Two Massapequa art teachers are being honored for their outstanding contributions to art education. Patti Krakoff, who teaches at East Lake Elementary School, will be presented with the Claire Flannigan Award from the Council for Art Education, and Marissa Sondo, from Unqua Elementary School, will receive the Art Educator of the Year Award for Region 9 from the New York State Art Teachers Association.
Ms. Krakoff’s award is the highest distinction given for contributions to Youth Art Month, a nationally recognized celebration of quality art education every March. CFEA recognizes state Youth Art Month programs, which highlight the importance of the arts through initiatives such as student exhibits, the National Flag program, advocacy efforts and community involvement. Ms. Krakoff has served as co-chair for New York State for four years and is a past Award of Excellence winner.
“Art education is my passion, and I love sharing that passion and excitement with students every chance I get,” Ms. Krakoff said. “To be acknowledged at the national level is both humbling and exhilarating. I am especially grateful to the art educators of New York State, whose collaboration and support made this honor possible.”
Ms. Sondo is Nassau County’s recipient for Art Educator of the Year, with an honoree selected from each of NYSATA’s 10 regions. This year, she is serving as corresponding secretary for Region 9, managing the social media accounts. As she has become more involved in the professional organization over the past few years, Ms. Sondo said she has made connections that have been extremely valuable for an art educator. She has attended numerous conferences and even led workshops at NYSATA’s Long Island symposium.
“They create so many opportunities to be surrounded by other educators and creatives,” she said. “It’s nice to have these events where you’re surrounded by other people in the same field.”
An art teacher for 27 years in Massapequa, Ms. Krakoff has been at East Lake for 25 years. She serves as the elementary department assistant for art, a sponsoring teacher for the National Art Honor Society at Massapequa High School, and a cooperating teacher for pre-service art educators. Ms. Krakoff holds a bachelor’s degree in art education from Kutztown University, a master’s degree in special education and elementary education from Touro College, and certifications in educational leadership and educational technology from Stony Brook University. Additionally, she has participated in Project Zero Classroom through Harvard University and incorporated the eight dispositions of Studio Habits of Mind into her classroom.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that the art room should provide experiences that students cannot easily replicate at home. Ms. Krakoff strives to give students challenging but attainable projects that create excitement and authenticity to learning, while allowing them to explore different artistic techniques and use a vast array of art supplies.
“Art education, for me, is about cultivating a space where every student feels supported, valued and empowered to grow,” Ms. Krakoff said. “When students know they are accepted for who they are and where they are on their journey, they gain the confidence to embrace their individuality and discover their unique voice.”
Ms. Sondo recently began her 16th year in the district and has also taught at Birch Lane, East Lake, Fairfield and McKenna elementary schools and Berner Middle School over the years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in education from Loyola College of Maryland and a master’s degree in visual arts from LIU Post.
Some popular projects in her art classroom include cityscapes inspired by James Rizzi in third grade, optical illusion art in fourth grade, and glow-in-the-dark Day of the Dead paintings in fifth grade. Most important, she said, is infusing art vocabulary into all projects, as well as making modern connections through studies of current working artists.
“Students still need to learn the rules of art and the techniques of art,” she said, “but the outcome isn’t the most important thing. There’s so much to learn in the process.”
Ms. Krakoff will be presented with her award in March 2026 at the National Art Education Association conference in Chicago. Ms. Sondo will join nine other regional award winners at the NYSATA conference in Binghamton this November and, while there, will present a workshop on mindfulness in art.