Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 23, 2026 MAEA | FROM PAGE 1 district and in the city as whole. This past Friday, October 16, the Beebe School art teacher was afforded a prestigious honor at an event held in Sturbridge, Mass., where she received the Middle Level Art Educator of the Year Award. This was the first year the award has been presented at the Middle School level. Howard was one of 14 educators honored with statewide awards by the Massachusetts Art Education Association (MAEA) in a dinner and ceremony held at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Convention Center. (See complete separate list on this page.) In a regional note, also honored Friday as Secondary Art Educator of the Year was Josephine Dougan of Everett High School. Malden Public Schools Director of Social Studies and the Visual/Performing Arts Gerard Tannetta congratulated the Beebe School educator on the statewide honor. “We’re very fortunate to have Ms. Howard and her dedication to Malden which is unmatched,” Tannetta said. “She’s [Howard] always taking into consideration her students’ interests and backgrounds while pushing them to develop as artists.” Tannetta noted that artworks from Beebe students have been on display for years throughout the community of Malden. “Work from her students has been showcased at the Malden High School Blue and Gold Gallery, the Malden Public Library, the ELC [Early Learning Center] and [by] the Malden Lions Club,” The beautiful mural created by Beebe School art students and displayed for several months this year at the Malden Public Library is back “home” at the Beebe and on display. (Courtesy/The Maldonian/ MHS Yearbook) A recent Mass Cultural Council (MCC) grant secured by Jessica Howard funded the purchase of adaptive art supplies so that all Malden Public School students, including those physically and intellectually challenged, could participate in a mural art project. (Courtesy/Malden Public Schools Photo) Tannetta said. Going “outside the box” and touching many individuals through art education with a holistic approach have been Howard’s trademark in recent years in the Malden Public Schools. According to Tannetta, “She’s secured grants to make art more accessible and actionable. She’s also been a leader within the department running multiple professional development sessions for our staff, districtwide.” In the past several years, Howard has been highly successful in securing grants from the Mass Cultural Council (MCC) to fund major projects. In 2025, an MCC grant awarded to a Howard project at Beebe School funded adaptive art materials so that all students — including those who were physically and/or intellectually challenged, as well as those using wheelchairs — could help create murals in the design and spirit of the late, renowned artist Frank Stella, a Malden native. A mural was completed by Grade 7 and Grade 8 students in Jess Howard’s art class in the spring of 2025. The grant money was used to purchase materials for the mural, such as paint, brushes and mural panels. All the murals were showcased at the Malden Public Library and were later collected and merged together to create a larger mural, which now hangs at the Beebe School. This past school year, Howard secured another MCC grant to cover the entire cost of a field trip for the Beebe Grade 6 students to visit the New England Aquarium, where they sketched marine life, which she turned into a hologram-like, lenticular print — now framed and planned to be hung in the Beebe cafeteria. Howard’s students have also won several peace poster awards from the Malden Lions Club in the last several years. Massachusetts Art Education Association honored 14 art educators at a Recognition Dinner on Friday, October 16 —MAEA Lifetime Achievement Award — Diana Adams Woodruff —Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year — Melissa Mastrolia, Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools —Exceptional New Art Educator of the Year — Selia Potas, Danvers Public Schools —Elementary Art Educator of the Year — Brittany Martinez, Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools —Middle Level Art Educator of the Year — Jessica Howard, Malden Public Schools —Secondary Art Educator of the Year — Josephine Dougan, Everett Public Schools —Higher Educator Art Educator of the Year — Emma Oliver, Montserrat College of Art —Museum Art Educator of the Year — Claire Tratnyek, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum —Supervision/Administration Art Educator of the Year — Erin Jameson, Hudson Public Schools —Community Art Educator of the Year — Katyann Sullivan Farrar, Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester —Independent Schools Art Educator of the Year — Stacey McCarthy, Middlesex School —Retired Art Educator of the Year — Joyce Stenmon, Canton Public Schools & Paul Revere Museum of Discovery and Innovation, Canton —Rising Star Secondary Award — Anna Bond, North Adams Public Schools —Distinguished Service Outside the Profession — Julie Child, Woods Hole Children’s School of Science and the Marine Biological Laboratory Monogram D4 Double siding Cedar impression half rounds Harvey Vinyl Replacement Windows Custom Aluminum Trim work Windows & Doors Top quality Vinyl Siding! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Fully Licensed •Fully Insured Everett Aluminum Supplies Celebrating 67 Years in Business Since 1958! ws
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