Katie Aponte, a seventh-grade visual arts teacher at Sedgwick Middle School, has been named the Connecticut Art Education Association’s 2027 Middle-Level Art Educator of the Year.

By Mia Jaworski

The statewide award recognizes Aponte’s contributions to visual arts education, leadership among fellow educators and commitment to helping students develop their creativity.

The statewide award honors an educator who demonstrates excellence in visual arts education, professional leadership and service to the teaching community.

The Connecticut Art Education Association will formally present the award Nov. 3 during its annual professional development program at the Five Points Arts Center in Torrington.

Aponte is beginning her 19th school year with West Hartford Public Schools. She currently teaches seventh-grade art at Sedgwick, where she has worked for more than 10 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art education and a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Central Connecticut State University and has completed an additional 30 credits of continuing education.

In her classroom, Aponte encourages students to explore their identities, interests, heritage and personal experiences through art.

Her lessons combine technical instruction and art history with opportunities for students to make independent decisions, solve problems and develop their own artistic voices.

One example highlighted by Visual Arts Supervisor Pam Murphy in her nomination was an architecture unit in which students learned two-point perspective by designing their ideal homes.

Students researched architectural ideas, developed compositions, refined their drawings with colored pencils and markers, and created real estate brochures to present their designs.

The project challenged students to master technical skills while connecting their work to their own interests and ideas about architecture, design and color.

“I have always felt that when you choose a career you love, it makes going to work easy,” Aponte said. She added that one of her greatest joys as an art educator is watching students plan, develop and bring their ideas to life.

“I love learning about my students through their artwork and discovering the stories behind the choices they make,” she said. “I am continually impressed by their creativity, individuality and the unique perspectives they bring to their work.”

Murphy, who has evaluated Aponte for 18 years, said her teaching emphasizes the entire creative process, allowing students to plan, experiment, revise and reflect rather than focus solely on a finished product.

“Katie is an absolutely generous and tenacious teacher and a true leader in our department,” Murphy said. “She is a model in her student-centered instructional practice, and I could not be more proud of her.”

Aponte’s influence extends beyond her own classroom. She regularly shares instructional strategies and classroom management practices with colleagues, including through Sedgwick’s Teachers Teaching Teachers professional development program, where she has led sessions for two consecutive years.

During the challenges of hybrid learning, she also shared technology strategies districtwide to help teachers use Google Meet, Nearpod and Google Classroom to improve organization, communication and student engagement.

Murphy said colleagues seek out Aponte’s expertise because she shares practical strategies developed and tested in her own classroom.

Her leadership, Murphy said, strengthens not only her students’ learning but also the work of the district’s Visual Arts Department.

Aponte also brings her creativity to schoolwide initiatives. For Sedgwick’s 2026 Read-a-Thon fundraiser, she and her advisory students designed a classroom door to look like a vending machine stocked with “Snack Books,” adding lights and a faux LED screen. After the fundraiser, the display was donated to the West Hartford Public Library.

Sedgwick Principal Karen Kukish praised Aponte’s dedication to visual arts education and her ability to create an inclusive classroom where students of all abilities can thrive.

In her recommendation letter, Kukish also highlighted Aponte’s strong relationships with students and families, collaboration with colleagues and willingness to share teaching strategies to help fellow educators strengthen their own classrooms.

Some student artwork is available on the Sedgwick Art Instagram page.

The Connecticut Art Education Association promotes visual arts education across the state through professional development, advocacy and student recognition programs. Its annual award recognizes educators who strengthen arts education through teaching, leadership, mentorship and collaboration.

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