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Health & Fitness

Joliet Central High School Alumna Receives Elementary Art Educator of the Year Award

Joliet Central High School alumna Eryn Blaser, class of 2002, has been named the Elementary Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association.  Blaser, a former art student at Joliet Central, now teaches at the Meadow Ridge School in Orland Park. The award recognizes the exemplary contributions, service and achievements of one outstanding IAEA member annually and will be presented at the Illinois Art Education Association conference at the Hilton in Lisle, IL on October 25, 2013.  

 

Blaser is a resident of Joliet and was selected on the basis of her outstanding commitment to visual art education in her field as well as her wider contributions in the Northeastern Illinois region.  She is in her 7th year of teaching at Meadow Ridge School in Orland Park, and during her relatively short career, has made many significant contributions benefiting art education at her school, in the school community, and in the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA).  Baser plays an active role in curriculum development in District 135 and recently wrote a technology proposal to equip her art program with iPads.

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“Eryn is a very honest, genuine, and generous person,” said colleague Nancy Heuser.  “She is always willing to go above and beyond to help students and staff. I have truly never met a more dedicated and wonderful person and educator.”

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Blaser is also heavily involved in the Orland Park community, showcasing student work in many locations outside the school and leading art workshops for children at community events. Her dedication and leadership is illustrated by her service on the IAEA board and in many IAEA committees. In addition to multiple presentations at IAEA conferences, she serves IAEA as the Student Show Co-Chair, Artsonia.com IAEA Student Show Gallery Coordinator, Mosaic Poster Editor, and contributes on the Conference Planning Committee. She is also a practicing artist working as a printmaker, painter and mixed media artist showcasing her work throughout Illinois. She has donated her work to auction on multiple occasions with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research.

“I was so humbled by just being nominated for the award, let alone being chosen the Elementary Art Educator of the Year,” said Blaser.  “I found myself looking back to when I first starting teaching Art and why I chose this path. I enjoy the process of creating and teaching others about the history, tools, and steps it takes to create a work of Art.”

 

The IAEA is an association of the art educators of Illinois. The organization has been serving the children and art educators of Illinois for over 75 years by providing professional development for educators through workshops, conferences, grants, exhibition opportunities, facilitating communication, promoting conditions for the effective teaching of art, and working to influence educational change and reform.





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