Barth Quenzer

Teacher

Year Honored: 2012

Brown International Academy
Denver, CO

At the time of the Award, Barth Quenzer was:

Teacher
Brown International Academy
Denver, CO

Subject(s) taught: Art
Grade(s): K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Biographical Information

The fine art of pedagogy—not to mention a spate of other arts-related subjects—is on display in Barth Quenzer’s classroom at Denver’s Brown International Academy. Under his able guidance, Quenzer’s young masters develop a professionalism and maturity that belie their years. (Plus, they think it’s awesome that a mural their teacher created was turned into a PBS documentary and that a beetle piece he crafted with recycled materials is on display at the Denver airport!)

Their imagination always at play, his students reflect, interpret and communicate their thinking and learning through written artist statements and oral critiques. Quenzer uses formative assessments to track progress and formulate thematic, in-depth study units. His fifth-graders create an exhibition and art project that dovetail with their research. A powerful role model, Quenzer works on a city-sponsored graffiti-prevention program and teaches the entire community about art via public murals. To wit, his campus has recorded a 90-percent reduction in graffiti vandalism.

Described as "an ambassador for art in the school, the district and across the state," Quenzer is a member of the Denver Public Schools Visual Art Research Assessment Team and the Colorado Department of Education Content Collaborative charged with penning high-quality arts assessments aligned to Colorado's new academic standards. "An artist who thinks like a scientist," Quenzer is designing the assessment tool for all art teachers in Denver Public Schools and was selected as the 2012 Elementary Visual Arts Teacher of the Year.

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