In grade school, Carrie Billman wasn’t much of a student. She only excelled in one area: art. The 40 minutes a week she spent in art class was her time to shine.
Now Billman is shining as an art teacher. She’s been recognized by the Art Education Association of Indiana as its 2008 Elementary School Art Educator of the Year.
The honor comes as no surprise to anyone who’s ever been in Mrs. Billman’s art classes at Lantern Road Elementary School (LRE). Billman “came in with the bricks as mortar” when Hamilton Southeastern opened LRE 14 years ago. Since that time, she’s overseen several school-wide projects and inspired countless young artists.
“She always gives 110 percent, and anything Carrie does, you know it’s going to be done beyond what you expect,” said LRE Principal Danielle Fetters Thompson, one of two colleagues who nominated Billman for the award.
One of Thompson’s favorite school-wide projects is Pinwheels for Peace, which Billman coordinates each fall. As part of an international art and literacy project, Billman encourages all LRE students to create a pinwheel and write their wish for peace on it. On International Peace Day, the pinwheels are “planted” in front of LRE (and around the world) for a captivating art display that moves with the breeze.
This year, Peace Day was even more special because it was the day Billman was notified that she had won the Art Educator of the Year award.
Billman’s enthusiasm and upbeat attitude make art class fun, says second-grader Maya Cottun. “Mrs. Billman is funny, and she gives us fun projects to do,” Cottun said, noting her favorite, a clay sculpture of a mammoth.
Billman also runs the school’s art and theatre clubs. She’s been in more than 30 stage productions herself, having started in first grade. Billman had 85 students audition for theatre club last spring and had to draw names to limit the size to 40.
Billman — who lives in Fortville with her husband, Eric, and daughter, Kaya — brings her students’ artwork to the community through displays at the Fishers Town Hall, the Indiana Statehouse and the Fishers Renaissance Faire. And each year, she encourages local veterans to attend LRE’s renowned Veteran’s Day program. Billman works with LRE’s music teacher to create a moving slide show of student artwork that is set to music.
“There is never a dry eye in the house at the conclusion of the program,” says Fetters Thompson.
Billman’s passion comes out in every project she undertakes. The daughter of two teachers, Billman says its “in the blood.” Her grandmother was also an art teacher in the Hamilton Southeastern School system!
Billman most enjoys drawing and painting. Her art hero is Georgia O’Keeffe, who not only is a famed painter but was quite an adventurer as well.
“She went white water rafting when she was over 90,” Billman marvels. “She was never afraid to try new things.”
Billman has second-graders imitate O’Keeffe’s style to create their own 18×24-inch paintings each year. To inspire them, Billman shows a film featuring O’Keeffe before her death where she says, “I often think I could’ve been a better painter.”
Whether those words stir her students or not, Billman is inspired every time she hears them. She’s constantly aspiring to be better — although some would say she’s already the best art teacher around.
For fostering the arts in our local children, we name Carrie Billman the December atGeist Teacher of the Month. She will receive a gift certificate compliments of Lincoln Square Pancake House in Geist. Congratulations, Mrs. Billman!
