“Retro Remix”: Honoring the Legacy of OAEA Award-Winning Art and Design Teachers in Oak Hills Local School District

Posted on September 10, 2025 by OHHS Art and Design

This year’s Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA) professional development convention embraces the theme “Retro Remix”, a celebration of looking back, reimagining, and building forward. For the Oak Hills Local School District, the theme resonates deeply as we reflect on a proud tradition of art education led by educators whose work has been recognized at the state level. Over the years, multiple Oak Hills art and design teachers have been honored with OAEA awards, reflecting not only individual excellence but also a collective culture that values creativity, innovation, and the transformative power of the arts.

This year, we are proud to honor Mary Sala of Delhi Middle School, who was selected as the Middle Division Award Winner—essentially the Middle School Art Teacher of the Year. Mary is both a gifted educator and a tireless advocate for her students and colleagues. For more than a decade, she has been a driving force in her school and community: organizing district art shows, curating state-level exhibits, and creating opportunities for students to share their voices. Her leadership extends statewide through service as Southwest Co-Regional Director, Co-Chair of Youth Art Month (alongside Rapid Run’s Stacey Battoclette), and now as Southwest Administrative Chair. A frequent OAEA presenter, she also shares her expertise and leads professional development across Ohio.

In the classroom, Mary believes art is more than technique, it is a tool for self-discovery and understanding the world. She creates a dynamic space where students experiment, take risks, and embrace failure as part of growth. Her practices, including standards-based grading and a thriving art club, ensure every student feels included and celebrated. She highlights every child’s work in art shows, collaborates on theatrical productions, and secures grants for experiences such as pottery wheel workshops at Queen City Clay. A lifelong learner, she has earned advanced degrees, exhibited her own artwork, and remained deeply connected to Ohio’s art education community. She is both mentor and facilitator, empowering students to see art not just as a skill, but as a lens for exploring and shaping their world.

Art and design education in Oak Hills has never been about simply teaching technique. It has always been about pushing students to think differently, take risks, and discover their voices through visual expression. Award-winning teachers have consistently elevated classrooms into studios of possibility, where young artists are encouraged to question, connect, and create with purpose. The “Retro Remix” theme reminds us that today’s excellence is built on yesterday’s foundation. Each OAEA award received by an Oak Hills teacher marks a legacy of high standards and dedication to students’ growth as artists and thinkers. Whether through drawing, ceramics, photography, or digital media, Oak Hills teachers have inspired generations to see art as a way of understanding the world and cultivating creativity that extends far beyond the classroom walls.

As we celebrate “Retro Remix”, we honor the achievements of our award-winning educators while looking ahead to the new ideas, media, and perspectives emerging in our classrooms. The Oak Hills tradition is one of excellence and evolution: constantly remixing, reimagining, and reinventing to meet the needs of today’s learners.

Outstanding Art Teachers
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 1991
Sherry Middendorf Fuller (retired), 1999
Sylvia Dick (retired), 2003
Joni Farrow (retired), 2007
Karen Lutz (retired), 2012
Mary Sala, 2019
Stacey Battoclette, 2020
Jamie Schorsch, 2022
Steve Groh, 2024

Division Level Awards
Sherry Middendorf Fuller (retired), 2014: Elementary Division
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 1998: Middle Division
Mary Sala: 2025: Middle Division
Jamie Schorsch, 2023: Secondary Division
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 2018: Higher Education Division
Sylvia Dick (retired), 2022: Higher Education Division

Ohio Art Educator of the Year and Distinguished Fellow
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 2019

Bridging Classrooms Across Continents: OHHS Art and Design Teacher Jamie Schorsch’s Journey as a 2025 Fulbright TGC Fellow in India

Posted on July 24, 2025 by OHHS Art and Design

During the sweltering heat of July, OHHS Art and Design teacher Jamie Schorsch embarked on a life-changing journey as one U.S. teachers selected for the prestigious Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) Program, a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs initiative administered by IREX. In partnership with the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the program immersed these fellows in India’s vibrant educational landscape, where cross-cultural exchange and collaboration came to life.

Over the course of two immersive weeks, Schorsch traveled across India with fellow educators, engaging in a deep exploration of pedagogy, policy, and practice. The group visited schools and academic institutions in cities including New Delhi, Alwar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hosur, Kolkata, Pune, Vadodara, with Schorsch being assigned to the host community of Varanasi. In each location, the fellows were warmly welcomed into classrooms where they observed instruction, engaged in co-teaching, and shared strategies with Indian educators and policy makers. From bustling urban schools to rural campuses, Schorsch witnessed firsthand the strength of India’s educational diversity and the passion of its educators.

One highlight of the experience was delivering formal remarks at a special reception at the closing of the experience, where Schorsch addressed an audience of distinguished guests including Fulbright scholars, representatives of the U.S. Department of State, members of IREX, USIEF, and the U.S. Embassy in India. Drawing from the insights gained throughout the exchange, Schorsch spoke to the transformative power of international collaboration in education and the mutual growth that comes from partnerships rooted in cultural understanding.

Throughout the journey, Indian Fulbright alumni served as generous hosts, opening their schools, homes, and hearts to the TGC fellows. These hosts played a vital role in connecting educators across borders, sharing local wisdom while learning from the American visitors. Their support exemplified the enduring strength of the Fulbright network and the global impact of its alumni.

Reflecting on her experience, Jamie Schorsch described the exchange as “a living bridge between classrooms,” one that will continue to inform her teaching practice and empower her students to think globally.

