This article won an honorable mention in the 2024 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
Art educator Nathan Kukla strides into his room every day hoping to make a difference in students’ lives. As a testament to his achievements, Kukla was named both High School Art Teacher of the Year and overall Art Teacher of the Year for 2024 by the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA).
The MAEA is an association created to recognize and honor art professionals through awards and ceremonies. Kukla’s award is especially significant due to a recent change in the MAEA’s policies.
“[Previously] in a given year, up to a total of six recipients were honored,” MAEA said. “[We have since] returned to our current structure of awarding the honor to one recipient.”
Prior to the award ceremony, Kukla was only aware of the singular recognition as Michigan High School Art Teacher of the Year. However, at the event, Kukla was both surprised and humbled to learn that on top of his previous award, he would also be accepting a broader, all grade level, solo honor.
“I won two pretty big awards,” Kukla said. “I was nominated and won Michigan High School Art Teacher of the Year for 2024, and I found out at the award ceremony that I’d actually been named Michigan Art Teacher of the Year. So overall art teacher of the year for 2024. That’s a big deal.”
“Big deal” is an understatement. Throughout his 25 years of teaching, Kukla continues to pour his heart and soul into teaching these students. The MAEA aren’t the only ones to notice, his peers do, too.
“I was nominated [for the award] by one of my peers [Sara Goodrich], and in their letter they mentioned that they were nominating me because of all of the work that I’ve done for students. All of the shows that I’ve put student work into, and just everything I’ve done over the years to support art education in Michigan,” Kukla said.
Senior Emma Butkevicius is a student in Kukla’s Advanced Placement (AP) Art and Design class. Butkevicius is proud of Kukla’s accomplishments and enjoys his class and teaching techniques.
“I like having him [Kukla] as a teacher because he always has something to say about your artwork. He always makes sure to say something positive,” Butkevicius said. “I’ve never had a teacher that really won an award, so it’s pretty cool to have a teacher that won [Michigan Art Teacher of the Year].”
Starting at the high school just this year, Kukla is glad to be a part of the welcoming community.
“Northview is just a really special place,” Kukla said. “I feel fortunate that I was given the opportunity to join Northview and become a Wildcat.”
