Sheri Klein, Ph.D., a professor of art education in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, was presented with the Women’s Caucus Kathy Connors Teaching Award at the 2009 National Art Education Association Conference in Minneapolis Sunday, April 19. 

The Kathy Connors Teaching Award honors an outstanding art educator who is recognized by students and colleagues as someone who consistently inspires and mentors students in a cooperative, collegial, collaborative and nurturing manner. 

Klein came to teach art education at UW-Stout in 1993 and has served the university as a faculty member, program director in art education and director of a children’s art program. Over the years, she has taught art, art education and graduate level courses in education. She has mentored undergraduate art education students in many capacities including her role as adviser for many years to the UW-Stout National Art Education Student Chapter. 

As a successful recipient of multi-year UW-System PK-16 grants to work collaboratively with Wisconsin art teachers in two districts to develop electronic portfolios, she worked with teachers and consultants to integrate technology into K-12 art teaching practices. She also has worked collaboratively with many faculty members both at UW-Stout and at other institutions on research projects and grants. 

In a letter of nomination, Read Diket wrote, “Her dedication to the field has impacted peers, students, and administrators at the university level and in our nation’s schools… Her willingness to reach out to others, to endeavor as mentor and friend to teachers in schools, university peers, and to serve in Women’s Caucus, has extended her influence beyond my knowledge.” 

A peer wrote, “Her research agenda consistently pushes on enhancing teaching and learning.” 

Letters from students describe Klein as a teacher who “pushes for each student to rise to his or her maximum potential,” “offers superb technical advice with warmth and encouragement,” “shares her considerable knowledge, skills and expertise in a highly collaborative and collegial manner,” “is keenly aware of each participants’ needs,” and “whose personal attention, timely input, and constructive advice inspired individual growth and development in her students.” In addition, Klein is acknowledged as a teacher whose “caring nature allows her students to feel as if they belong to a community of celebrated individuals,” and that “her dedication to student achievement and her passion for teaching and learning will continue to inspire and motivate her students long after the coursework has been completed.” 

Klein has been an advocate of women’s issues throughout her career as is evidenced in her involvement with the Women’s Caucus of NAEA, the UW-Stout Women’s Mentoring Group and the UW-Stout Women’s Studies Committee. 

She holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in art education from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., and has a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in painting and drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her scholarship on art education, teacher education and leadership has been disseminated widely in both national and international publications and presentations. She is a Chicago native and a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools (Mather, Class of 1974 and Stone School, Class of 1970).