Moundsville Middle School Art Teacher Draws Statewide Honor
Shelley Hanson Trending
MOUNDSVILLE -- Art teacher Tabetha Morgan loves to see her students learn and thrive, which is just one reason she has been named the Art Educator of the Year by the West Virginia Art Education Association.
Morgan is an art teacher at Moundsville Middle School. She has worked 11 years for Marshall County Schools with eight of those years at John Marshall High School and three at Moundsville Middle.
"It's nice to be recognized for all the ways I serve as an art educator: as a teacher, as an artist, as part of the West Virginia Art Education Association advisory council," she said. "They took all of those things into account. It was nice they recognize all of the things I do."
Morgan said in addition to teaching art in the classroom she also takes time to do professional development. She also makes sure to get her students' artwork out into the community for the public to see. She also displays her own artwork and enjoys mentoring new teachers.
Morgan also worked with the association on developing a new website and logo.
She noted her favorite part of the job is "getting to share my love of art with my students."
"The best thing is when someone gets it, when a student gets it and they have that aha moment," she said.
Morgan said the district's administration is very supportive of her endeavors and ideas.
"Everyone is very supportive of what I do with the students; taking them on field trips, getting them out into the community," she said. "We did a mural last year. We plan to do another one this year. We did the plein air paint out at the Mound and Grand Vue. We take students on field trips to the Carnegie Museum."
Morgan said she is also inclusive and makes sure all students in the school get to practice art.
While working on sculpting a clay pumpkin piece, sixth grader Bentley Dolin said he enjoys making art in Morgan's classroom.
"It's great because she likes to do fun activities with us. Whenever we do those activities it's never boring," Dolin said. "She always has something to say about it and corrects us if we need help. If we do need help she will come up to us and have a one-on-one conversation that most teachers don't have. … She is probably one of the most kind teachers in the entire school."