An unnamed teacher told meeting attendees she was ‘‘truly honored’’ to receive an arts recognition and said the award reflected classroom work that centers student creativity and expression.

The teacher said the recognition was unexpected but welcomed: "I did not expected it at all. I feel I'm not doing anything different than any other teacher but I do pour my heart into my profession, into what I do. I love working with the students, seeing what they're able to create, I love being part of the journey of the process of the creation of their projects, of their creativity, facilitating, guiding them, inspiring, inspiring them, and motivating them. I think the champion of the arts mean, being a role model for the students, being an inspiration, being a motivation for the students, someone who guides them, someone who believes in them, being that person that that supports them in in this field of the art." The teacher referred repeatedly to students as the central focus of her work.

She described the classroom as a place for more than technical instruction: "This is not, teaching art, teaching drawing, or painting, it's communication, it's self expression, it's critical thinking, problem solving, and I just feel very happy that that my work is not going unnoticed, that that people recognize what we do in the class, that we get the support." The teacher specifically thanked ICOE and another organization referenced in the transcript, saying, "We've always gotten the support from ICOE, from our community, so I love that." Later she reiterated gratitude to the group that notified her of the recognition: "But I do thank ICUAE for this recognition for for for letting me know that the work the hard work is not going unnoticed."

The remarks in the record were expressions of appreciation and description of classroom goals; no formal action, vote or policy change was recorded alongside the comments.