Elementary Art Educator since 2000 BA - Shepherd College 2000 MAE - Virginia Commonwealth University 2009
I'm a strong believer in Grant Wood's quote; "The aim of art education in the public schools is not to make more professional artists but to teach people to live happier, fuller lives; to extract more out of their experience, whatever that experience may be." I am a process driven art educator with a strong connection to art history and showing students how art is applicable and purposeful in their daily lives.
I was honored in 2013 as the LCPS/Shenandoah University Teacher of the Year. I've had lessons published online and in SchoolArts. My teaching resources have been on many blogs and have been pinned over 1500 times on Pinterest. I've served on the Board of the Virginia Art Education Association and the National Art Education Association. I'm was part of the Visual Arts Writing team for NCCAS - National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and the sub group for the Model Cornerstone Assessments.
I decided to be an art teacher when I was in 5th grade and it was my goal from then on. It is fun to tell my 5th grade students that fact as they leave my class to go to middle school.
I submit my own work yearly for exhibit and use my work as a teaching tool. I think it is very important to remain an artist and an art educator - it reminds me why it is important to teach the next generation to create.
PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, Higher Education, Adult Education, Homeschool, Staff, Not Grade Specific
Specialty, Arts & Music, Visual Arts, Graphic Arts, Music, Physical Education, Computer Science, For All Subjects, Classroom Management, Library Skills, For All Subjects