Pleasant Valley — Pleasant Valley Primary School was ranked fifth in Washington for the 2010-11 school year for outstanding leadership in arts education by Artsonia, an international online art museum. Barbara Holterman, the school’s art teacher, received the award for going “beyond the classroom walls to encourage family and community involvement in arts education,” Artsonia said in an announcement. Artsonia describes itself as the “world’s largest online kids’ art museum.” Holterman says she’s seen improvement in the craftsmanship by her students as they take greater pride in knowing their work will be published online. Artsonia also gives the students an electronic portfolio that will be continually updated. More than 1,500 pieces of student artwork have been published since January 2011. Rankings are based on the number of works posted, online comments, artists’ statements and fan clubs. Pleasant Valley students’ artwork is online at http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=77963.
