Zuege named Secondary Art Teacher of the Year

Chelsea Zuege has been selected as the 2023 Secondary Art Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Art Teachers Association.

The Secondary Art Teacher of the Year recognition is bestowed upon members of the NATA and National Art Education Association who spend at least .51 full-time equivalent teaching art to high school students and who have made additional outstanding contributions in art education beyond the classroom at the school, district, community, state and or national levels.

Zuege is a high school art teacher at Chase County Schools in Imperial. She is also an adjunct and dual credit instructor for Mid-Plains Community College.

“I have enjoyed teaching art to kids and people of all ages in the Imperial community,” Zuege said. “I have been blessed to work with incredible administrators, colleagues and students - many of whom I call my friends and family now.”

Zuege will be honored in front of her peers during the 2023 NATA Fall Conference awards ceremony Oct. 13 in Lincoln. Carissa Hill, a former art student of Zuege’s, nominated her for the award and will present it to her.

Zuege is a native of Imperial. She graduated from Chase County High School in 1993 then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a Field Endorsement in Art (Grades PK-12) from Chadron State College and a Master of Arts degree in Art Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.