"I am honored and excited to receive this award from my fellow art teachers. It means a lot to be recognized by your peers," Kirkevold says.

Kirkevold has taught art for more than 30 years, the last 13 at Putnam City Academy. According to Putnam City Academy Principal Janet Oden, Kirkevold’s role is central to student success.

"Donna’s classroom is the heart of our school. She develops a wonderful rapport with her students, empowering them to grow. She ties her art instruction to science, math, English and social studies, strengthening student learning in all areas. She encourages students to stretch their abilities to new and more challenging tasks, which helps build confidence and capability to succeed in other areas. When students succeed in personal, social and academic areas, Donna is often at the root of it," says Janet Oden, Putnam City Academy principal.

Kirkevold says she likes teaching art because she enjoys seeing the emergence of creative and problem-solving abilities in her students.

"Students need art to develop the creative side of their brain, to be inspired to try new things, experiment with media and get a good dose of self esteem. My greatest joy is when I see a student proudly showing his artwork to a parent or another student and I hear, 'Look what I did!' That makes my day," Kirkevold says.

Kirkevold is a member of the OAEA and the National Art Education Association. She has a bachelor’s degree in arts from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.