Art Room 5160

Taught crafts at summer camp for ages 5 - 10 for YWCA. 1974-75 In 1978 before graduating from college I taught art at Sacred Heart Grade School 1978 - 79 1st grade - 6th grade.Began teaching art in pre - K through 2nd grade 1980 - 82 Childrens World. In 1982 taught art at Southeastern Stokes Juinor High grades 7 - 9 1982 - 1988. Art Teacher Pickerington Senior Center watercolor teacher 1994-1996. Art teacher Brunswick County Schools, 2003 - present. Head of Fine Arts Department Jessie Mae Monroe 2008 - 2010 .Childrens art Coordinator SunsetRiver Market Gallery,2008 - present.

I use two methods of teaching in my classroom, which are teacher lead and collaborative grouping.I use formative and summative assessment to evaluate all grades and types of students.This allows myself and my students the ability to constantly monitor individual progress as well as group progress.When I begin teaching a new group of students who I have never had before,I use the demonstration method.Once I become more familar with a student or class I like to use the Collaborative method of teaching.Begining in kindergarten, I teach my children the principles of art and the elements of design,as well as intertwining art history throughout each lesson instead of presenting an art history lesson alone. They love learning about different artists and art styles, and are more open to trying new and creative ways than most of the adults that I teach. View them at all ages as being capable and you will be amazed at what they can do! My ultimate purpose as an art teacher is to open children's imaginations wide enough for them to peek in the door and want to open it all the way and walk through. I have always believed that the arts are crucial to the development of an educated society and that all of the arts lead to creativity, innovation, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and cultural awareness. I also strongly believe that the arts are a crucial element in the successful teaching of all other subjects. It is important to integrate core subjects (math, reading, science, history, writing) into art lesson plans and equally important to integrate the arts into core subject lesson plans. I always try to integrate one or more of the core subjects into all of my plans.

1975 - Scholastic Art Award 1980 - Jurried into the Winston-Salem Craft Craft Guild 1982 - Best of Show F.C. Fair ( Jurried ) 1983 - 1st palce F.C. Fair ( Jurried ) 1985 - Carolina Crafter ( Jurried ) 1986 - Browning Art Gallery ( Jurried ) 1987 - West End Gallery ( Sold Out ) 1988 - Carolina Crafters Christmas Classic ( Best of Show) 1988 - Ohio Expo Fair Judges Choice ( Jurried ) 1988 - Ohio Expo Fair 2nd place ( Jurried ) 1993 - Pickerington Art Show Best of Show 2006 - Teacher of the year Jessie Mae Monroe

I recieved my BA in Art Education from Sacred Heart College in 1980. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree I began my studies in three dimensional clay works at the Sawtooth Center for Design. There I studied primative clay firings and clay design under Clara Couch,and Raku clay firing under Kerry Gonzales. My education continues at present.

In 1993 while living in Pickerington Ohio,I was one of the founding memebers of the Pickerington Arts Council.The arts council established a yearly Art festival which began as a one day event and is now a full week-end celebration called the violet festival housing over 60 artist and crafters.In 1994 I established a watercolor program for the senior citizens of Pickerington and established the Pickerington Senior Art Show at the Pickerington Library.Moving to Holden Beach North Carolina in 2002,I went back into the classroom teaching Elementary art for Brunswick County Schools. In 2003 I established a county wide art show for our handicapped students entitled Art With exceptioanl Imagination. In 2005 I established the art show Gotta Have Art each year this show has grown in student exhibitors as well as in attendance. I teach in a title one school ,72% of my students are at or below poverty level.Using art as an integration tool has contributed to the success of our students proficency scores as well as a boost to their self esteem. My student's love of art and their desire to create and learn are at the moment my greatest accomplishment as an artist and as an educator.