Teacher of the Year

Jim Wells

Jim Wells calls himself a unicorn because he says there are very few male art teachers in elementary schools but, “I’m the person who enjoys creating artwork with children, and having it on display is a real thrill for them.” Wells has been a unicorn for quite some time, 33 years, and he loves teaching at Wilbur. “I like to create a stress-free space and environment where children can use their imagination and bounce ideas off of me like a coach,” he says. This isn’t the first time Wells has been nominated for Teacher of the Year, and he considers each time as an honor. He’s also honored to have been with Colonial’s Annual Art Show since it began 20 years ago. He loves the way each art teacher in the district collaborates to showcase student artwork. “It’s one of those success stories where nobody expected us to do anything terrific like this and continue it all this time!”