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Harbor’s Visionary Art Teacher Receives Regional Award

Harbor’s Visionary Art Teacher Receives Regional Award

Nurturing the creativity of students for more than two decades, Seaford Harbor Elementary School art teacher Christine Donnelly’s efforts have certainly been noticed. On Oct. 9, she received the Established Educator Award from the Nassau County Art Supervisors Association.   

The award honors an art educator who is committed to giving back, advocates for the advancement of the arts, and is active in his or her own artistic profession.  

“Christine not only checks all of those boxes, but brings a tremendous amount of joy into her classroom,” said Seaford’s Coordinator of Fine and Applied Arts Dr. Patrick Kennedy, who nominated her for the award. “She has transformed her classroom into a studio for children where they guide their own learning through student choice.” 

Ms. Donnelly began her career in Seaford in 1998 as an elementary classroom teacher at Manor School, and has taught art at Harbor since 2001. She hold a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Hofstra University, a master’s degree in education from Dowling College and administrative certification from Stony Brook University. 

In 2018, Ms. Donnelly transformed her art classroom into an art studio by adopting the Teaching for Artistic Behavior philosophy. Students take ownership of their art by selecting the materials they want to work with, choosing their supplies from different stations such as collage, drawing, painting and sculpting. Ms. Donnelly said that the approach creates greater engagement as students don’t just learn how to create art, but how to be artists.   

Beyond the classroom, Ms. Donnelly is a member of the Art League of Long Island and was recently named to the organization’s board of directors. She presents workshops through the Art Supervisors Association, is in a creative partnership with the Kasher Gallery in Northport where she also leads art workshops, and recently exhibited her cyanotype alternate photography pieces at the Gallery North art show and music festival. 

“I’m incredibly honored and flattered to be recognized by the Art Supervisors Association,” said Ms. Donnelly, who was among only three honorees this year. “It’s really important for my students to come to a safe space, express themselves and have choice.” 

Three women are standing together, holding a certificate, in front of a red background with text.
The image shows a smiling woman in a denim jacket standing next to a man in a dress shirt and tie, with colorful artwork displayed on the walls behind them.
The image shows a group of four people, three women and one man, standing in front of a backdrop with the Supervisors Association logo. They appear to be posing for a photograph, with one of the women holding a certificate or award.
Three individuals, two women and one man, are standing together in what appears to be an art gallery or exhibition space. The women are wearing formal attire, with one in a patterned dress and the other in a black outfit. The man is dressed casually in a black outfit. The background features framed artwork on the walls, suggesting this is a professional or artistic setting.