September 15, 2015

Alumna named Oregon Art Educator of the year

Janice Packard MAT ’94 has been named the 2015 Oregon Art Educator of the year by the Oregon Art Education Association.

Janice Packard MAT ’94 has been named the 2015 Oregon Art Educator of the year by the Oregon Art Education Association. This is the second time the OAEA has given Packard recognition—in 2011 she was awarded the state’s Secondary Art Educator of the Year.

Since 1997, Packard has taught all the art classes offered at Estacada High School, in Estacada, Oregon. She also will be teaching seventh and eighth grade introduction to art at Estacada Middle School this year for the first time.

“Art is important to every human being,” Packard said. “I hope my students will be able to understand what art contributes to society.”

Packard’s journey began as a student at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. Inspired by her teachers, she became passionate about passing on the legacy of great teaching. Later, at the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, she found her voice in Greg Smith’s and Zaher Wahab’s teacher education classes, where she learned to analyze complex issues, frame effective arguments, and engage in spirited debate. Exposed to a wide range of ideas and educational philosophies in prepracticum coursework, she discovered what she cared about and how she wanted to teach.

“The arts teach problem solving, critical thinking, and tolerance for a wide array of ideas and approaches—skills and qualities that are valuable in any profession,” Packard said.

 

Chronicle feature on Janice Packard Portland Tribune story