School officials have nominated a Lawrence High School art teacher to represent the district in a statewide competition.

Deena Amont received this year’s Lawrence public schools’ Horizon Award and nomination for state recognition. The Kansas State Department of Education established the Horizon Award program to recognize exemplary novice teachers.

“I’m overwhelmed. It’s a wonderful honor,” Amont said Monday.

The nomination came as a surprise to Amont. Supt. Randy Weseman and LHS principal Steve Nilhas made the announcement Monday while she was teaching her industrial design class.

“Others have shared with me that they admire most the way you interact with students,” Weseman said to Amont. “You manage to connect with your students one-on-one. You get them to think about their art and analyze their own work. You listen to your students, and help them problem-solve for themselves.”

Amont is in her second year of teaching at LHS. She received a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College and became certified to teach in December 2002 through Kansas University. Amont also teaches ceramics and jewelry-making classes at LHS.

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