Franklin Teacher Named National Middle School Art Educator of the Year

The National Art Education Association has named Christopher Grodoski of Franklin Middle School in Wheaton the 2013 National Middle School Art Educator of the Year, according to a news release from the Illinois Art Education Association.

Grodoski began his teaching career for Chicago Public Schools at Laura Ward Elementary in 2002. While working for CPS, he started two art programs while also teaching regular education for 7th and 8th graders.

Grodoski has worked at Franklin Middle School since 2008. 

Franklin Principal David Bendis said in a statement, “I can say unequivocally that Mr. Chris Grodoski is the best art educator I have experienced. If fact, he is one of the finest educators I have had the privilege to call my colleague.”

Grodoski is also an art education advocate at the local, state, and national levels and has recently joined the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) board as the new Advocacy Advisor, according to the release.

He has presented art education research at NAEA conventions and has been published in the IAEA Mosaic “Creativity, History, and Advocacy,” and has developed a method for interpreting images called unpacking that will be published in an upcoming article in the journal, Art Education. 

He has also served National Art Education Association (NAEA) in several leadership roles including serving on the Cross-Division Research Committee, leading the NAEA Middle Level Western Region as Director, and work as the NAEA Research Commissioner through 2015.

In 2012, Grodoski was named Illinois Middle School Art Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association.

Have a masterpiece from one of Mr. Grodoski's classes? Show us! Just click "Upload Photos and Videos" below the photo.

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