Former PVHS teacher wins middle level art educator award

Press release

The Kansas Art Education Association (KAEA) has named Joe Summers the 2024-25 Outstanding Middle Level Art Educator of the year. The award will be officially presented at the KAEA Fall Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. in the Rock Springs Conference Center Heritage Hall Auditorium, 5405 W. Hwy K157, in Junction City, Kan.

Joe Summers is a highly respected Kansas art educator who has served as a middle and high school art Educator in Kansas for over 20 years. Summers educational experience includes a BA and MA from Pittsburg State University. He has also studied multiple aspects of ceramics in workshops with Danney Meisinger, Dave Sturm and Andrew Martin.

A long-time Prairie View High School art teacher who led his students to becoming a dominant presence in area school art shows, Summers moved to Chanute to teach at Royster Middle School two years ago. A Prescott native who graduated from Jayhawk-Linn High School, Summers has accepted a position teaching art at Neosho County Community College in Chanute this fall.

Throughout his teaching career Summers has made significant contributions to the arts community by organizing and hosting regional art competitions for students. These events showcase the talents of young artists and provide them with valuable opportunities for recognition and growth in their artistic journey. 

Summers initiated the "Robot Art Across Kansas" guerrilla art project. This ongoing event involves creating ceramic robot sculptures with his children and art students, which are then strategically placed throughout Kansas for people to discover, keep, and enjoy. The robots project brings art to unexpected places and fosters a sense of community engagement and creativity among its participants.

Summers serves as a valued mentor to many. According to his colleague and former student DeAnna Fawcett “He pushed me beyond my expectations of myself,my art, and my educational/professional hopes. He pointed me on the path to success in my life and I will always be grateful for his influence.”

Rebecca Lomshek, the KAEA Regional Coordinator and PIttsburgh HIgh School art teacher who nominated Summers for this award, concludes “Joe Summers is an exemplary educator whose passion for art, dedication to student success, and innovative contributions to the arts community make him an ideal..KAEA Middle Level Art Educator of the Year.” 

The Kansas Art Education Association (KAEA) is a statewide professional organization dedicated to the growth and development of art educators and the advancement of high quality art education.