Tukes Valley Middle School teacher Debbie Supplitt honored by Washington Art Education Association
BATTLE GROUND — Debbie Supplitt, an art teacher at Tukes Valley Middle School, has been named the Washington Art Education Association’s (WAEA) 2018 Mid-Level Art Educator of the Year. The annual award seeks to recognize outstanding professionalism, service, promotion and support of the arts by individual art educators in the state.
The recipient of numerous awards and grants, Supplitt has been an art teacher for Battle Ground Public Schools since 2009. She has taught in Japan multiple summers, traveled to Cuba as part of an educational exchange, teaches online courses, coordinates professional development opportunities for colleagues, and participates and presents at state and national levels for organizations such as the National Arts Educators and the Washington Arts Educators associations.
“It is the ongoing collaboration within our district, state and national levels that makes our art programs come alive and thrive,” said Supplitt. “No matter whether it’s in a shared public setting or just for the enjoyment of an individual, art has the power to restore and invigorate, and I’m proud to help teach this vitally important and transformative subject.”
After being nominated by her peers for the award, Supplitt outscored other candidates on WAEA’s comprehensive scoring rubric to become this year’s Art Educator of the Year Award recipient. The WAEA scorers noted that Battle Ground Public Schools commended her for her collaboration with colleagues, and that numerous letters of support were submitted to the WAEA from her school community — including past and present principals endorsing her nomination as a candidate for the Mid-Level Art Educator of the Year award.
“Debbie is the most pro-active person I’ve ever known,” said Pleasant Valley Primary art teacher Barb Holterman. “Debbie has incredible energy; she is always involved in multiple activities, either learning more or teaching others. Debbie is an excellent teacher, colleague and friend; she’s the one to call when you need something done!”
The award will be presented to Supplitt during a WAEA gala event during their annual conference October 5-7 in downtown Tacoma. By receiving this award, Supplitt also becomes eligible for future nominations for regional and national recognition.
More information about WAEA and this award can be found at www.waea.net.
Information provided by Battle Ground School District.
