Woman named Alabama Retired Art Teacher of the Year

MUSCLE SHOALS - Accolades and awards have always seemed to come Jean Schulman's way.

Schulman has been recognized for starting the arts program at Muscle Shoals High School in 1964. She took the program to an award-winning level, where it remains today. And she's been noted around the country for her personal batik artwork involving fabrics dyed from the colored clays of Alabama.

She has now added the honor of being named Alabama Retired Art Teacher of the Year.

During a ceremony in Birmingham, Schulman was honored by her peers across the state for her contribution to art education during her time in the classroom and after retirement.

Schulman retired from teaching in 1986.

"I was honored to receive this award," she said. "I was nominated by my peers for the award and I was told they really look at your level of involvement after retirement in deciding the recipient."

Schulman's involvement in the arts goes beyond regular attendance at workshops where she learns new techniques. Area teachers benefit from her newfound knowledge and she also brings back lesson plans and new supplies for schools.

Since her retirement 21 years ago, Schulman has routinely attended annual state and national conferences.

After winning the state award, she was honored again by the Muscle Shoals Education Foundation. At its November luncheon, she received a new award - the Shining Star - in recognition of her continuous dedication to the arts and Muscle Shoals schools.

"I've always gone to the (education foundation) luncheons, but this really caught me off guard," she said. "I was very touched."

Debbie Bradford, director of the Muscle Shoals Education Foundation, said Schulman was the right choice for the award.

"She had an amazing career and continues to help kids in her retirement," Bradford said. "She is truly an art educator and worthy of these awards."

As a member of the National Art Education Association for 43 years, Schulman said she enjoys attending the conferences because it's important to always continue to learn.

"I may be retired now but I still want the students to benefit from all the new information that's out there," she said.

"I'm so proud of the Muscle Shoals art program. Ronnie Riner, the art teacher now, was my student in the early years of the program and took over when I retired. He's an amazing teacher who loves what he does."

Schulman said she maintains the same philosophy she had while she was teaching: "You don't teach art to make someone into an artist. You give them the tools and they take what they've learned and use what they can for their own work, whatever that may be."

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@timesdaily.com.