Marshalltown High School art instructor Kirk Niehouse, right, is pictured holding the Outstanding Secondary Art Educator Award he received from the Art Educators of Iowa on October 1 in Burlington. At left is Marshalltown Schools elementary art teacher Maggie Parks, who is a past winner of the award at the elementary level.
Marshalltown High School art instructor Kirk Niehouse has received the Outstanding Secondary Art Educator Award for 2016-17 from the Art Educators of Iowa.
Niehouse accepted the statewide award in Burlington on October 1, which was presented in association with the National Art Education Association.
“It is a great feeling and an honor to receive this award,” Niehouse said.
Niehouse joins a long tradition of statewide art award winners from the Marshalltown Community School District. Marshalltown elementary art teacher Maggie Parks won the same award at the elementary level last year. Throughout the years, several art teachers from Marshalltown have won the award.
“The fact that other art teachers in the Marshalltown Community School District have won this award shows the dedication to Marshalltown students and the advancement of the arts Marshalltown teachers have,” Niehouse said. “It’s a honor to have my name added to the list of great art teachers from the Marshalltown Community School District.”
Niehouse credits past MHS art teachers such as Don Lovell, Mary Ann Tordsen and Julie Bousum for influencing his work today at the school.
“One of my daily goals is to maintain the quality of the MHS art program that was set by Mary Ann, Don and Julie,” Niehouse said.
Niehouse teaches pottery and graphic design at MHS. He has taught at MHS since 2001 and is a 1978 Marshalltown High School graduate.
Kirk Niehouse is pictured in the pottery room at MHS.
