Congratulations go to Thomas Knab, an elementary school art techer who has been inducted into the 2020 National Teachers Hall of Fame. (Photo credit: NTHF)
I always enjoy sharing stories about talented classroom teachers who have been recognized for their outstanding work int the classroom. One of these is Thomas Knab, an elementary school art teacher who has just been inducted into the 2020 National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF).
Thomas teaches at Dodge Elementary School, part of the Williamsville Central School District in East Amherst, New York. His career as an educator has spanned 31 years. As a young man, Thomas planned to become a graphic designer, but through coaching volleyball and teaching Sunday school, he became interested in a career as a teacher.
Thomas works to encourage the creativity and spirit of his elementary students through the arts. “I try to make it very diverse in the type of things we do in the art room so the students hopefully can discover something they’re successful at,” Thomas confesses. To this end, he created an art gallery inside the school to display the students’ art pieces. “I hope that [students] can see themselves, even in a small way as an artist,” Thomas says. “Whether it’s as a career, or even as a hobby, how it can add to your life.”
In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Thomas has spent decades as the Williamsville South boys volleyball coach. He has also served as a leader and advocate for the importance of art education in regional and national organizations. He’s currently the president of the National Art Education Association.
Thom’s inducttion into the NTHF is not the only recognition the superlative teacher has earned. In 2019, he earned the Lowell Milken Center Fellowship Award, an honor given to educators who have distinguished themselves in teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. In 2018, he garnered the Eastern Region Elementary Art Education Award from the National Education Association. The same year, he was honored as the National Art Educator of the Year award from the National Art Educators Association.
