ǰMartin High Schoolvisual art teacher Sharon Miller, it was just another day in the studio.
That is, until Hugo, thearmadillo, strolled into her classroom, followed by cheers, cameras, andlegend.
“I was just in complete shock,” Miller said.
Miller was honored as theTeacher of the Month for December, presented in partnershipbyReliant Energy and the Dallas Cowboys,to celebrate teachers who goabove and beyondin shaping the future of young minds.
The award also included a personalized Cowboys jersey, a signed football from Walls, and a $5,000 check to support Miller’s classroom and student projects.
“I know exactly where the money is going,” she said. “A big passion project that we have done with our students was taking an old courtyard and renovating it.”
The project, completed by students from multiple programs at Martin High School, brought the space back to life. Woodworkingstudents builtbenches, art students painted them, and culinary students worked on vegetable beds.
“But it’s missing one thing – some lights,” Miller said. “The best part of the courtyard,where the bannersare,is stillreally dark, sothat’swhere that money is going to go. Everyone has contributed to this.We’vegot some easels we want to get and some drawing horses so that kids can come out here and hold a class, and it gives validity to the program.”
Miller’s impact reaches far beyond her classroom.
“Sharon is an excellent teacher who encourages, motivates, and challenges her students to grow,”Martin High School principal Marlene Roddysaid. “She finds ways to help her students use the visual arts in projects that improve our facility and our community.”
Students feel thatimpactevery day.
“Many of her students will tell you that she is one of the best teachers they have ever had,” Roddy said. “She has expanded the visual arts at Martin in multiple ways, and the students feel honored to be a part of that expansion.”
That dedication is exactly what led to the courtyard project.
“She recreated one of our courtyards into a community and campus space that promotes student work throughout the building,” Roddy said. “She has applied fornumerousgrants, and her attention to detail and specificity of work has resulted in lots of grant dollars for Martin High School. I am proud of her and her students’ accomplishments.”
Andthat’sjust one of the many reasons Miller isa class act.
“It’s humbling,” Miller said. “There are so many teachers who do so much all the time. Visual artstakesa backseat on a lot of things, especially compared to athletics and things like that. The fact thatwe’reable to make a difference and an impact that is effectively being noticed by those thatdon’tgenerally noticevisual arts.”
Congratulations to Sharon Miller for this well-deserved honor and for exemplifying the passion, creativity, and dedication that inspire students every day!