art Month programs are recognized at NAEA based on each state’s digital presentation documenting the state’s Youth Art Month activities.

"Nationally, more and more states are getting involved and displaying what they are doing with their programs online, so the ability to stand out among all the competition is very special," Lopez said.

Lopez and Mannino will be recognized during the 2020 National Art Education Association Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota this March.

• See related article: Teachers, Staff, Students In West Orange Honored
• See related article: Essex County Teachers, Students Who Made A Difference In 2019

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