Free State High School art teacher Carolyn Berry gives advice to senior Cody Fotovich, a student in both her portfolio and drawing studio classes, on Monday at the school. Berry was recently recognized as the Kansas 2007-08 Outstanding High School Art Educator of the Year.

For Free State High School art teacher Carolyn Berry, her job is more than just teaching drawing, painting and graphic design.

“The main thing is getting kids to be able to have choices about what they want to do, where they want to go to school,” said Berry, who is in her 14th year in Lawrence schools.

She went from Lawrence High to Free State when it opened in 1997.

Berry pushes her students to put together the best portfolios when applying for colleges. Her care for her students’ future is why Berry is the Outstanding High School Art Educator for this school year, an honor the Kansas Art Education Association announced last week.

Berry was nominated for the award by colleague Laurie McLane-Higginson.

One student who has had Berry for several classes said she attends conferences during the summer and brings back new teaching techniques each fall.

“When she learns, we get to learn. And she’s just amazing,” senior Ellen Howat said.

The KAEA is a statewide professional organization. Berry said she will accept the award during an October conference in Great Bend.

Michal Austin, who announced the award for the KAEA, said Berry also helps her students earn scholarship money and admission to colleges because their portfolios receive state and national recognition.

In an earlier career, Berry was a college recruiter. She said she often looked at students from Lawrence because it is home to a wealth of artistic talent that the school district’s curriculum supports.

But she couldn’t stay away from being involved in directly helping students. She also taught in Great Bend, Winfield and Topeka before coming to Lawrence.

“I hope that I’m making an impact on kids’ lives. That’s why I like teaching,” Berry said.