Teacher Draws State Award

UNION CITY -- As a single mother raising three kids, Kris Fontes never thought she'd survive going back to college to become certified as an art teacher.

Things came to a head one wintry day when her twins, Max and Kate Beehner, came down with the chicken pox. Fontes was torn between staying home or leaving the kids with a baby sitter and going to class at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

"I had been a stay-at-home mom for a long time," Fontes said. "I called my family and they said, 'Go to class, it will all work out.'" Her family was right.

Fontes not only finished school, she landed her dream job as an art instructor in the Union City Area School District. Now the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) has honored her as the 2005 Pennsylvania Middle School Art Educator of the Year.

Fontes received the award at the association's annual conference in State College in October. The award surprised Fontes, a teacher for only 12 years. "I never, ever thought I'd be honored at this point," she said.

She began teaching in 1993 at Seneca High School and started at Union City in 1998, moving from teaching one class a day to full-time work.

Frank McClard, Union City Middle-High School principal, believes Fontes deserves the recognition. "I have a short list of people I couldn't get along without here in the district," McClard said. "Kris is at the top of that list. She is phenomenal and is very deserving of the award." Fontes' work with the students, especially in the area of graphic design and technology, is fantastic, McClard said.

"She spends countless hours working with students on projects and has formed an art club for interested students to stay after school and work on projects,"he said. "Many students have gone on from graduation to major in graphic design and have found themselves more prepared than most of their classmates."

Fellow Union City art instructor Martha Blair agrees. "Kris is an exceptional teacher and the kids love her,"Blair said.

Fontes said she had a bachelor's of fine arts degree in commercial art from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania when circumstances led her to start substitute teaching. "I figured it would be a good supplemental income for our family," said Fontes, who decided to attend Edinboro to become a certified teacher.

"I couldn't have done it without the support of my family," she said. "My son, Zach, didn't do a lot of extracurricular activities, he was always baby-sitting the twins so I could attend class. The nicest thing is that he did it selflessly, never talking about what he was missing. I have him to thank for all this."

Zach Beehner is now a navy pilot stationed in Chile. Kate Beehner is an art student at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada, and Max Beehner is an art student at Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh.

Fontes loves teaching in Union City. "I was able to start the graphic arts program, given the equipment and the support and an outstanding facility," she said.

Fontes is active as a district representative for PAEA. She is also on the 2006 conference committee for next year's event, which will be held in Erie. She has organized Youth Art Month at the Millcreek Mall for the past six years .She is also a candidate for National Board Certification in Art.

She was honored by Intel Corp.'s Innovative Odyssey for Outstanding Technology in 2003 for her student project involving the animation of Lego toys.

Fontes has been published in School Arts magazine, Arts and Activities magazine and is a regular contributor to the Incredible Art Department Online Art Resource.

She worked in 2005 with the Kids as Curators partnership with Erie Art Museum, MetLife and Union City Middle School. She is also is working on a master's degree in educational technology.

"I just had someone tell me that I am really invested in my program now, not just an ordinary art teacher any more," said Fontes. "I think they're right. I just love my job, the kids, what I do. I always say, 'If I wasn't myself, I'd envy myself.'"


LAURA BREON, can be reached at 870-1837 or by e-mail.


Last changed: Nov 8, 2005