After nearly three decades of inspiring creativity in the classroom, Hazen Union’s own James Lockhart has been named the Vermont Art Teacher of the Year by the Vermont Art Educators Association (VAEA) — an honor that recognizes his lasting impact on students, his deep passion for the arts, and his commitment to creative education across the state.

When Lockhart first heard the announcement during the VAEA Fall Conference on October 3, he was overcome with emotion.

“It was a total surprise. I still can’t believe it,” he said. “After Ms. Camber announced my name, my wife and family came walking around the corner. It was a very emotional moment.”

Lockhart has been teaching art at Hazen Union for 28 years, developing generations of students who think, see, and create differently. He has also taught private summer lessons and at the TW Wood Summer Art Camp in Montpelier for 20 years. For him, the heart of art education lies in balancing structure with freedom.

“Nothing hampers creativity like good directions,” Lockhart joked. “I like to leave individual choice within the assigned projects to foster creativity. If the directions are too specific, it leaves no room for individual creativity.”

Over the years, his approach has evolved to meet students where they are — both artistically and personally.

“I think I’m more relaxed than I used to be,” he reflected. “My choices of techniques, stories, and project possibilities have evolved to answer individual questions or to assist students with personal artistic goals.”

Lockhart’s classroom is a space where every student, even those who claim they’re “not artistic,” is encouraged to explore their creative potential.

“Everyone is artistic. It’s in there,” he said. “If you can write or draw the alphabet, you have the ability to draw as a master draftsperson. I can’t teach students how to draw — but I can teach them how to see differently.”

Beyond his work in the classroom, Lockhart is an accomplished artist in his own right. He’s created and exhibited works across multiple media — from wood carvings and bronze sculptures to drawings, paintings and paper mâché.

“Curiosity, exploration, experimentation, revision; it never ends,” he said of his own artistic journey.

Lockhart also credits his mentors for shaping his vision as both an artist and a teacher. Among them was the late Canadian sculptor Mark Prent, with whom he worked for nearly 30 years at Pink House Studios.

“The conversations with him, his wife Sue, and guest artists around his table — and the work we did together — were very influential on the way I now see art,” he said. He also points to his time in the MFA program at Johnson State College and the Vermont Studio Center with Professor Ken Leslie as pivotal in his artistic development.

For Lockhart, the importance of art education goes far beyond the classroom.

“Creativity and process,” he emphasized. “When a student has an idea they want to express, I can foster their creativity and help them succeed — which builds self-esteem. Art is a universal language that everyone can understand. Learning creative thinking, understanding process, and bringing a project to completion are powerful experiences — both locally and globally.”

From assisting with gallery settings for a movie set with Pierce Brosnan and Judd Nelson to helping create artwork for Yoko Ono, to filling the Echo Center with papier-mâché fish, Mr. Lockhart has done it all. As fellow Hazen art teacher Cindy Camber put it, “James has spent his life showing students that art is everywhere—on snow sculptures, in carvings, on school signs, in airports, and even in papier-mâché fish. James has drawn, carved, sculpted, and molded his way into Vermont’s art history, but more importantly, he has drawn, carved, sculpted, and molded generations of students who now see the world with more creativity, more possibility, and more courage.”

The Vermont Art Educators Association honors one educator each year for their outstanding contributions to art education in the state. For Lockhart, this recognition reflects the same dedication and passion he encourages in his students every day.

From nurturing creativity to fostering confidence, Lockhart’s legacy is one of inspiration — and now, with statewide recognition, the art world beyond Hazen is taking notice too.

View photos from the event.