ADAMS COUNTY, Wisc. (WAOW) – A Wisconsin teacher’s love for art and inspiring students has earned her national recognition.
For Leah Keller, art isn’t just something she teaches. It’s how she sees the world.
“It’s just a way of life. Everything becomes art to me,” says Keller.
Keller began teaching art in 1993. After stepping away to raise her children, she returned to the classroom, doing what she loves most.
And her passion follows her everywhere.
“My husband will joke with people that we’ll be driving along and I’ll see a crummy old window on the side of the road or a rock or a piece of wood and I’ll scream at him to pull over. And he’s like, this is gonna be art isn’t it. And it just is,” says Keller.
That love for creativity has now earned Keller national recognition by the National Arts Education Association (NAEA), an honor she says belongs to many.
“It’s an award for all the people who helped along the way. I feel like it’s an award for my high school art teacher and my cooperating teacher in college,” says Keller.
For Keller, the award is also a win for her school and community.
“It’s nice for a district that is a lower social-economic status to show that hey we got great educators too,” says Keller.
With the award, Keller hopes it encourages her students to dream big and believe in themselves.
“That maybe if they have a passion for art that they can go further than they ever thought they would go also,” says Keller.
And with her teachings, her students are already doing just that.
“My snowy angle that went to state,” says Harper, 3rd Grade Adams-Friendship Elementary Student.
“My loon that went to state,” says Alice, 3rd Grade Adams-Friendship Elementary Student.
“My wizard of oz castle that went to state,” says Logan, 4th grade Adams-Friendship Elementary student.
To her students, Keller is more than just a teacher.
“Fun, kind, amazing,” says Adams-Friendship Elementary students.
When they found out about her award, the reaction was simple yet heartwarming.
“Congratulations!” says Adams-Friendship Elementary Students.
Leah Keller will receive her awards as the 2026 National Elementary Art Educator of the Year, 2026 Western Region Elementary Art Educator of the Year, and the 2026 Western Region Art Educator of the Year at the NAEA Convention happening in Chicago coming this March.