Her time in India was more than an exchange of ideas, it was a reaffirmation of education as a shared human endeavor that transcends geography. As a Fulbright TGC Fellow, dedicated arts educator, and advocate for global learning, Schorsch returns to her classroom with renewed purpose, eager to infuse her curriculum with global perspectives, foster student curiosity about the world, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.

To read more about Schorsch’s experiences and reflections in India, visit https://goghglobalarteducation.wordpress.com/blog/

Mastering the Arts: OHHS Art and Design Students Excel in AP Art and Design & Art History

Posted on July 24, 2025 by OHHS Art and Design

The OHHS Art and Design Department is proud to recognize the incredible achievements of our visual arts students, several of whom earned the top score of a 5 on this year’s AP Art and Design and AP Art History exams. These scores reflect their deep commitment to hard work, critical thinking, and creative exploration.

AP Art and Design students undertook a year-long journey to develop a portfolio that demonstrates both conceptual development and technical skill. The course challenges students to explore a self-driven line of inquiry through a series of artworks, encouraging experimentation, research, and personal voice. Their portfolios are evaluated by professional artists and educators, and a score of 5 indicates the highest level of accomplishment, with the work showing exceptional artistic decision-making and mastery of materials.

Congratulations to the following students who earned a 5 on their AP Art and Design Drawing Portfolio:

Molly Audretch
Lizzie Schreibeis
Jordan Tinsley

Congratulations to the following students who earned a 5 on their AP Art and Design 2D Design Portfolio:

Grace Gray
Alysse Niewoehner
Sophia Wehman

Meanwhile, students in AP Art History immersed themselves in over 250 works of art spanning diverse cultures, time periods, and media. This rigorous course asks students to analyze and interpret visual, historical, and contextual elements of art from prehistory to the present. A score of 5 on the AP Art History exam signifies a high level of visual literacy, historical understanding, and analytical writing ability.

Congratulations to the following students who earned a 5 on their AP Art and Design 2D Design Portfolio:

Molly Audretch
Samantha Gardner

Whether mastering studio techniques or exploring the global story of art, these students have proven themselves to be thoughtful, disciplined, and deeply engaged. We commend their hard work and can’t wait to see the impact they will make in the creative world and beyond.

Congratulations to our outstanding AP Art and Design and AP Art History scholars!

Art Possible Ohio 30th Annual Accessible Expression Exhibition

Posted on March 17, 2025 by OHHS Art and Design

Congratulations to Faith Henke, Juan Renteria, and Adrienne Young whose artwork was selected to be part of the Accessible Expressions Ohio 2025 exhibition!

Accessible Expressions Ohio (AEO) is one of the most diverse art exhibits on display. It is an adjudicated, statewide exhibition and tour of sixty 2D and 3D art by Ohio artists with disabilities in the Youth, Emerging, or Professional categories.

This year the exhibition and opening reception will be held at the Patrick Losinski Gallery, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Join us for an afternoon of art, fellowship, artmaking, awards, and food!

What is it all about….
Art Possible Ohio is a community that connects inspired artists with their passion, service providers with resources, and all citizens with creative opportunities.

Arts Possible Ohio was founded in 1986 and works together with artists of all ages who have disabilities to advocate for accessibility and inclusivity, advance careers in the creative sector, build community, and improve the academic achievement of Ohio’s students through arts integration. By bridging arts and disability, our programs and services promote inclusive spaces and accessible opportunities for Ohioans.

Accessible Expressions Ohio is one of the most diverse art exhibits on display. It is an adjudicated, statewide exhibition and tour of sixty 2D and 3D art by Ohio artists with disabilities. Artists of any age, living in Ohio, with a disability may enter in the Youth, Emerging, or Professional categories. AEO raises awareness by presenting the show in inclusive settings designed to change perceptions about disability.

Accepted artists join a talented group of artists representing all corners of Ohio. Their art will travel to a variety of community spaces across Ohio during 2024. The work will also be exhibited at www.artpossibleohio.org and on their social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook (@ArtPossibleOhio).

OHHS Art and Design Students Selected for the 2025 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition

Posted on March 10, 2025 by OHHS Art and Design

This past weekend, the state level of judging for The Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition, took place. The Exhibition, now in its 55th year, is dedicated to the educational and artistic advancement of our talented young people in the state of Ohio. The exhibition is open to all of Ohio’s 1,112 high schools, both public and private, chartered by the State of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. A program of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, in partnership with the Ohio Governor’s Office, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and the Ohio Arts Council, sponsors are also secured to offer scholarships for students to continue a post-secondary arts education. T

The process of selecting artworks for the state exhibition begins on a regional level. The state is divided into 15 regional locations, with high school students in each region invited to enter work in that regional judging. Each region has a designated Regional Director, who is responsible for choosing the judges for his or her region and arranging specifics of the event.

The state judging takes place in Columbus; however, the judges for this level of competition are chosen from all over the country and are generally professional artists, college level instructors, or both.

State jurors selected 284 pieces for the exhibition with 25 of the 284 chosen to receive the Governor’s Award of Excellence. An additional 35 works are selected for the Cameo Exhibition displayed at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

Congratulations to the following student whose work was accepted into the state level exhibition:

Congratulations to the following students whose work was accepted into the Cameo Exhibition at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce:

Congratulations to the following student whose work was selected as one of the Top 25:

Lizzie Schreibeis, “Killing in the Name Of”

The exhibition will be on display at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower, 30 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 from April 20th – May15th. An awards ceremony will take place in The Riffe Center Capitol Theatre, 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 on May 4th at 12:00 pm.

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