Dr. Sasha Vukelja

From Staff Reports

Six East Texas educators are being recognized for their influence and work in arts in education through Young Audiences of Northeast Texas.

Since 1997, the Young Audiences’ Arts in Education Awards event has honored the true heroes of the arts, fine arts educators themselves with an honoree reception followed by dinner and awards. Over 40 exceptional Fine Arts Teachers have been honored over the last 14 years, from Rising Star recipients to lifelong educators.

Tyler-area educators were named among this year’s recipients and will be formally honored at an April banquet in Tyler.

Meet the honorees

ICON Award

Dr. Sasha Vukelja, also known as ‘Dr. V’, of Tyler will be presented with the ICON Award, which is given to a community member whose extraordinary contributions transcend traditional boundaries, impacting both the education and the broader community through artistic endeavors.

After escaping war-torn Yugoslavia at age 11, Vukelja pursued her dream of becoming a physician, dedicating her life to healing and the arts. A renowned oncologist, she transformed chemotherapy spaces into the “Chemo Gallery,” filling them with music and her mother’s artwork to inspire patients.

Now “rewired, not retired,” Dr. V brings medical care to Tyler’s homeless population and has helped create murals under the Gentry Parkway bridge as a message of love and dignity. As a published author, her books “A Life Lived in Color” and “Seeds, A Memoir” capture her journey and passion for art as healing.

Spending her time as a sculptor and arts advocate, she donates her works to global causes and volunteers at Caldwell Arts Academy. Through medicine and art, Dr. V embodies her mantra: ‘Live. Live! Don’t just exist.’

Kay Arms Lifetime Achievement Award

Franklin Kimlicko of Tyler Junior College (TJC) will be presented with the Kay Arms Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an educator who has dedicated his or her life to arts education.

Kimlicko, born in The Bronx to Czechoslovakian immigrants, discovered his passion for music early. While in high school, he worked as a doorman at the Roxy Theater, meeting stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. He toured nationally with the Ernie Rudy Dance Band before earning degrees from North Texas State University and SMU, studying under Pepe Romero. A renowned guitarist, Kimlicko performed with the One O’Clock Lab Band at the White House and played with the Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and Dallas Summer Musicals.

Since 1972, he has been a music professor at TJC, shaping generations of musicians. An award-winning educator and composer, his works continue to inspire East Texas and beyond.

Rising Star Award

Jessica Parsons of Crockett Elementary in Marshall will be presented with the Rising Star Award, which recognizes an arts educator demonstrating excellence in his or her first 3 years of teaching.

Parsons is a first-generation college graduate and the first teacher in her family, graduating with honors from Kilgore College during the Summer of 2019 she then earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Tyler, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2023.

Prior to her current position teaching visual arts to elementary students in Marshall ISD, she completed her student teaching at Whitehouse ISD and Kilgore ISD. Parsons is passionate about helping students discover their own artistic voice and believes everyone is an artist. She reaffirms this by helping students make connections between art and other subjects through an environment where learning and creativity go hand in hand.

Arts Teaching Excellence Elementary

Laura Hogan of Brown Elementary in Whitehouse will be presented with the Arts Teaching Excellence Elementary, which is awarded to an elementary arts teacher who has gone above and beyond in their field.

Hogan guides nearly 600 students between Pre-K and 5th grade through art at Whitehouse ISD’s Brown Elementary School. Aside from teaching, she also serves as the lead teacher of her campus’ Specials team, as well as sits on the district D.E.I.C. committee and interview team.

She is a five-time grant recipient, holds a TEA distinction of being a Designated Exemplary Teacher, and has been a guest lecturer at various teacher workshops. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Education, graduating Magna Cum Laude and holding various certifications. She believes that art is not just a subject area, but ‘a gift we give our students every day.’

Arts Teaching Excellence Middle

Shannon Rios of Tenaha Middle School will be presented with the Arts Teaching Excellence Middle, which is awarded to a middle school arts teacher who has gone above and beyond in their field.

She is currently the Middle School Director at Tenaha ISD, where she also assists with the High School Concert and Marching Bands. Under her direction, the middle school has received 7 UIL Sweepstakes Awards. The middle school band was named a State Winner in the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series Competition for class 1C in 2019 and 2022. The Middle School band was also a 2024 semi-finalist for TMEA 1C State Honor Band. Rios is in her 16th year teaching and 9th year at Tenaha ISD.

Originally from Shawnee, Okla., she received her undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Arlington in Music Education, and her master’s in educational leadership and administration from Lamar University.

Arts Teaching Excellence High School

Elizabeth Lade of Frankston High School will be presented with the Arts Teaching Excellence High School, which recognizes a high school arts teacher who has gone above and beyond in their field.

She is currently the fine arts teacher at Frankston High School. Lade earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2001. Her career in art began at the Tyler Museum of Art, which ignited her passion for working with children and the arts. In 2002, she obtained her teaching certification from the University of Texas at Tyler and commenced her teaching career in 2003 as a middle school art teacher.

Over the past 22 years, her dedication to art and her commitment to sharing this passion with younger generations have defined her professional journey. As an art teacher, she feels that her mission is to nurture her students’ love for the arts and inspire them to remain creative throughout their lives.

About Young Audiences of Northeast Texas

Young Audiences of Northeast Texas uses the arts to enrich the lives of students and enhance their education. They work to connect qualified teaching artists with schools across the Region 7 ESC (Education Service Center) area to enhance learning, provide artistic access, and open pathways of creative and critical thinking.

The nonprofit organization offers performances, workshops, residencies, after school programs, and professional development. According to the organization, experiences are tailored to the school needs as they work to fill gaps in arts education through the academic landscape.

Upcoming banquet

Young Audiences of Northeast Texas will celebrate these art educators at the annual Arts in Education Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. April 8 at the Willow Brook Country Club, 3205 W. Erwin St. in Tyler.