Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
I didnt take art again until my senior year in high school. My senior year I filled
my schedule with art classes. My drawing teacher Ms. Remppel was a talented
photographer, but taught introductory art. Looking back, I remember how unhappy she
was to teach her classes. While she liked motivated and talented students she didnt have
patience with the general student population and lost patience with them frequently. Her
students were not engaged or happy to be in her class. Contrary to Ms. Remppel, my
sculpture teacher Ms. Reyna was always happy to see us and was excited about her
subject. I was always excited to go to her class where I could talk with friends and enjoy
the art process and the positive energy she infused in the classroom.
After high school graduation I attended the University of Georgia and believed
that I was going to be a history teacher. I took an art appreciation class where I realized
how much I missed the creative process of art, and changed my major to art education.
Since then Ive graduated college, established myself as an educator, and began my
masters degree in art education. Last summer at the University of Florida where, with the
support of my teachers, I felt I had developed my own artistic voice for the first time.
This moment of discovery has been extremely motivating both as a teacher and as an
artist and demonstrates that artistic growth is continuous even after becoming an art
educator.
I didnt grow up surrounded by art or in an environment supportive of the arts, but
for some reason art has always been my main method of communication and expression.
My art teachers growing up are the primary reason for my occupation as an art educator
today. My elementary teachers encouraged my artistic enthusiasm despite my parents
lack of approval. Today, during Open House and Meet the Teacher events I always
give parents a list of possible artistic occupations to promote positive support for the arts
at home and in the classroom. My secondary teachers remain my most influential role
models. They taught me that to be an educator you have to be compassionate and kind as
well as encouraging and enthusiastic. In my classroom today my classroom environment
is paramount. I strive to create a caring, enthusiastic, positive, and fun environment first,
before worrying about curriculum. My teaching success is due to my teachers instilling