Vicky Miley Selected Southeastern Regional Art Educator of the Year

Mississippi College graduate Vicky Miley is the Southeastern Region Art Educator of the Year in 2018. MC Art Department Chair Randy Miley and his wife, Vicky, are joined by MC art education professor Stephanie Busbea, on the Clinton campus.The Mileys live in Terry.

A treasure as an art educator for four decades, Vicky Miley continues to receive prestigious awards for her service to the profession.

In late March, the Mississippi College graduate was selected the Southeastern Region Art Educator of the Year. The honor comes from the National Art Education Association.

The tribute came at a conference drawing thousands of art educators across the nation to Seattle, Washington.

“The award is well-deserved and recognizes Vicky’s dedication and service to art education for the past 40 years,” says Stephanie Busbea, president of the Mississippi Art Education Association.

An MC art education professor, Busbea joined Miley for the ceremonies. So did her husband, MC Art Department Chair Randy Miley. The Mileys live in Terry.

Twice named a National Board Teacher, Vicky Miley has accumulated many awards during her career. She retired as a Pearl High School art educator in the Spring of 2017.

Her talents as an outstanding teacher and leader bring her recognition. But John Craven, assistant principal at Pearl High, noted she is also greatly admired for her gifts of integrity, character and work ethic.

Vicky co-sponsored national art programs at Pearl High for 18 years. She launched Operation Air Lift to bring supplies to Mississippi art teachers with schools slammed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Vicky earned her associate’s degree in art from Hinds Community College in 1975, and a bachelor’s in fine arts at the University of Southern Mississippi. She received her master’s of education in art from Mississippi College in 1982.

Vicky Miley has taught at the college level, and instructed students from pre-school through high school. She’s taught classes in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. During her career, she’s mentored 26 student teachers at local colleges in each state. In addition, Vicky helped plan numerous statewide conferences for art educators in the Magnolia State.

Craven is proud of Vicky Miley. “We salute her true spirit of leadership in art education.”

Her latest award speaks to a skillful professional who strives for excellence. Said National Art Education Association President Kim Huyler Defibaugh: “Vicky Miley exemplifies the highly qualified art educators active in education today: leaders, teachers, students, scholars and advocates. They give the best to their students and the profession.”