NORTH VERNON — Jennings County High School teacher Karen Chilman recently won the Outstanding Secondary Art Educator award from the Art Education of Indiana (AEAI)
Chilman was nominated by long-time friend and fellow high school teacher Charlinda Evans.
Winning art teachers are recognized for their classroom excellence, participation and leadership and the local and state level, exhibits, advocacy for the Indiana Arts program, and art-related accomplishments.
“(Chilman) has gone a long way in bridging the community with the high school arts program and its students,” Evans said. “I know her students are better people because of their work in her program.”
This year marks Chilman’s 30th of teaching art in education. She taught at Scottsburg for 17 years before coming to JCHS.
“I am honored to be named the Secondary Art Educator. It is a high honor,” Chilman said.
Chilman lives in the Commiskey area with her husband, Larry, and they have two children and one grandchild.
“I can’t imagine teaching anything else,” she said. “There is never a dull moment teaching the many arts of parts of the art curriculum.”
Chilman teaches Introduction to 2D/3D art, painting, drawing, photography. She also teaches Advanced Placement courses.
She said that more students participate in the arts programs at schools than sports, and many students do both.
“I know of many kids that have stayed in school due to their love of visual arts or the music program,” Chilman said.
