State honors for Monroe's Adrian Hawk

The Ohio Art Education Association has reached the same conclusion that the New Richmond Exempted School District has known for years: Monroe Elementary visual arts teacher Adrian Hawk is outstanding in her field.

Hawk has been named the recipient of the OAEA South West Region's "Outstanding Art Teacher" award for 2013. She will receive the award at the OAEA's annual professional development conference in Toledo in November.

Adrian Vance Hawk, pictured in her "Creative Sanctuary" at New Richmond's Monroe Elementary, has been named the Ohio Art Education Association's South West Region's "Outstanding Art Teacher" award recipient for 2013.

"It comes as no surprise to me that Mrs. Hawk has received such a high honor at the state level," said Monroe principal Joe Roach.  "She is a true treasure to our school and our community. Mrs. Hawk refers to her Art Room as the "Creative Sanctuary" and her passion for teaching art is obvious to anyone that steps into our school."

Mrs. Hawk's specialty is creating art from nature and one of her many community projects has been leading a cleanup of the New Richmond riverbank and turning the debris collected into art.

"Adrian teaches the Monroe students that just about anything can be reused and created into art," said Roach.

Mrs. Hawk also oversees Monroe's Student Council, its Art & Earth Club, the school's Character-Building Program, the "Green Team" Recycling Initiative and the district's Creative Family Art Night.

"I'm truly honored to receive the Southwest Outstanding Art Teacher award from the Ohio Art Education Association," said Hawk. "This experience inspires me to continue to do whatever it takes to make art an important and meaningful part of the educational process for the young artists I teach.  Each day I realize the power that I have as an educator.”

The OAEA award cites Mrs. Hawk's professionalism, dedication, commitment to students and creativity.

"Adrian Vance Hawk continually meets the needs and interests of students, bringing about learning, growth, and development in all areas," the OAEA said in a letter to NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird. "She regularly creates innovative and developmentally appropriate activities to stretch the imagination of students and further develop their visual skills."

"I am just thrilled that I have the opportunity to teach the wonderful kids at Monroe Elementary and to work with such a supportive staff of teachers, aides and administrators," said Mrs. Hawk.