Congratulations to the 2022 ArchOmaha Metro Area Secondary Educator of the Year

Jeremy Caniglia – Art Teacher at Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha

Last year, 54 Creighton Prep students won 108 Regional Scholarship Art & Writing Awards. That means 5% of the school are award-winning artists, with many attending some of the most prestigious art institutions in the world.

Much of this success is attributed to Jeremy Caniglia, says The Rev. Matthew Spotts, S.J. president of Creighton Prep.

Dave Lawler, director of campus ministry at Creighton Prep, says that Jeremy is “what is best about Catholic education. He has a knack for connecting with students and helping them to recognize the ways that God is present in their lives.” He is a champion of his students, a counselor, confident and cheerleader, and he helps form their faith through participation in student retreats and through his art classes.

“Those of us who know Jeremy outside of school understand that he is a renowned artist and does not need to be working at Creighton Prep. But the reason Jeremy is working at Prep is because he believes that life is best lived when serving God and others,” he said.

From a former student

Nic Thurman, ’17 said of his former teacher:

“He is only a man, but a man who has dedicated his life to becoming a better person, a better storyteller, a better teacher, and a better mentor for young men. He inspires young men to become better. From preschool to high school, I have never met a teacher who so truly embodied these virtues as Mr. C.”

Background

Jeremy graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA and earned his FA from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. While teaching at Prep, he completed an M.Ed from Creighton University and the Nerdrum Studio intensive in Norway. A life-long learner, other professional development examples include NAEA National Convention, DVI High School Art Teacher Color Theory Portfolio workshop in New York, a2ru institute, Iowa State institute, Art Students of New York, Figurative Art Convention, and the Paul Booth Gallery for his opening and gallery talk.

He and his wife Jacqui have two children, Caravaggio and Vivian. When he is not teaching or creating art, his like to spend time in the mountain hiking, bouldering and biking and take care of his native bees and garden.

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Jeremy is part of a larger group of eight educators the Archdiocese of Omaha honors each year. The annual event helps us recognize and reward the impact of our local educators, celebrate Catholic education and raise important scholarship dollars for tuition assistance that helps make tuition accessible and affordable for many more families across our community.

Please join us in person for this year’s Archbishop’s Dinner for Education on September 22.