By Gabby Hermes and Delanie Pierce

Art teacher Beth Janssen didn’t set out to become a high school art teacher.

Now she is considered to be one of the best art teachers in Kansas.

Janssen has been named the Kansas Art Education Association’s Outstanding Art Educator of the Year. Aimee Geist, art education curator at the Ulrich Museum at Wichita State University, nominated her for the award.

“I was excited when I heard I got the award,” said Janssen, who will be presented with the honor in October. “I feel like it’s kind of weird when you get an award because a lot of people help you get there, so it’s a little awkward.”

This award is the first award Janssen has received. However, she was a recipient of a Fulbright-Hays grant.

Janssen started in fashion design where she took a lot of drawing classes, but she did not take any art classes in high school.

“I left school to go to New York to work for a handbag designer,” Janssen said. “My roommate worked at this really prestigious art gallery on the upper east side of New York City and I got involved in going to see shows.”

When Janssen went back to school, she decided to take some art classes to help her finish and get her bachelor’s degree. That’s when she realized she really enjoyed art.

After getting her bachelor’s degree and realizing she really loved art, Janssen then went back to college to get her degree in art education. Janssen has been teaching for seven years.

“My favorite thing about art is that you can be a little crazy and that’s OK,” Janssen said. “I just dig it.”