Ohio teacher of year turns art into bond for learning
YOUR SCHOOLS
Jonathan Juravich wears plaid to work every day. For almost seven years, in fact.
“Mr. J” does it, he says, because the kids in his art classes expect it. They will wear plaid on art days to match him. He doesn’t want to disappoint them.
“I just have made it a point, because that is one connection I have with my students that’s goofy, but it’s one small thing I can do to show them that we are connected,” said Juravich, an art teacher at Olentangy Local Schools’ Liberty Tree Elementary School in Powell.
This determination to forge a bond with his students is one reason Juravich was named 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Department of Education. State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria showed up at Liberty Tree on Friday afternoon with a big surprise for Mr. J’s students and colleagues. The only people who knew what was coming over the past few weeks were Principal Terri Caton, Juravich and the office staff.
Juravich said he’s now learning that this is more than a pat on the back. Being Ohio Teacher of the Year is kind of like being Miss America — something of a job for 12 months.
“I’ll represent the teachers of the state of Ohio, which I’m proud and honored and crazily humbled,” he said. He’ll make appearances at events, conferences and “things I don’t even know yet,” he said.
Caton nominated Juravich because “it’s a joy to be in his classroom,” she said.
“I’ve watched him do this lesson and engage them in some great art and talk about how they can bring it into their own life,” Caton said. “He takes time to speak with them and ask them questions about what they’re doing and to challenge them.
“All of that is done with great respect, great humor,” she said. “Humor is a big part of who he is, but it’s not done with sarcasm. ... He represents everything I want kids to experience.”
Juravich is in his 13th year teaching. The first two, he traveled among four Olentangy schools doing “art on a cart.” He was hired at Liberty Tree Elementary School when it was built in 2007.
He makes the children’s art accessible to the community by hanging it in in public places, like the Starbucks in Powell.
After school, Juravich coaches track and cross country at Hyatts Middle School, attached to Liberty Tree. He is also an adjunct instructor at Otterbein University.
Who was his favorite teacher? He said he “could talk forever” about people he’s learned from and worked with. But he chose his thirdgrade teacher, Grace Alouise.
“She taught me about different learning styles, all the way back when I had her in third and fourth grade, that there wasn’t one road to learning,” Juravich said. “So we could talk project-based learning, instead of just reading through books.”
He said she also recognized in him an ability in art back then.
“It’s an amazing thing to be able to share the world with your students,” Juravich said. “You have to have enthusiasm for what you’re teaching, but then also for each individual student that’s in that room.”