Whiteley chosen for Michigan art honor

Tecumseh High School art teacher Jackie Whiteley found out in an unusual way that she was chosen as the 2026 Michigan Art Education Association’s (MAEA) Secondary Art Educator of the Year.

Her friend Annie Howard, who teaches art at Adrian High School, had nominated Whiteley and heard of the award decision first.

“Instead of just telling me, she decided to stage a little surprise,” Whiteley said. “I happened to be at the salon getting my hair done when Annie showed up with my husband and our youngest daughter. While I was sitting in the chair, completely unaware, they all came in and surprised me right there in the middle of my appointment. Annie called Alison Schmidt (head of the award committee), and did a conference call to officially break the news. It was such a fun moment, and honestly, the setting made it even better. My stylist was in on it and played along. We all had a great laugh.”

She said she was surprised, honored, and a little nervous to be nominated, because the process involves getting recommendation letters from colleagues and administrators, as well as requiring the nominees to talk about themselves, which pushed her out of her comfort zone.

After a teacher is nominated, the MAEA Awards Committee asks each nominee to complete an application that includes questions about their career in art education, their involvement at the community, state, and national level, and how they’ve supported the arts. After applications are submitted, the committee reviews and scores each one, and the nominee with the highest score is selected for the award. “It’s a thorough process, and I was honestly honored just to be considered,” Whiteley said. “There were quite a few nominees this year, which made it even more exciting to be part of the process.”

  Whiteley grew up in a town called Rudyard in the Upper Peninsula and got her teaching degree at Adrian College, which brought her to Lenawee County. She now lives in Adrian Township, halfway between Tecumseh and Madison School District, where her husband works.

She has spent her entire teaching career at Tecumseh for the past 23 years, 13 of those as an elementary art teacher, two as a first-grade teacher, and the last eight as a high school art teacher. “I feel incredibly lucky for the path it’s taken me on,” she said. “I’ve had the chance to work with hundreds of students, some of whom I’ve been fortunate enough to teach all the way from kindergarten through twelfth grade.It’s been a true blessing to watch them grow from little kids into young adults. Being part of their lives, seeing who they become, and watching them find success is such an honor.” 

An active member of the MAEA for 23 years, Whiteley currently serves as the membership secretary for the MAEA for the organization.

She said she is grateful for Howard. “She has been a constant source of support since the very beginning of my career. Annie has been a mentor, a friend, and a constant support every step of the way,” Whiteley said.

She also mentioned others who have guided her to where she is today as a teacher, including her high school art teacher, Richard Guimond, and retired Tecumseh art teacher Ron Frenzen, who mentored her during student teaching. Both were past recipients of the MAEA Secondary Teacher of the Year award. She also expressed appreciation for her college professor and advisor, Pi Benio, who has received the MAEA Distinguished Service Award. “I’ve truly been fortunate to learn from some of the best educators who not only inspired me, but led by example. And the best part? They’re still doing it to this day,” she said.

  
“I absolutely love working in Tecumseh. The community truly supports the arts, the kids are amazing, and the facilities are top-notch. I really am in my dream job. I’m so grateful to have been nominated for and to receive this award but I can’t take full credit for the strength of the arts program here,” said Whiteley. She said the art department at Tecumseh has been shaped by years of hard work by dedicated educators, such as Frenzen, Christine Obeid, Sarah Carter, Jessie LaFountain, Ashley LaVoy, Charla Lasley-Milks, Lisa Bowman, Amy Smith, and many others, past and present.

“I may teach at the high school level, but I know I couldn’t do what I do without the love for the arts these amazing educators have already instilled in our students,” she said. “Together, we’ve built beautiful, creative learning spaces and meaningful opportunities where our students can truly thrive. It’s been a team effort from the very beginning.”