Art and Media Arts Program teacher Joel Tarbox received the Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union Arts Leadership Award at the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s (SCCOE) annual Teacher Recognition ceremony on Oct. 21.
Nominated by Public Information and Engagement officer Tanya De La Cruz on behalf of the district office and selected by the SCCOE, Tarbox was honored for his efforts to foster an engaging classroom environment, where students are encouraged to explore individuality and creativity.
“I love my work and I love what I do, but I don’t see it as award-winning, so it was a great surprise,” Tarbox said.
In his 10 years here, Tarbox has taught a wide range of classes: SHSTV, Art 1-4H, AP Drawing, AP 2D Design, Media Arts 2, Senior Media Art and AP Art History.
Tarbox said he was inspired to pursue art after taking a painting class at Bowdoin College in Maine. He was originally an English major and planned to become a lawyer. He instead graduated with a BA in Studio Art and went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Northwestern University.
“I’d always loved art and had a thing for it, and the sort of joy and fulfillment I felt in that class just really switched something on — and I became an art major,” Tarbox said. “After learning that I could draw, I wanted to help other people discover it too.”
Whether it’s dealing with digital media created with a program like Adobe Illustrator or traditional art with a medium like oil paint, Tarbox finds his favorite part of teaching to be the one-on-one interactions he has with his students. In this time, he helps them meet and surpass their potential in their works.
Senior Anushka Tadikonda, who took AP Drawing last year, noted Tarbox’s attention to detail as an instructor.
“He really is able to connect with the students and allow their creativity to rain free,” Tadikonda said. “Art is about not putting you in a box and using creative freedom and liberty. Tarbox allows you to do that while also identifying your strengths, pulling them out and adding his own insights on what you can expand.”
