Harrisonburg Art Teacher Named Virginia Art Educator of the Year
Jauan Brooks of Harrisonburg High School was selected by the Virginia Art Education Association for the 2027 award.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Fine Art
The Virginia Art Education Association selected Harrisonburg High School art teacher Jauan Brooks as the 2027 Virginia Art Educator of the Year. The award was presented at the VAEA Awards Reception in Richmond, Virginia, on October 23.
Why it matters
The award recognizes an art educator's dedication to students, commitment to excellence in art education, and contributions to the profession. For Harrisonburg, it spotlights local arts instruction at the high school level.
The award was presented at the VAEA Awards Reception on October 23 in Richmond, and Brooks was previously recognized as a VAEA Distinguished Fellow in 2024. The selection criteria cited are dedication to students, commitment to excellence, and contributions to the profession, but the full nomination details were not provided.
The players
Jauan Brooks
Art teacher at Harrisonburg High School who was selected as the 2027 Virginia Art Educator of the Year.
Virginia Art Education Association
The statewide professional organization that selects the Virginia Art Educator of the Year and hosts the annual awards reception.
Dr. Melissa Hensley
Principal of Harrisonburg High School who provided a statement praising Brooks.
The details
Harrisonburg High School principal Dr. Melissa Hensley praised Brooks in a statement. The award was presented to Brooks in Richmond during the VAEA Awards Reception, honoring his work as a high school art teacher.
Timeline
2024: Brooks was recognized as a VAEA Distinguished Fellow.
October 23, 2026: Brooks was presented the award at the VAEA Awards Reception in Richmond.
Big Picture
The Virginia Art Educator of the Year honor, administered by the Virginia Art Education Association, is an annual statewide recognition of individual art teachers. Brooks's selection adds a Harrisonburg educator to that roster.
Local students at Harrisonburg High School are the direct beneficiaries of the instruction recognized by this award. Families and fine art enthusiasts in the Harrisonburg area can follow how state-level arts education honors shape school programs.
The takeaway
Statewide recognition of classroom art teachers highlights the role of individual educators in sustaining arts education. Readers interested in local arts programs can look to their own schools for opportunities to support student creativity.
Further reading
Explore more Fine Art coverage from across Virginia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rocktown Now - News, Weather & Events in Harrisonburg, VA.
