Through shining peer recommendations and a Review Committee from St. Mary’s County Arts Council, two outstanding local art teachers have been selected for the Kay Daugherty Arts Educator Award! The recipients chosen for 2023 are:

Megan Czechanski-Giannuzzi, Leonardtown Middle School, Band Director
Sarah Tyson, Chesapeake Public Charter School, Art Instructor

Megan Czechanski-Giannuzzi

Ms. Czechanski-Giannuzzi believes that all students should have both access and the opportunity to learn and play an instrument of their choice. If students are struggling with their musical studies, she will invest extra time and effort to identify any issues and search for solutions. Megan often works with other individuals and groups to locate instruments for her students in need and to break down any barriers preventing them from practicing and playing.

Czechanski-Giannuzzi relates that artistic experiences, such as performing, present valuable life lessons in leadership and responsibility. Her personal and professional missions are to bring out the best in all of her students for both the near and far futures.

“Ms. Czechanski-Giannuzzi has served as the driving force behind our amazing band program at Leonardtown Middle School and has worked with other elementary and high school band directors to promote and build the programs. Megan has worked to create Schoology lessons for general music and band students at all levels.

Every year, she takes the LMS band to perform at the Special Olympics to provide entertainment and show the support of LMS. In addition, the LMS band is the only middle school band in St. Mary's County that consistently participates at the College of Southern Maryland Jazz Festival. It is evident that her vision and hard work has helped students excel as LMS has the highest number of students in the County Honor Band.”

—Don Hollaway, Assistant Principal, Leonardtown High School

Sarah Tyson

Ms. Tyson’s philosophical approach to art education is very student centered. She strongly believes that art is for everyone and that students are capable of creating meaningful work at any age.

Sarah is highly dedicated to her position and strives to inspire and empower her students to think and work like artists. In her classroom she serves as a facilitator, providing students skills through an array of art mediums. Her methodologies include the solving of artistic problems with the ultimate goal of her pupils finding their own artistic voice. She believes in the power of arts integration among disciplines and supports that the arts play an important role in reaching many types of learners at different levels.

“Ms. Tyson instills a desire for students to create and appreciate the process of bringing art to life by providing her students with opportunities to create meaning for themselves. To help students achieve their goals, she facilitates learning that is focused on their diverse interests. She understands the value in letting them struggle through a task to come to an understanding of a concept, but they are well scaffolded along the way.”

She can guide her students and support artistic efforts to focus more on their process and less on outcomes. Her depth of understanding of the national art standards, her understanding of the progression of skills, and knowledge of how to build a skill set within her students sets her apart from her colleagues.”

—Angela Funya, Charter Director, Chesapeake Public Charter School

The Kay Daugherty Arts Educator Awards were originally created in 2018 in memory of Kay Daugherty (1921-2006). Mrs. Daugherty was well-known for her love of art in a wide variety of different forms.

In Kay’s honor and in recognition of outstanding arts educators from the St. Mary’s County public school system, these awards are granted on an annual basis through support from the Daugherty family. Congratulations to both of our recipients!

(Photos below are from the award presentations at St. Mary’s County Arts Council on June 20th, 2023).

Kay Daugherty Arts Educator Awards presented by Susie Glauner, St. Mary’s County Arts Council Executive Director.

Kay Daugherty award recipients, scholarship students, and special guests from our award presentation day!

Pictured here L to R:

Matthew Hayden, scholarship recipient

Todd Burroughs, Supervisor of Fine Arts, St. Mary’s County Public Schools

Megan Czechanski-Giannuzzi, Kay Daugherty Award recipient

Susie Glauner, St. Mary’s County Arts Council Executive Director

Sarah Tyson, Kay Daugherty Award recipient

Lily O’Neill, scholarship recipient

Dr. Deborah Dennie, Principal of Leonardtown Middle School

St. Mary’s County Arts Council is proud to announce that Christie Blewett from Chopticon High School has been selected to receive the Kay Daugherty Arts Educator of the Year Award!

Through peer recommendation and a reviewing committee from the Arts Council, Ms. Blewett was chosen to be the recipient of this award as well as $500 in appreciation of her dedication and above-and-beyond contributions as an arts educator in our community.

The St. Mary’s County Arts Council received this nomination from Tammi Grant, a theatre parent and CHS Booster Club member. Christie Blewett was highly recommended both by Tammi and the many other supporters who wrote glowing letters of recommendation.

Christie’s desires and dreams were born from a very early age of performing, directing, and teaching. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre (with a minor in Music Education) and a Master of Fine Arts with several related credentials and continuing education completed in her field.

During Christie’s past five years at Chopticon High School, she has inspired many of her students to pursue their educational goals and careers in the Theatre Arts, related fields, and beyond. Ms. Blewett created a brand new “Show Troupe” class as she identified a strong need for a curriculum that incorporated a triad of dance, singing, and acting.

She has developed customized assignments specific for all her Academy of Visual Arts theatre students and has worked tirelessly to find visiting artists to engage with students with interesting and relative subject materials.

This award is granted in memory and recognition of Kay Daugherty (1921-2006) who was well known for her love of art in a wide variety of different forms. Kay was one of the founding members of the St. Mary’s Arts Alliance at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and came to know, befriend, and mentor many of the established and emerging artists of her time. Kay’s home was creatively adorned with many pieces purchased from local artists including an infinite rainbow of paintings, prints, etchings, stained glass panels, collages, weavings, and sculptures.

Realizing that the youth of our community hold the keys to the future, Kay held a deep admiration not only for the student artists also but for their instructors as well. In 2019, a new award was created in honor of Kay Daugherty in recognition of an outstanding arts educator currently teaching at the St. Mary’s County, Maryland public school system.

Christie Blewett has established strong professional and positive relationships with students, parents, and her instructors. She has been consistently supportive and dedicated to the many different branches of the Chopticon High Theatre Arts Program and we are honored to recognize her as this year’s award recipient.

Visit here to learn more about the Theatre Arts program at Chopticon High School!