His Story
Thom Knab began teaching religion classes in his teens and started coaching at age eighteen, which showed him how much he loved working with young people. He was originally a graphic design major, and when he had his “a-ha” moment he moved his studio credits into art education at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has taught art at Dodge Elementary School in the Williamsville Central School District since 1990, and he has coached varsity volleyball in the district for thirty-six years. He has also mentored more than forty student teachers.
A definition of “art” greets students in twelve-inch letters as they enter his room: “Visual Expression; Creative work showing Message, Meaning, or Mood.” The opposite wall has a floor-to-ceiling bulletin board with the learning goals, vocabulary and rubrics for each lesson. He avoids “cookie-cutter” art, which he says is nothing more than following directions. He creates artwork alongside his students using the same materials, and he has had three solo shows at a local gallery. Over the years he has slowed the pace of his lessons to focus on the learning that comes with making art, and he builds student independence and collaboration through shared tools and peer feedback.
Knab also leads after-school art clubs that have painted murals throughout Dodge Elementary, each planned to teach an academic idea or character trait. He created the Brick Room Art Gallery, which he calls BRAG, in a 1,000-square-foot pass-through space in the school. In 2014 he organized the Roadrunner Art Walk, which displayed more than eighty student works in about fifteen businesses along the town’s main street. His students have also exchanged self-portraits with a class in Nebraska.
Beyond the Classroom
Knab was the 2019 president of the National Art Education Association, and in 2018 he was named its Eastern Region Elementary Art Educator and the New York State Art Teachers Association Art Educator of the Year. He is a 2019 Lowell Milken Center Fellow and was NYSATA’s president from 2013 to 2015. He has received the NYSATA Ray Henry Award (2012), was named NYSATA Region One Art Educator in 2009, and has been president and vice president of the Williamsville Teachers Association. In 2013 he was inducted into the Western New York Boys Volleyball Hall of Fame.
He has presented at state conferences for many years, spoken to school administrators about how to observe and evaluate art teachers, and presented at national conventions. He was chair of the host committee for the NAEA convention in New York City in 2017 and has given keynote speeches, including one in Beijing, China. His superintendent says he leads professional development for the district’s teachers, and a colleague credits his guidance with updating the district’s art standards to match the New York State standards. He has also written articles for School Arts, NAEA News and NYSATA News.
Philosophy Into Practice
New York State does not assess visual arts at the elementary level, so Knab attended the 2005 NAEA convention to study assessment and built his own four-attribute model, ACES: Artisanship, Creative process, Expression and Structure. He generates a four-point rubric for every attribute of each artwork, and the model was published in School Arts magazine in 2013. Third and fourth graders photograph and upload their own work to Artsonia and write artist statements, which he uses to see what needs reteaching. He also uses the state math assessment to find skills and vocabulary that art lessons can reinforce.
He sees too many people treating the arts as frills that are easily cut from budgets. He answers that with the school gallery, the community art walk, flyers sent home each September for Arts in Education Week, and yearly trips to Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. He also believes the visual arts should reflect the students they teach. As NAEA president, he has led its work on equity, diversity and inclusion in the profession.
“I believe successful teaching comes in the ability to provide vision and successful learning comes in the ability to provide inspiration.”Thom Knab
In His Own Words
“I believe all students must achieve.”Thom Knab
“I believe the teacher is only one path through which knowledge flows.”Thom Knab
“Foremost, enjoy what you do! Build a relationship with each child.”Thom Knab
What Others Said
“Thom Knab is an inspiring educator who truly cares for his students and fellow educators.”Lora Marie Durr, nominator, colleague
“Thom has gone above and beyond, demonstrating unwavering devotion and commitment to education of both students and colleagues in a way that far exceeds the norm.”Beth L. Aschbacher, colleague
“Thom really delivers when it comes to teaching children.”Scott G. Martzloff, Ed.D., superintendent, Williamsville Central Schools
“I firmly believe that Mr. Knab is the best Art educator that I have been able to work with in my 19 years of education.”Charles A. Smilinich, principal, Dodge Elementary School
“Thom is the ultimate example of leadership and service.”Kathy Zwierzchowski, speech-language pathologist, Dodge Elementary