After earning a BFA from The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), I spent twenty-five years doing professional design and illustration for the likes of Nike, Paula Abdul, Nicole Miller, The Body Shop, and NASCAR, and enjoyed every minute. But I loved teaching and working with young people---things I had done as a volunteer. So when my husband's military duty station was changed to the Houston area, I decided to shift gears and combine my two loves. Armed with my experience in the industry, a minor in Art History, a deep gratitude for education, and a love for the youth of our great city, I became an art teacher. 

Since then, I've had the privilege of attending the graduations of students that once passed through my classroom on their way to high school. I've never once regretted my decision to change careers. I'm definitely where I am meant to be. I have a lot of passion for my field of study, and it tends to be contagious. I love sharing my knowledge of materials and techniques with my students, but their art education does not end there. In my classroom, they connect what they are learning with other classes. As we touch on moments in art history, they connect that with things they have learned in their history courses. Studying the element of color or the firing process that takes place in a kiln can be connected with concepts they have learned in science. I always tell my students, "Art is the culmination of all other disciplines." The reason we learn our core curriculum is to then take that knowledge and create something useful and beautiful. Art develops the use of their hands, their heads, and their hearts. It's also a tremendously fun class. :)

Thank you for sharing your children with me this year. I appreciate the encouragement and support you give to them as they push their artistic skills to a new level. Like you, I can't wait to see all that they will create!