Fear Named NM Art Educator of the Year

Daniel Fear (Courtesy: Farmington Municipal Schools)

Daniel Fear has been Farmington Municipal School's Coordinator of Fine Arts since 2016 and was named 2022 Art Administrator of the Year by the NM Art Education Association.

From Farmington Municipal Schools

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Farmington Municipal Schools (FMS) is pleased to announce that our Coordinator of Fine Arts, Daniel Fear, has been named the 2022 Art Administrator of the Year by the New Mexico Art Education Association (NMAEA).


“I thank the NMAEA for this distinct honor. I also thank our FMS teachers; you are great peers and the best collaborators. It is a
privilege to serve the art educators of Farmington Municipal Schools. Working with them as an advocate for arts education across
our beautiful state is also a highlight. In advocacy, we are fierce fighters with wildly creative ideas and driving perseverance to
improve what we are able to provide to all students with increased equity and opportunities,” said Mr. Fear.


“This is a well-deserved recognition of Mr. Fear’s years of dedication to fine arts. He began his journey as a fine arts administrator
nearly seven years ago, but in the twenty-four years he has been with FMS, he has spent a great deal of time learning about art
instruction and pedagogical approaches from some of the best educators in the state while collaborating with our art teachers in
their classrooms. We congratulate him for this recognition and contribution to the district, where he has demonstrated extraordinary
love and dedication to education,” said Superintendent Diehl.


Mr. Fear became the Coordinator of Fine Arts for Farmington Municipal Schools in April 2016. During his time as Fine Arts
Coordinator, Farmington Municipal Schools has been recognized as a NAMM Best Community for Music Education for 6 consecutive
years, and the NMMEA’s District of Distinction three times.


About Daniel Fear
Daniel Fear received his Bachelor of Music Education from New Mexico State University in the spring of 1999. While at NMSU he
studied tuba with Dr. Jim Shearer and conducting with Dr. William Clark. He completed his Master’s Degree in Educational
Administration through Eastern New Mexico University in July 2015. Mr. Fear has been involved with instrumental music teaching
since the fall of 1999, all with Farmington Municipal Schools.
Mr. Fear is an active performer with the Celebration Brass of First Presbyterian Church - Farmington, Southwest Civic Winds, Kissmah
Brass Band, San Juan College Concert Band, Die Sechs Polka Dots polka band, and the Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band
Festival. Mr. Fear is also an active clinician and adjudicator in New Mexico and Colorado.
Mr. Fear has served as president of the Northwest New Mexico Music Educators Association. He holds professional memberships
with the National Association for Music Education, and the New Mexico Music Educators Association, as well as a member of the
New Mexico chapter of Phi Beta Mu. He is also a member of the National Art Educators Association and the New Mexico Art
Educators Association. His service memberships include the Southwest Civic Winds Board, Connie Gotsch Arts Foundation Board, the
San Juan College Fine Arts Committee, and the New Mexico Advisory Council on Arts Education.

More from Local News

  • New Farmington Temple Prepares for Public Open House

    The public is invited to tour the Farmington Temple from Thursday, July 17, through Saturday, August 2, 2025, excluding Sundays.

  • SJRMC & San Juan College agree to expand Nursing Program

    Full-time nursing faculty members will receive a $10,000 annual stipend on top of their base salary to enhance the program’s capacity. In addition, students will have an opportunity to enter into an agreement with SJRMC to receive a substantial $4,800 living stipend per semester,

  • Downtown Farmington gets National Main Street Accreditation

     Historic Downtown Farmington’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and New Mexico MainStreet, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.

  • Man Arrested for Fruitland Murder

     Following verbal arguments at the house of Adrian Begay (age 45), De Andre Julian (age 23) left with his girlfriend, Adrian Begay’s daughter, Adriana Begay (age 21) to a nearby residence. Adrian Begay followed them to the exterior of the residence when De Andre Julian produced a handgun and shot Adrian Begay multiple times in the chest at close range.

  • Arrest Made in Farmington Killing

    After a lengthy investigation, Ms. Greenfield’s death was determined to be a homicide and detectives identified 27-year-old Serrono Rippingale as the suspect. On June 26th, 2025, an arrest warrant for Murder (2nd degree felony) and Tampering with Evidence (3rd degree felony) was obtained and served on Serrono Rippingale.

  • Farmington Hires New Museum Director

     “Nathan’s expertise in the museum industry, combined with his global perspective and passion for community engagement, make him a tremendous asset to Farmington,” said Christa Chapman, Director of Cultural Affairs. “We’re excited to see how his leadership will shape the future of the Farmington Museum System.”

On KSJE Now:

Today's Weather

  • Farmington, NM

    Thundery shower

    High: 91°F | Low: 64°F

  • Durango, CO

    Thundery shower

    High: 86°F | Low: 54°F

  • Shiprock, NM

    Thundery shower

    High: 93°F | Low: 66°F

  • Cortez, CO

    Thundery shower

    High: 90°F | Low: 57°F

  • Santa Fe, NM

    Thundery shower

    High: 84°F | Low: 61°F