Laurel Archambault Named Outstanding Art Educator

The Connecticut Art Education Association recently announced its 2011 state award winners for significant contributions to the field of arts education. Among them was Laurel Archambault, an art teacher at , who was named association’s “Outstanding Art Educator.”

Archambault has spent the majority of her 16-year teaching career teaching seventh and eighth graders at Henry James, and is a much beloved and well-respected member of the faculty. Originally nominated for an award recognizing her skills as a mentor, Archambault was touched and deeply honored that the letters written by her colleagues, principal Susan Homrok-Lemke and art department colleague Paul Kulikowski, led to her selection for the more prestigious award of Outstanding Art Educator.

In her nomination letter, Homrok-Lemke highlighted Archambault’s ability to serve as a mentor to her peers as well as her ability to articulate rigorous yet achievable objectives for students. Homrok-Lemke summed up her view of this dedicated art teacher by saying, “[Archambault] embodies all that is sought after in an educator and mentor.”

Having the privilege of working side by side in the classroom, Kulikowski offered his personal observations about Archambault’s teaching style.

“She expertly encourages her students to always reach higher. … In her classroom, students are awakened to their own potential,” he wrote.

Coaxing middle school students to reach their potential can be a formidable task for any art teacher, but Archambault says she relishes the challenge.

“There is the entertainment factor,” she admitted, which can keep a teacher on her toes, “so you just have to keep it exciting and keep it going.”

All students have the opportunity to succeed in Archambault’s classroom. When students start the school year believing they’re “all thumbs” and “no good” when it comes to art, Archambault sets them straight pretty quickly. She said, “Art is about ideas and the process. There are so many different aspects [of the visual arts] you can always find an area where students can find success.”

An awards dinner will be held April 3 at St. Clements Castle in Portland to celebrate the achievements of the outstanding arts educators. The Connecticut Art Education Association represents Connecticut arts educators and administrators as the state’s professional visual arts education organization. State level winners may participate in a national awards program.