AEI Art Educator of the Year

Kenneth Esveld

Ken Esveld has been chosen Iowa’s Art Educator of the Year by the Art Educators of Iowa (AEI).  He is also the recipient of the Belin-Blank Center’s Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan Progam in the Visual Arts Award of Distinction.  Esveld is currently an art educator with the Des Moines Public Schools at Brubaker Elementary. 

Esveld has made numerous contributions to the arts in Iowa.  He is a past chair of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, currently serves on the Alliance for Arts Education board as an AEI representative and as chair of the strategic planning committee, and has been an AEI board member since 1998.  Esveld has been previously recognized as a runner up Iowa Teacher of the Year by the Iowa Department of Education, as a National Educator by the Milken Family Foundation, as AEI Elementary Art Educator of the year, and received AEI’s award for distinguished service within the profession. 

Esveld serves as an ongoing mentor to beginning visual arts teachers.  His students’ work is regularly selected for inclusion in annual student exhibitions including the AEI Traveling show and the Youth Art Month competitions.  His own art has been shown throughout Iowa.  Esveld received his B.A. degree from Central College (Pella, IA) in visual arts with certification as a K-12 Visual Arts Educator.  

Esveld is perceived by his peers as a leader at the school, district, and state level and is one of the foremost advocates for arts education in Iowa.  On being named Iowa Art Educator of the Year, Esveld shared some thoughts about his experience as an arts educator, “Throughout my career, I have been repeatedly delighted by my students’ joy in discovery, their unfolding excitement about exploring ideas, and the connections they make among disciplines as we make art together.  I have come to believe, and research supports, that teaching students the observation, research, and reflection skills they need to create meaningful art also equips them with essential skills they will need to problem solve, innovate, and lead in our rapidly changing world.

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In accepting this award, I celebrate the support and friendship of many mentors and colleagues who enrich my professional life as we discuss, collaborate, and laugh together.  Active membership in AEI has contributed much to my development as a professional educator. 

Whether teaching visual arts in a large urban district or a small rural community, I find that AEI provides much needed opportunities to connect with a community of arts educators.  We share our experience, our ideas, keep current with pedagogical developments and advocate for improved policy on issues affecting arts education in Iowa. 

I thank AEI for the years of support I have enjoyed and express my confidence in the power of this organization to continue to nourish a vibrant network of visual arts educators.”