Canton City Schools arts teacher Kathleen Pugh is finalist for Ohio Teacher of the Year

A Canton City teacher has been named a finalist for Ohio’s Teacher of the Year. 

Kathleen Pugh, who teaches visual art at Hartford Middle School, is one of four teachers selected as a finalist by the State Board of Education. The Ohio Department of Education announced the finalists Monday, as well as the 10 teachers selected to represent one of the state board districts.

Pugh was named the 2023 State Board Teacher of the Year for District 8.

Stephanie Siddens, interim superintendent of public instruction, applauded all the recognized educators for their talent, hard work and dedication to their students during an online presentation where each state board district teacher of the year was introduced.

Past Stark County District 8 winners:Canton South teacher Nancy Q. Miller is State Board Teacher of the Year for District 8

“This remarkable group of teachers instills a passion for lifelong learning while advancing student success,” Siddens said. “These educators embody the countless reasons we celebrate our teachers.”

Kathy Pugh has taught in Canton and Louisville schools

Pugh, who will begin her 25th year in education this fall, didn’t originally plan to be a teacher. 

She graduated in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University with a major in painting and drawing and a minor in sculpture. After graduation, Pugh took a job with a financial institution and then began working as a fashion designer and seamstress. It was during this time that she volunteered to teach art to students at Louisville Elementary and discovered a passion for teaching as well as art.

In 1997, Pugh obtained her teaching certificate from Walsh University and became a teacher at Louisville. She taught students in second and fourth grade for six years and then became a middle school visual art teacher.

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Pugh transferred to the Canton City School District in 2013 where she became a visual arts teacher at Hartford Middle School, which houses the district’s science, technology, education, art, math and medicine academy.

In a video posted online Monday, Pugh said she doesn’t feel as though she’s teaching. She considers herself a lifelong learner who facilitates the sharing of knowledge in a shared space.

That space could be with students, parents, grandparents, a custodian, an architect, a professional golfer or anyone else who wants to share their knowledge. 

“I feel like it is valuable for me to create a space where the students feel safe, to come and fail, to try and try again, to share their knowledge, to gain knowledge,” Pugh said in the video. “But most importantly be creative, be innovative and become a lifelong learner.

“That’s why I go into the building every day. It’s not work. It’s sharing. It’s learning. And it’s something I enjoy immensely every day.”

A Canton City Schools teacher nominated Pugh

Pugh was nominated by Canton City Schools teacher Amanda Gillespie, who called Pugh one of the most dedicated colleagues she has known.

"With her, students don't just learn the value of art, they learn how art embraces science, music, math, history, computer science, engineering, entrepreneurship and language arts,” Gillespie wrote in her nomination form.

Gillespie said Pugh gives her students various outlets to exhibit and sell their pieces and hires students at her art gallery in downtown Canton, where she gives them on-the-job training. 

“She’s an exemplar of a teacher connecting the classroom to the community,” Gillespie said.

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A panel of education and community stakeholders will interview Pugh and the other three state finalists to select the Ohio Teacher of the Year. The state superintendent will announce the statewide honoree in the next few months.

The Ohio Teacher of the Year will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year selection in fall 2023.

The other three finalists are Jeanne Rankin of Winton Woods City Schools, Jennifer Allen of Hilliard City School District and Melissa Kmetz of Lakeview Local School District.

Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @kweirREP