Jayla is an artist and art educator with extensive experience in teaching and managing art programs at all levels. She holds a B.F.A. in Art Education from Sam Houston State University and completed graduate studies at Sam Houston and Texas Tech. Jayla has received several awards for outstanding art education, including TAEA Outstanding Art Educator, Secondary Division (1988), and NAEA Outstanding Art Educator, Secondary, Western Region (1989).
Her art is mixed media, including drawing and assemblage, and incorporates personal symbolism with heavily textured surfaces. Jayla taught for 40 years and retired 2017. She has also served as an artist in residence at The John Cooper School since 1993.
Jayla and her family have been involved in the arts festival since 2009. Currently, Jayla serves as a board director, our student art scholarship chair, and a member of the BAM, Events/Outreach, and festival committees.