Max Clark-Vail Honored with Administrator Art Educator of the Year award by Art Educators of Minnesota

Max Clark-Vail

November 1, 2022

Max Clark-Vail, Perpich Center’s Regional Centers Director, was honored with the 2022 Administrator Art Educator of the Year award by Art Educators of Minnesota (AEM). The award was presented at the AEM Fall Conference, “Collaborate”, in partnership with the Wisconsin Art Education Association, on October 21, 2022.

“It is an honor to be selected by Art Educators of Minnesota for their Art Administrator of the Year award,” said Clark-Vail. “In my administrative work, teaching art education courses, and teaching high school art, my greatest joy has come from being able to support others as they find, hone, and explore their passions and interests. The creativity and thoughtfulness of art teachers across Minnesota is a beautiful thing to witness. I am grateful for the opportunities Perpich Center for Arts Education has afforded me to support those educators. In education, it is easy to focus on improvement without taking time to validate and celebrate our current and past successes. I sincerely appreciate AEM’s work to honor educators, and I find myself humbled to receive this award.”

Dr. Wendy Barden, Perpich Center’s Director of Professional Development and Resources, was thrilled for her colleague. “I am excited for Max that his support for art educators and art education is recognized outside of Perpich Center,” said Barden. “He is a thoughtful listener, sensitive to individual teachers’ needs, and forward-thinking, be it in professional development or the use of data. Max is a strong advocate for all arts educators and the meaningful opportunities they provide for every student.”

Jessica Jones, AEM President, said, “The outstanding work and achievement he has accomplished within his professional career demonstrates what we look for in a qualifying art educator.”

Max Clark-Vail joined the Professional Development and Resource Programs team at Perpich Center for Arts Education in 2018 as the Regional Centers Director. His background includes serving as a high school administrator, school board chair, art education instructor, and visual & media arts teacher. Max has also served as a member of the Creative MN team.

The mission of Art Educators of Minnesota is to promote and advocate quality art education for all learners by providing professional growth opportunities for all Minnesota Visual and Media Arts Educators to learn, collaborate, advocate, and acknowledge excellence in the profession.