LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Hauna Laine was nominated anonymously.

Being an art educator is very humbling for Ms. Laine. It's a special time for students to step outside of their general education subjects and have some fun getting messy, whether they are drawing, painting, sculpting, or creating. At the beginning of each year, Ms. Laine gets to know each of her students and their art abilities so she can make accommodations to meet their art needs and support their success in her room.

She starts the class on the carpet to engage each student in their assignment for the day immediately. She posts procedures, expectations, and daily jobs on the wall. That way, each student has a chance to feel important, whether it's by getting materials, handing out artwork, sharpening pencils, or helping to clean up the table at the end of class. All of the tables are color-coded with matching colored supply bins, so her students know precisely what they should be getting for that day.

Ms. Laine's favorite part of her job is to go around the room to see her students' progress as they're creating. She gives compliments about what makes their artwork unique. When they finish, the students have an option to go to the creation station to draw from books, read a book, free draw, or color a picture.

Each year has a theme that she will use for their big art show in April. Her students create at least 8-10 projects related to the theme, and they select their two best pieces to be displayed in their art show. Last year, she filled the walls with about 1,200 pieces of work. The families in the community love coming in and seeing the students' projects and activities.