Karen Rufino has always been recognized for her work for the School District of Philadelphia. Now the rest of the state knows more about the art teacher at William H. Hunter School, 2400 N. Front St.
The Pennsylvania Art Education Association named Rufino its Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year. The district as a whole was named an Outstanding Visual Arts Community. The PAEA recognizes school districts for their commitment to visual arts education opportunities for all students from pre-K to 12th grade.
Rufino has been teaching within the School District of Philadelphia for the last 14 years as a passionate multilingual art educator. Rufino was selected from nominations across the state. She was cited for, “Her focus in art education is to amplify the voices of her students while encouraging divergent learning and critical thinking skills through art making.”
The Pennsylvania Art Education Association supports and promotes visual art education by recognizing their members’ role in educating students across the state.
“This award recognizes our art educators and administrators for providing arts education opportunities for our students,” Deputy Superintendent of Academic Services Jermaine Dawson said. “Research shows that there is a positive relationship between involvement in the arts and increased positive non-academic behaviors, so we are honored to receive this award. We’d also love to congratulate Ms. Rufino on this wonderful recognition that exemplifies the work that she does to make an impact on our students.” ••
