Art Educator of the Year

As part of his teaching philosophy, Jonathan Juravich is driven to provide social emotional learning opportunities for his students to study and create art that lead to meaningful discussions about themselves and how they fit into the world around them.

Jonathan states, “I intentionally plan for discussions that promote perseverance while identifying our individual strengths. Collaborative art making experiences offer opportunities to build relationships and learn about sharing spaces with others. Our students, my young students, are learning about their ever-evolving sense of self while becoming increasingly aware that there are other people in the world.” 

Meaningful discussions held with Mr. Juravich are not bound to the classroom setting, either, as he seems to be on a mission to enthusiastically share his depth and breadth of knowledge with fellow art teachers, content teachers, parents, and policy makers to advocate the importance of the interconnections of art education and social emotional learning. Whether speaking to children or adults, “Jon’s instructional delivery is engaging to watch” according to his Principal, Teresa Caton. Ms. Caton goes on to say, “This format of planning and delivery encourages students to try a technique or style in a safe environment. ‘Mistakes or not quite perfect attempts’ are celebrated, not judged. His curriculum goes beyond the classroom walls. He excels as a teacher leader, facilitating our Building Culture committee that focuses on our Tree Traits and the well-being of all students and staff.”

In his 19 years as an educator, Jonathan Juravich has already realized a lifetime of accomplishments. He is a dedicated member of both OAEA and NAEA and has served in many capacities and has been recognized, as well. His dedication  and expertise has made him a favorite on the speaking engagement circuit and as such his credits are too many to fully enumerate here. Instead, please find a short list of highlights and his service and honors:

Speaking Engagements (too many to list them all!):

• Addressing the House of Representatives. October 24, 2017

• Small Actions with Big Impact, Otterbein University. April 16, 2018

• TED Talk. September 20, 2018

• The Art 0f Education: Art Ed NOW Winter Conference Presenter. February 2, 2019

• Art, Awareness, and Empathy Presentation. Ohio State University East Med Center. July 24, 2019

• SEL presentation for Nebraska Education Association. November 21, 2019

• Celebrating One Another. Eureka, CA. March 11, 2022

• Drawing with Mr. J Presentations: Getty Museum Back to School Event. September 17, 2022

Service & Honors:

• NAEA Conference Attendee

• NAEA Speaker/Presenter: NAEA Town Hall: Community Vibrancy, 1/2022

• NAEA CAN (Connected Arts Network) Presenter (2022)

• Ohio Valley Emmy Award for digital drawing series “Drawing with Mr. J” (2021)

• Elementary Art Teacher of the Year (2021)

• OAEA Distinguished Fellow, Inducted (2021)

• Elementary Art Teacher of the Year (2021)

• OAEA Elected assembly Member (2020-2022)

• OAEA Advocate Award of Honor (2019)

• OAEA Conference Booklet Designer/Editor (2019-present)

• One of Four Finalists for National Teacher of the Year (2018)

• Ohio Teacher of the Year (2018)

• Ohio Education Association (OAE), California Casualty Award Winner (2018)

• OAEA ARTline Editor (2016-present)

• OAEA Organized Hands-on booth at Columbus Arts Festival (2015-2019)

• OAEA Organized Central Member Art Exhibition (2015)

• OAEA Central Ohio Regional Director (2014-2016)

• OAEA Central Region Workshop Chairperson (2014-2014)

• OAEA State Professional Development Conference Committee Off-Site Chair (2014)

• OAEA Central Region Outstanding Art Teacher (2014)

• OAEA Designed YAM, YPAE, High School Emerging Artists Exhibit, and Central Exhibition Certificates (2013-2020) 

• OAEA Yearly Conference Presenter (2012-present)

• OAEA Delaware County Contact (2011-2012)

As he was nominated for this distinguished award by more than one person, it goes  without saying how highly his OAEA peers think of Mr. Juravich.

Past Recipients of the Ohio Art Educator of the Year

Beverly Finkel 2023
​Juliann Dorff 2022
Carrie Barnett  2021
Alice Tavani  2020
Susan Ruttle Lawrence  2019
Linda Hoeptner Poling  2018
Randall Robert  2017
Sarah Danner Hebdo  2016
Laura Tawil  2015
Marge Hilliard-Leberecht  2014
Sandra Noble  2013
Monte Garrabrant  2012
Suzanne Mitolo  2011
​Sherrie Dennis  2010
Dennis Cannon  2009

We're working on adding more to the list. If you are a past award winner, or know who else has won (and their year) - Please email us at the link below!