Lowell Milken Center Fellow
FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2022 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Libya Doman, a middle school art teacher at Cooper Middle School in McLean, Virginia. Libya is also a cultural responsiveness facilitator. Libya arrived in Fort Scott on June 19th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff.
The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Libya Doman, who taught visual art in Fairfax County Public Schools elementary schools for 17 years prior to moving to middle school, was named National Art Educators Associations’ 2021 Southeastern Elementary Art Educator of the Year as well as Virginia Art Educator Associations’ 2020 Art Educator of the year and Elementary Art Educator of the year. As an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and access, Libya uses art and conversation as “mirrors and windows” to seeing ourselves and others. She empowers students to explore their personal identities and their relationships with the world to make relevant and meaningful art.
Libya founded Disrupting Norms after serving as an induction coach, curriculum writer, and model teacher in her school system, as well as an adjunct professor at George Mason University. As a facilitator for schools, universities, museums, associations, and other organizations, Libya designs and delivers curriculums, workshops, and keynotes to help educators grapple with topics that are often deemed “taboo,” such as race and gender.
Libya is a printmaker who creates etchings, woodcuts, and linocuts. Beyond the field of education, Libya serves as juror for art exhibits and film festivals. Libya is rooting for all of us to disrupt norms that serve as barriers to our collective growth.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Libya is a talented educator who uses her area of expertise to help students become the best they can be. With her amazing expertise in art education, Libya will be an important contributor to our 2022 LMC Fellowship and to the Center’s ArtEffect program for students.”
While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning through the creation of projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world
throughout history.