Tiffany Weser’s career path almost took a different direction.
“I was actually going to school to become a physical therapist and then changed my mind. I’ve loved art forever,” said Weser, who teaches at the Columbia Virtual Academy and was recently named the Georgia Art Education Association’s 2025 Art Educator of The Year.
At Augusta University most of her classes were arts-related, so it was only natural to pursue an art degree. After graduating, however, she still hadn’t decided on a job. A friend suggested substitute teaching, and Weser knew that the classroom was the right place for her to be.
“I absolutely loved it,” said Weser who is in her 22nd year of teaching.
She spent much of her career in Richmond County, teaching at Glenn Hills Middle School and Laney and Butler high schools.
When she bought a house in Lincolnton, the one-hour, one-way drive to Butler became too much. She started looking closer to home and applied in Elberton first. Then, she saw a post with the Columbia County School District for a job at the virtual academy, and she had an interview the day after submitting her resume. That was four years ago.
Going from the classroom to the virtual academy, which is for students with extenuating circumstances such as a medical condition that prevents in-person learning, required changes in her teaching style.
“At first, I didn’t know what to do,” she said.
While she still teaches art concepts, she allows her students to take more of a lead on what materials they might use in their projects.
Although it’s a virtual academy, the students can come in for learning labs and have participated in events such as Artapalooza.
Weser still keeps in contact with many of her former students. They are “my kids,” she said, even though some are in their 30s now. She’s been to many weddings and baby showers and even went to the movies with a group of them right before Helene hit.
Weser’s own interest in art can be traced to the second grade when she was placed in an advanced class with fifth graders.
She enjoys sculpture and photography, and in her Lincolnton home, she has 930 square-foot space that doubles as an art studio. She plans to teach some workshops and classes from there.
Outside the classroom, she’s heavily involved in promoting and developing art education through the GAEA, a group she calls her “tribe.”
She spends nine days each summer as an AP reader, reviewing portfolios; she’s written curriculum for the state of Georgia; and she’s served as co-chair for the state’s youth art month program. The state has received an award of excellence for the past two years.
Weser was the virtual academy’s teacher of the year for 2023-2024 and is previous recipient of the GAEA’s Croy West Special Needs Award.
Weser will be recognized at the Oct. 8 Columbia County Board of Education meeting and at the GAEA conference Oct. 17-19. She’ll head to the national conference in the spring. She’ll present workshops at the state and national conference this year.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
