There’s an art to being a great educator. PCPS Superintendent Frederick Heid and teacher Rebecca Schempp are among this year’s award winners presented by the Florida Art Education Association (FAEA). Heid is the recipient of FAEA’s Superintendent of the Year Award for 2022. Schempp, an art teacher at Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary, won the New Professional Award. Both were nominated by Nancy Puri, PCPS’ senior coordinator of visual arts. Though Heid just completed his first year as PCPS superintendent, Puri said he has been a loyal advocate of the district’s arts programs and educators, and has regularly attended events that spotlight student artists. Heid also got involved with Polk County’s Kids Tag Art program, through the creation of the new Superintendent’s Choice Award. “As superintendent he has made it clear that the arts have a place in every school in Polk County,” Puri said. “Our programs have remained strong, and he understands how important a well-rounded education is to every student.” Schempp just completed her third year with PCPS and has been a standout teacher, Puri said. Schempp was Lewis Anna Woodbury’s Teacher of the Year for 2020-21; she also has been active in the community, teaching at Polk Museum of Art’s summer camp and lending her talents to a mural project at McLaughlin Middle School and Fine Arts Academy. “She’s an exceptional teacher and an example of what we like to see in every new teacher who joins our fine arts team,” Puri said. “She is so dedicated to excellence and constant self-improvement — and of course, her students.”

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