LCREA Names 2014 Teacher of the Year
Karen Hight & Susan Hartford
Karen Hight has been named the county’s 2013 Teacher of the Year by the Maine Education Association’s Lincoln County Retired Educator’s Association (LCREA). The LCREA was proud to
honor this dedicated educator from Great Salt Bay School in Damariscotta at a luncheon at Le Garage restaurant in Wiscasset on October 17.
Mrs. Hight is in her 26th year of teaching art. During her tenure, she has taught about 400 K-8 students per week. In her “art island”, Mrs. Hight gives her students a safe place to develop their creativity. She believes with proper guidance all people can be taught art. When you listen to Karen talk her passion for her students and art is evident. Mrs. Hight has given up her “prep” times to give her middle school students and open studio time when they can work on their own extra art projects.
The eighth grade graduating classes have devised beautiful memory banners for their graduation ceremonies. Each of the past 25 banners are examples of the art education that has been instilled in the class during the previous nine years. The banners depict the class’s memories and each one is unique as the students themselves.
Karen is a remarkable artist in her own right. Many of her paintings grace the walls of area’s residents. She has displayed her art at Round Top. Her original greeting cards hold special meanings for each recipient.
Mrs. Hight said that the community has been very supportive of her and her program over the years. Due to economic events her budget has remained the same for many years, but the cost of supplies have steadily risen. When she received her monetary gift from LCREA, her first thought was not of herself, but that she could purchase clay for her students.
At the meeting Karen was accompanied by her husband Chris and Kim Schaff, principal of Great Salt Bay School. Dick Marchi former principal and many of her former colleagues were there to express their pleasure and support of her nomination.
Each year Lincoln County Retired Educators honor a local teacher who has be nominated by the members to be their “Teacher of the Year”. This area is fortunate to have many dedicated educators. Karen Hight is definitely one of those teachers.
me arts ed 