STEVENSVILLE, MD— Queen Anne’s County Public Schools is proud to celebrate two outstanding visual art educators, Allison Dorsey of Kent Island Elementary and Andrea Schulte of Kent Island High School, who have been honored by the Maryland Art Education Association (MAEA) with district-level awards for their exceptional contributions to arts education.
Allison Dorsey has been named MAEA’s Career Elementary Art Educator of the Year for Queen Anne’s County. With 16 years of experience in the classroom, Dorsey is known for blending literature, student voice, and hands-on exploration—including introducing clay to her youngest PK–2 students. Her classroom radiates joy, intentionality, and creativity, all grounded in big ideas that build kindness and confidence. A two-time NAEA conference attendee and future national presenter, Dorsey is beloved for her mantra that echoes through every project: “I am an artist.” Her impact reaches far beyond the walls of her classroom, helping to shape a new generation of confident, curious, and compassionate young artists.
Andrea Schulte has been recognized as MAEA’s Advocate for Inclusivity Through Art Educator of the Year for Queen Anne’s County. A former QACPS Teacher of the Year and statewide presenter, Schulte is a powerful voice for inclusive education, championing access and empathy in the arts—long before developing a permanent hearing disability herself. From leading collaborative projects with students in the PACS program to achieving statewide recognition at Disabilities Day at the Legislature for three consecutive years, Schulte’s influence is far-reaching. Under her leadership, Kent Island High’s National Art Honor Society students have earned national recognition, and her unwavering belief in student voice and belonging has fostered a culture of inclusion through the arts.
“These two educators represent the very best of what arts education can be,” said Michael Bell, Supervisor of Fine Arts for QACPS. “Allison empowers young learners to see themselves as artists from day one. Andrea has built up Kent Island’s program with leadership rooted in empathy, advocacy, and excellence at the local, state and national level. Their work is transformational, not just for their students, but for our entire community.”
Both honorees will be formally recognized at the MAEA Summer Celebration on June 8 at Susquehanna State Park, and again during the MAEA Fall Conference at The Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, MD on October 18.
