How did you decide to become an art teacher? My own private art teacher inspired me to become an art teacher, she was someone who really took the time to teach you and it has stuck with me forever.
Why did you choose this school to work at? My brother went to Stonehill and that is how I learned about Easton, and when I applied for jobs this one was open, and I was excited because it was my top choice.
What is your favorite medium to work with when creating art ? Oil paint is my favorite medium to create art with, in college you have to practice all the mediums to learn how to teach them and my favorite was always painting.
What is one of your favorite projects that you have made? I have been known as the “shoe lady” and shoes can have so many textures and details throughout them. They can also tell a story. In college I did a whole series on shoes and mine was about women’s empowerment, and bringing it to school and seeing my students make art of shoes is really cool to see.
What is your favorite project for your students to make? That is hard to choose and each one of them is special to me, and they each have something that I love about them. I love how students are first able to tell a story with their work especially with the shoes in Art 2. Kids usually love the up close study at the end of Art 2 and all the projects in Art 4, but it is hard to choose because I love them all.
This year you received an award, the Secondary Art Educator of the Year. How did it feel to win the award? I am still completely in awe by this and I cannot believe that I won it with all the other amazing art teachers out there. It is a really humbling experience and I am very grateful for it. I was nominated by my peers, and what is really cool is that one of the people who nominated me was my professor from UMass, and she also won an award, and it is cool to see where everyone has gone since I went there. About four people in my graduating class have gotten the honor of an award, which is crazy! It also shows how amazing the students at Oliver Ames are and the kids there are the reason why I love my job.
Were you surprised to win it? Yes, I was very surprised, I did not think I would get there!
Do you like the hybrid learning program this year? Mixed emotions like everybody, but the main thing is juggling the different people coming in and out and the supply issue. I think that the art department has another step of organization needed this year. Other than that, we are working through it and we are making the best of it. The main thing that I wanted to do was make sure that the quality of the art program is not lost this year.
Do you have any specific goals for this school year? Hopefully for it to be as rewarding and authentic as it has been in years past, so I am hoping that you all will still feel as fulfilled as if we were all sitting in the classroom and that each student walks away with pieces that they are proud of.