POTLATCH, ID – Karen Rohn, the K-12 STEAM teacher for Potlatch School District, has been honored as the Idaho Art Education Association’s K-12 Art Educator of the Year.

Rohn is recognized for her ability to connect people and foster community involvement in the arts. According to the association, she regularly brings together students, families, and local residents through collaborative projects, shared art displays, and donations that support classroom creativity.

In her classroom, Rohn integrates STEAM skills and works with teachers across disciplines, incorporating science, history, and math into art education. Colleagues note that her approach allows students of all abilities to see themselves as artists and creators. As both a practicing artist and teacher, she shows her students that art is not just a subject in school but a meaningful way to explore identity, purpose, and connection.

Rohn will be formally recognized at the Idaho Art Education Association’s annual fall conference in Nampa.