Bethel Elementary Teacher, Sterling School Principal, Honored by Arts Association
Cynthia Hudson, art teacher at Bethel Elementary, and David Johnstone, principal of Sterling School, are being honored by the South Carolina Art Education Association (SCAEA) for their outstanding efforts to incorporate the arts in education.
Ms. Hudson will be honored as the 2013-14 SCAEA Art Educator of the Year Award, while Mr. Johnstone will be honored as the 2013-14 SCAEA Principal of the Year, at an awards ceremony in Beaufort on October 19.
Ms. Hudson’s classroom is a vibrant environment with opportunities for students to explore and create artistically. One of the students’ favorite activities involves creating clay objects, which are fired in a kiln and given to students. She annually organizes All Arts Night for students and families, displaying outstanding student artwork throughout the school. Ms. Hudson is National Board Certified and served for five years as the district’s Elementary Art Lead Teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in art from Converse College.
Sterling School principal David Johnstone encourages all of his staff members to attend SmartArts training. Because of this training, Sterling School students enjoy the integration of visual arts, creative writing, music, dance, and drama in their classrooms. He provides art supplies in teacher workrooms, and flexibility to allow art teachers to work with classroom teachers on integrated units. Mr. Johnstone maintains a sense of humor with art projects, allowing the art teacher to make a giant balloon sculpture of his head from 2,200 balloons, then allowed it to be installed on the roof of the building. Mr. Johnstone earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in elementary administration from Clemson University.