Klamath Falls, Oregon – A successful art class is not always measured by how well students can draw or paint. Sometimes, the biggest achievement is helping a young person discover a creative side they never knew existed.
At Mazama High School, that approach has earned art teacher Hannah Morris statewide recognition, highlighting her ability to inspire students with different interests, abilities and artistic goals.
Morris received the New Professional Art Educator of the Year Award from the Oregon Art Education Association during the 2026 Oregon Arts Education Conference in Portland on October 9. The honor recognizes her creativity, dedication and contributions to art education during the early years of her teaching career.
The recognition continued closer to home, with Morris scheduled to be honored at the Klamath County School District Board of Directors meeting on October 15. Several students were also expected to attend and share their artwork.
Now in her third year at Mazama, Morris has developed a classroom environment where students can experiment, learn at their own pace and express themselves without feeling pressured to follow a single artistic style.
Mazama Athletic Director Ian O’Brien praised her ability to connect with students who might initially have little interest in art.
“Anytime you can get a kid who doesn’t like something to like it, that shows you have the ability to reach each student,” O’Brien said.
Students describe Morris as someone who encourages independence while offering support when challenges arise.
Junior Aurelia Johnston, who has studied under Morris since freshman year, said her teacher creates a welcoming atmosphere.
“She’s just very accepting,” Johnston said. “And she fuels that fire of creativity.”
Outside regular classes, Morris offers open studio sessions most Tuesdays after school. These sessions allow students, including those not enrolled in her courses, to work on personal projects, participate in art club or complete assignments.
Her students have also helped organize school art displays and contributed to Mazama’s Day of the Dead celebration.
Before becoming a teacher, Morris spent approximately a decade working with galleries, exhibitions and art curation. She studied at Southern Oregon University and later pursued graduate education in Portland before completing her teaching degree at Eastern Oregon University.
Working with college artists eventually convinced her that mentoring students brought her greater satisfaction than her previous career.
Today, she also connects students with the broader Klamath Falls art community through the Underground Art collective.
For Morris, the ultimate achievement goes beyond producing talented artists. She wants students to carry creativity into whatever future they choose.
“Creative thinking is important everywhere, and art is important for all of us as a society,” Morris said.
