Growing up in Bucks County, Benjamin Hoffman wasn’t the most gifted artist or most talented musician.

“I was never the best art student, technique-wise, but I enjoyed it,” he said. “It was the same with music.”

Fueled by the joy it brought him, Hoffman stuck with his artistic and musical pursuits. He painted and drew and sculpted and built and played in the marching and concert bands because he loved doing it.

He was fascinated by the creative process and consumed by a need for artistic expression. And he developed a deep desire to share his passion.

Hoffman has turned that desire to share into a successful career. He has served as the visual arts teacher at Kutztown High School for the past eight years, encouraging, nurturing and educating a new generation of artists.

And in May, Hoffman was recognized for his efforts by being named one of 12 finalists for the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. The winner is to be announced Monday.

Sharing his passion

Hoffman got his first taste of art education while working at a summer camp when he was in high school. He manned the wood shop, helping kids craft birdhouses.

The experience, and some encouragement from his mom, planted a seed.

It began to grow when he enrolled at Kutztown University, majoring in art education and minoring in music. After three years in college, Hoffman realized he needed to change gears a bit.

“I felt I was missing out on the studio practice side of things,” the 31-year-old Kutztown resident explained. “It was a lot of education courses, a lot of theory.”

So, Hoffman put his pursuit of an art education degree on pause to obtain a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting.

“For two years I was consumed with studio work,” he said with a smile.

Hoffman took on another minor, this time in museum education. That included doing an internship at an art gallery in Boyertown.

That experience fostered a love of public art that continues to this day. And it gave him a chance to create one of Boyertown’s famous bear sculptures, which is displayed at Diamond Credit Union.

But eventually, Hoffman came back to art education. After graduating from KU and a brief stint at a school in Maryland, he joined Kutztown High School.

It was a perfect fit.

“I thought it was so cool to see all that information I had learned come alive for the students,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said he has treated his art room as a sort of laboratory. He urges his students to experiment, to be open to learning through experience.

And often, he’s learning right along side of them.

Take, for example, the 3D printer that softly hummed in the background as Hoffman spoke this week.

“I just learned how to use it three months ago,” he said.

Hoffman said he has tried to make the classes he teaches — which range from introductory classes to Advanced Placement studio art courses and independent studies — reflect the real world as much as possible.

“I want to make it so that when the students leave they can be successful in the art world,” he said.

That includes training them in all sorts of skills they’ll use as artists, like using a pugmill to recycle clay or building their own canvases to paint on.

The school district has been incredibly supportive of his efforts, Hoffman said, and that has led to an expansion of the visual arts program. He said he’s been given more space and resources, and the number of students enrolling in his classes has risen.

“Now, nearly every kid takes at least one art class,” he said. “And I think that helps them have a better sense of themselves and the world around them.

“It’s about the process, and finding meaning in what they’re doing.”

A long road

It was more than a year ago that Hoffman learned his name had been submitted as a candidate for Teacher of the Year.

He was at a conference of art teachers when he found out, and the news came as a complete surprise.

“At first I was definitely taken aback,” he said, calling the experience wild and humbling.

Getting nominated isn’t a simple matter. It takes a long, complicated process to whittle down the number of contenders.

It started with having to fill out a big packet of materials and submit a resume and four letters of recommendations. It continued with an online interview during which Hoffman had to answer six questions in a timed period.

A third round included more questions answered during another video interview. After that there was another massive packet of forms to fill out and the submission of a video of Hoffman leading a lesson.

And, finally, Hoffman had to prepare and give a speech. His was directed toward school administrators and teachers and focused on what education will look like in 10 years.

“It was a little intense,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman made it through round after round, and in May he was announced as one of 12 finalists. And on Monday, they’ll find out which one of them will take home the top prize.

Hoffman said the entire nomination process has been a lot but he was glad to take part in it. He’s developed close relationships with his fellow finalists and has been able to share, learn and grow.

He said the work involved forced him to reflect and really think about what he does and why he does it. And that only makes him a better teacher.

On top of that, Hoffman has found his inclusion as a finalist as an art teacher rewarding. He said art and music programs tend to get cut when school budgets get tight, so it means a lot for someone to recognize their importance.

“As an art teacher, there’s always an advocacy part to it,” he said. “The arts are clearly an important part of a child’s education. It’s cool to have a platform to show that.

“So I’m doing this for so much more than just the award.”