“Art is a place kids travel to where they feel good about themselves. Keep their passports current.”
~Fred Babb
Accomplishments
Visual Arts Teacher, grades 6 – 8
Columbia Falls Junior High School, Columbia Falls, MT
August 2006 – June 2008
- Increased student understanding and use of visual literacy
- Integrated art history into the curriculum as a context for understanding an era; its people, economics and social responses
- Established the practice of students writing to articulate skills and concepts learned; also used as an assessment tool
- Maintained continuous public display of student artwork
- Organized after school Art Club
- Designed and implemented Pupil Instruction Related (PIR) classes for The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) teacher renewal credit toward teaching re-certification
Visual Arts Teacher, grades 9 – 12
Libby High School, Libby, MT
August 2005 – June 2006
- Developed and implemented dynamic, rigorous visual arts program based on Montana state curriculum standards
- Up-dated course descriptions
- Guided students preparation and application to scholarship awards
- Involved high school students in the design and painting of the theatre set for Aladdin Junior at Libby Junior High School
- Collaborated with the Heritage Museum ~ Libby, MT to have student artwork displayed at the local library in conjunction with Key Ingredient, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit
- Restored kiln – replaced elements and bricks; trained others on regular maintenance and proper use
Visual Arts Teacher, grades 6-8
Washington Middle School, Missoula, MT
January 1997 – June 1997
- Designed and taught lessons based on the Montana state curriculum standards
- Facilitated Family Extravaganza; students taught printmaking techniques and proper terminology to their parents
- Established after-school Art Club
- Recruited two city police officers to visit the classroom and model for student drawn portraits for Law Enforcement Appreciation Week, displayed at Missoula City Hall
- Adorned the walls of MCPS administration building with student bear paintings which were quilted in collaboration with parents
- Orchestrated field trip to the Missoula Art Museum
- Curate student artwork for annual city wide student art show
- Collaborated with district colleagues to offer Day of Art for students interested in learning from a professional artist
- Choreographed “YMCA” dance group for annual school talent show
- Coordinated 8th grade committee in creating artwork for permanent display honoring their promotion to high school