Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools recognizes outstanding visual arts teachers. Congratulations to the 2026 honorees:
Elementary Visual Arts Educator of the Year: Ali Moriarty, Reams Road Elementary
Ali Moriarty has taught almost 20 years in Chesterfield County Public Schools, with a short break in the middle of that time. She started her career teaching middle school, where she opened a new school, created a curriculum and launched a mural art project program for advanced art students to learn about public art and create their own murals in the school. She served as department chair for the majority of her years at Tomahawk Creek and was a strong leader advocating both for teachers and students. After a few years teaching high school art in a different school district, Moriarty returned to teach art at Reams Road Elementary. She has instilled a love of art in her elementary students that is unmatched and excels in meeting her students where they are but still pushing them to exceed their own expectations. She always helps her students create art that reaches above and beyond their years in skill and creativity. Her knowledge of the arts — and her passion for artists — is an inspiration to her students and to those who work with her.
Middle School Visual Arts Educator of the Year: Ashley Klimek, Tomahawk Creek Middle
Ashley Klimek has taught middle and high school art in Chesterfield County Public Schools for 22 years. At Chester Middle, she taught art, computer art, darkroom and digital photography and was part of a five-year mural project along with a guest artist to commemorate 100 years of the Chester community. She taught darkroom photography and digital art at Thomas Dale High for two years and spent seven years teaching computer art at Manchester Middle. For the past eight years, she has taught art and computer art at Tomahawk Creek Middle, where she started the computer art program, launched an art club and serves as department chair. She holds a workshop each year for students applying to specialty centers for the arts. Her advanced art students spend a portion of the year learning about public art and creating a mural in the school hallways. Klimek has been passionate about art since childhood, when she was supported by wonderful art teachers. She loves being able to introduce art to students and support those talented artists in the way that she felt supported by her teachers.
High School Visual Arts Educator of the Year: Rachel Principe, Clover Hill High
Rachel Principe is recognized throughout her school through her dedication to providing the very best experience for each and every student she serves, as well as for her strong leadership skills and innovative ideas. Principe is an active member of the Virginia Art Education Association board and regularly presents workshops to colleagues across the state at professional development conferences. She has been instrumental in building a variety of community partnerships at Clover Hill High including visiting artists who give students real-world skills in art production. This summer, she will serve as the coordinator of the Visual Arts Academy, which will bring experiences in ceramics, photography, drawing, painting and mixed media to secondary students throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools.
New Visual Arts Educator of the Year: Sara Hollenbeck, Hening Elementary and Alberta Smith Elementary
In her first year of teaching art, Sara Hollenbeck has been a breath of fresh air for the Hening and Alberta Smith communities. She brings innovative ideas and is unafraid to take on a project or help in any way. She headed the Mini Art Museum project at both schools, working with students to make it a collaborative process and teaching not only art-making skills but also what it looks like to work together as a team. She participated in a schoolwide display for Arts Fest, making sure to include every student in the collective sculpture, which is quite a feat! She always challenges students to a higher rigor and standard. She expects the best, and the students rise to the occasion. She is a problem solver and is ready to change the plan as necessary to adjust to student needs or ever-changing schedules. Along with always investing in student-artists, she truly cares about her colleagues and works vigorously to make sure everyone is supported and cared for. Hollenbeck is such an asset to our classrooms, schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools. Despite being at multiple schools, she seeks out opportunities to establish herself in the communities she works with. She is committed to planning lessons that engage all students, and she remains prepared and flexible for anything that pops up.