Congratulations to Mrs. Susan Silva, art teacher and chair of our fine arts department, for being named the 2019 Southeastern Region Secondary Art Educator by the National Art Education Association. Silva will receive her award at the NAEA national convention in Boston next week. 

The award recognizes excellence in professional accomplishment, contributions, and service by a dedicated art educator.  

Mrs. Silva joined Fairfax County Public Schools in 2008 after spending 12 years as a K-12 art specialist in Clark County (Nev.) Public Schools. Mrs. Silva as been an Oakton Cougar since 2011. She currently serves as fine arts department chair and has served as a Great Beginnings coach and a teacher mentor.  Mrs. Silva is a National Board Certified Teacher in early adolescent/young adult art and has served as a visiting instructor at the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and curriculum fellow at Washington International School.

She has delivered presentations on multidisciplinary practice in art education, design thinking, drawing with light, and engaging the arts and museums with the world in mind for the National Art Education Association and the Virginia Art Education Association. Mrs. Silva has also hosted webinars for the NAEA.

In addition, she has exhibited her own work at the Target Gallery in Alexandria, the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, and at GRACE.  She also hosts her own blog that includes professional and personal experiences and observations.

Mrs. Silva earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and art education from West Virginia University and her master of education in curriculum and instruction-teacher leadership from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

• NAEA is the professional association for art educators.