INDIANAPOLIS - The Art Education Association of Indiana held its annual convention Nov. 12-14 in Indianapolis.
South Whitley resident Bret Bailey was presented the Outstanding Art Educator of the Year Award by Bob Sabol, president of National Art Education Association, and Deborah Reeves, executive director of National Art Association.
Award recipients are nominated by their peers and are teachers who show outstanding artistic achievement and service in education.
Bailey teaches kindergarten through fifth-grade art at Northern Heights Elementary School, Columbia City. He has served as the Whitko wrestling coach since 2004. He is a certified Teacher Mentor for Indiana, has an after-school art club and is actively involved in school activities and professional development.
Bailey serves as District 2 representative for AEAI and has presented at several conventions.
He is a member of the Lakeland Art Association.
Northern Heights Elementary School Principal Robert Hoke nominated Bailey because of his involvement and accomplishments in the classroom.
Bailey's former principal, P. George Roth, said Bailey embodies everything good about the fine arts.
Present at the award presentation were Bailey's wife, Kristi; son, Joel; father Ralph Bailey and his wife Myrna; his sister, Diann Weade; and his brother, Dennis Bailey.
