Debby Yellick Manly

Personal Statement

I am fortunate…

I am fortunate to have worked with so many outstanding young people

            I have learned much from them

            I have enjoyed learning with them

      They’ve given me strength-

            I love it when past students return to visit

            To give me updates

            To share their lives (and accomplishments) with me

            It is such a gift

I am fortunate

            To know and be inspired by all of you-

            Dedicated art colleagues and AEI members

            Who encourage me

            Stimulate me to push myself to do more

            To make art education in Iowa schools better

            To advocate for the importance of the visual arts and arts education in all places

Leave no child behind…

            By stimulating artistic growth in all students

            By recognizing what individuals can achieve only through the visual arts

            By crediting the visual arts for doing throughout time

                 What others now are just beginning to put into practice!

WE (art educators) do make a difference

            We empower students and those we meet

            With wonder, excitement, innovation & discovery

Each of YOU matters-whether formally recognized or not

            For without YOUR dedication far less would be possible

            For Together we strive to challenge individuals in a myriad of ways.

            To invite new ways of thinking-new approaches to problems-

            [i.e., the essence of art education and thinking like an artist]-

            and the kind of creative problem solving needed in our world today.

Thanks to all of YOU for your work and your efforts to advance this mission

            …And thank you for this award!  I will be forever grateful.