It is no surprise that Joe Holliman has won the 2009 Colorado Art Educator of the Year. Over the last 16 years, Holliman has built a reputation among many students of Arapahoe as a very helpful and remarkable teacher.
“His patience and ability to encourage all pupils in various medias can be substantiated by the quality and variety of art which flows from them,” Art Department Chair Joan Hitchens said. “They respect his talent, value his advice and love his classes.”
Holliman was nominated by Hitchens and Lauren Lehmann (the former Colorado Art Education Association President) for his leadership, outstanding personality and his reputation as a helpful educator. He also spent six years as the State Art Treasurer.
“He is a good teacher and always gave me good advice on my art pieces,” sophomore Allison Bourque said.
Holliman’s humble personality and love of teaching explains why he is receiving the award.
“I’m accepting it as an ‘every man’ award because there truly are other outstanding art teachers who have created other programs that deserve it more,” Holliman said.
Though there may be other teachers capable of receiving the award, Holliman has certainly earned being the 2009 Colorado Art Educator of the Year.
“He’s the one who has helped build the Art Department,” Hitchens said. “When he started, the department had 2.5 teachers, and now it has grown to four teachers. He was instrumental in making the department.”
In a career it is important for people to enjoy what they are doing, and for Holliman teaching and art are the perfect combination.
“I like teaching because you get to see how other people creatively problem solve,” Holliman said. “It’s interesting to see how they handle situations creatively. The energy from the students is just contagious in a good way.”
Problem solving is an important characteristic for high schoolers to develop. In class, the energy Holliman receives from his students reflects his teaching personality.
“Students seem to like his relaxed demeanor and wealth of knowledge,” Hitchens said. “You can really tell he enjoys being around young people.”
Holliman will receive his award on Saturday, Oct. 10 in Breckenridge at the Fall Conference of the Colorado Art Education Association.
At the conference, he will be recognized by all of the art educators of Colorado for the outstanding teacher he is.
“I admire most his willingness to really be a team player,” Hitchens said. “He is always very helpful and does what’s good for the department. His good sense of humor and willingness to help students and colleagues makes him a great teacher.”