On Oct. 18, 2024 the North art department received the IAEA School of Distinction award. This award recognizes select schools who demonstrate excellence within their art department through a strong curriculum, high student achievement, dedicated educators and supportive leadership. This award is given by the Illinois Art Educator Association and was only presented to three schools in Illinois this year.
At North, the art department currently consists of four educators: Stephanie Dodd, the head of the department; Casey Macko, who is concentrated in Photo and 3D art; Danielle Sheppard, who is concentrated in Film and Digital art; and Laurie Wennemar, who is concentrated in 3D and 2D art.
Dodd has been teaching for 18 years and started working at North in 2018. She believes that the art department was recognized because of the support that the teachers give to the students. Dodd also feels that the award was achieved because of the hard working students and the encouraging art department teachers.
“It’s exciting to be recognized when you do hard work and a lot of time work that sometimes goes unappreciated,” said Dodd.
Macko has been an art teacher for eight years. He teaches primarily photo and 3D media, but he also teaches 2D media. He believes that the art department is justified in earning this award due to the collaboration he and the other teachers have.
“We work really hard as a department. I’ve worked at several different schools and this is the best team that I have ever had,” said Macko, “I really think that it’s because we’re all on the same page that we were able to achieve this.”
Macko accredits the award to the vigorous work as well as the teamwork the department harbors.
“The people around me are just awesome. We push each other, we help each other, we want to be better. Learning from other teachers in my department has been the thing that I feel like has helped me a lot,” said Macko.
Sheppard is the film and digital art teacher who has been teaching since 2020. Sheppard feels that the award was achieved because of the great collaboration and support in the art department.
“I feel extremely proud of our department and our students who all put in such hard work, making it possible to achieve this prestigious award,” said Sheppard.
The 3D and 2D media teacher, Wennemar, has been working as a teacher for 20 years. Wennemar believes that the art department has earned this award thanks to the department’s synergy and ability to help each other and students to do their very best.
“It’s nice for all the hard work we put into it to have someone recognize that we work hard at our jobs to help kids be successful,” said Wennemar.
Wennemar recognizes how good collaboration, and determination benefited the arts department to acquire this prestigious award.
The art department has many skills that lead them to earn the title of a School of Distinction. The achievement gives recognition to the hard work that all four educators provide to give North students the best possible art education they can. This prestigious award has brought a feeling of gratitude and pride to the art department here at North, and the dedication of the students and teachers is what made it all possible.
