“Retro Remix”: Honoring the Legacy of OAEA Award-Winning Art and Design Teachers in Oak Hills Local School District
This year’s Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA) professional development convention embraces the theme “Retro Remix”, a celebration of looking back, reimagining, and building forward. For the Oak Hills Local School District, the theme resonates deeply as we reflect on a proud tradition of art education led by educators whose work has been recognized at the state level. Over the years, multiple Oak Hills art and design teachers have been honored with OAEA awards, reflecting not only individual excellence but also a collective culture that values creativity, innovation, and the transformative power of the arts.
This year, we are proud to honor Mary Sala of Delhi Middle School, who was selected as the Middle Division Award Winner—essentially the Middle School Art Teacher of the Year. Mary is both a gifted educator and a tireless advocate for her students and colleagues. For more than a decade, she has been a driving force in her school and community: organizing district art shows, curating state-level exhibits, and creating opportunities for students to share their voices. Her leadership extends statewide through service as Southwest Co-Regional Director, Co-Chair of Youth Art Month (alongside Rapid Run’s Stacey Battoclette), and now as Southwest Administrative Chair. A frequent OAEA presenter, she also shares her expertise and leads professional development across Ohio.
In the classroom, Mary believes art is more than technique, it is a tool for self-discovery and understanding the world. She creates a dynamic space where students experiment, take risks, and embrace failure as part of growth. Her practices, including standards-based grading and a thriving art club, ensure every student feels included and celebrated. She highlights every child’s work in art shows, collaborates on theatrical productions, and secures grants for experiences such as pottery wheel workshops at Queen City Clay. A lifelong learner, she has earned advanced degrees, exhibited her own artwork, and remained deeply connected to Ohio’s art education community. She is both mentor and facilitator, empowering students to see art not just as a skill, but as a lens for exploring and shaping their world.
Art and design education in Oak Hills has never been about simply teaching technique. It has always been about pushing students to think differently, take risks, and discover their voices through visual expression. Award-winning teachers have consistently elevated classrooms into studios of possibility, where young artists are encouraged to question, connect, and create with purpose. The “Retro Remix” theme reminds us that today’s excellence is built on yesterday’s foundation. Each OAEA award received by an Oak Hills teacher marks a legacy of high standards and dedication to students’ growth as artists and thinkers. Whether through drawing, ceramics, photography, or digital media, Oak Hills teachers have inspired generations to see art as a way of understanding the world and cultivating creativity that extends far beyond the classroom walls.
As we celebrate “Retro Remix”, we honor the achievements of our award-winning educators while looking ahead to the new ideas, media, and perspectives emerging in our classrooms. The Oak Hills tradition is one of excellence and evolution: constantly remixing, reimagining, and reinventing to meet the needs of today’s learners.
Outstanding Art Teachers
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 1991
Sherry Middendorf Fuller (retired), 1999
Sylvia Dick (retired), 2003
Joni Farrow (retired), 2007
Karen Lutz (retired), 2012
Mary Sala, 2019
Stacey Battoclette, 2020
Jamie Schorsch, 2022
Steve Groh, 2024
Division Level Awards
Sherry Middendorf Fuller (retired), 2014: Elementary Division
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 1998: Middle Division
Mary Sala: 2025: Middle Division
Jamie Schorsch, 2023: Secondary Division
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 2018: Higher Education Division
Sylvia Dick (retired), 2022: Higher Education Division
Ohio Art Educator of the Year and Distinguished Fellow
Susan Ruttle Lawrence (retired), 2019
