Two recent graduates from the WVU School of Art and Design’s Art Education program were recognized in October by their state’s art education associations for excellence in teaching.
Elaina DePetro (Master of Arts in Arts Education, Class of 2024) was awarded High School Art Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Art Education Association, and Lily Buckley (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, Class of 2024) was named New Art Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina Art Education Association.
DePetro teaches art at John Marshall High School in Glen Dale, West Virginia, where she’s also the yearbook coordinator and the technical director for the school’s theater program.
Elaina DePetro poses with her award.
During the pandemic, a WVU professor who had formerly taught at West Virginia Wesleyan College, where DePetro earned her undergraduate degree, reached out and asked her if she was still considering a masters in Art History.
“At the time, my previous job was ending, and I was about to begin full-time subbing at my former high school while waiting for new opportunities to open,” DePetro said. “Professor Megan Leight connected me with Dr. Rhonda Reymond, who, after reviewing my background and goals, suggested that art education might actually be a better fit. That conversation completely shifted my path.”
DePetro never planned on being a teacher, even though a few educators in her life predicted she would be. In fact, she didn’t have the best experiences with art teachers. One even told her she’d never have a successful career in the arts.
But, DePetro said, her graphic design teacher changed her perspective on what a career in the arts could look like and became the inspiration for the teacher DePetro is today.
“Every day, I aim to be the art teacher I didn’t have growing up,” DePetro said. “I let my students use all the colors, explore fun materials and embrace technology as a creative tool. I’m not the traditional art teacher many of us had when we were in school, but I think that’s what makes my classroom special. It’s not always about getting the perfect perspective; it’s about trying, enjoying the process, and expressing creativity.”
“I’ve only been teaching for three years, so being recognized this early in my career is truly an honor,” she said. “WVU prepared me for this experience in so many ways and provided me with countless opportunities. Before attending WVU, I hadn’t taken any education classes, so all of my knowledge about teaching came firsthand from three incredible women: Professor Leight, Dr. Harris and Dr. Giobbia. They worked to connect me with every opportunity they could to support my development.”
Her favorite part of being a teacher, DePetro said, is watching the students create and grow throughout the year.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction in this job because the students produce real, tangible work—art pieces, digital designs and publications—that they can be proud of and that showcase how much they’ve learned,” she said.
“I’m fortunate to have incredibly supportive principals, a great department head and wonderful coworkers,” DePetro added. “It’s not always easy, but the community here makes it all worth it.”
Buckley teaches art at Heide Trask High School in Rocky Point, North Carolina, and she’s hoping to become more involved with the North Carolina Art Education Association.
Lily Buckley (right) with her mentor Caitlyn Bachman, who also received an award from the NCAEA.
“I have always loved creating art. To me, art has built and shaped my identity,” she said. “I love helping others expand their skills and build on their ideas, and one day it hit me: this is what being an art teacher is.”
To Buckley, art is more than just paint on a canvas. It teaches students about themselves and the world around them.
“Art is just like learning an instrument: with time and persistence, skills can grow into a masterpiece,” Buckley said. “The most challenging thing for me as an art teacher is convincing students who think they aren’t artists that they are. I push them to try their best and make sure to structure the lessons so they are really learning the skills.”
“I also love seeing students shocked when they create something that they didn’t know they could,” Buckley added.
As a student at WVU, Buckley was provided with studio time to build her artistic skills, a full-time student teaching position (many programs only offer student-teaching a few days a week) and the chance to lead her own research on cognitive and behavioral development in children.
“WVU prepared me in ways I didn’t know it would: lesson building, curriculum development, differentiation, etc. Without this program and hands-on experience, I would not have been ready,” Buckley said.
“To me, this award means that people believe in me. It is easy to doubt yourself, as we are all our biggest critics. This award serves as a reminder that I was meant to be an art educator.”