I studied art education at Eastern Kentucky University. I began teaching art in 1994 and have taught preschool, K-8th grade and at the college level. I earned my National Board Certification in Early to Middle Childhood Art in 2002. In addition to teaching art, I also enjoy creating my own art. My favorite subjects are horses (I'm in the right state :-), landscapes and mixed media portraits. I love painting and drawing and pretty much anything to do with art. I also enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, reading , watching sports, (especially my kids and college football-Go CATS), and walking my dog.

I began teaching at Picadome Elementary in 2012. Several years ago, I switched my teaching pedagogy from teacher led to TAB , also known as choice based art. In our art classroom, students learn about artistic habits and choose what medium and process they want to explore. Just like professional artists! We often have a theme for our current work, but I try to be very flexible. After all, THE STUDENT IS THE ARTIST. Students have a sketchbook for planning and reflecting on work and a portfolio to store in progress work. With each process station, students must complete a series of skill builder activities to demonstrate basic skills and gain full access to the station. Students in third through fifth grade are given deadlines for completing WOW artwork and must be working toward that goal. A WOW project is work that is completed for display and must meet certain criteria.

Students may work in the following permanent process stations:

• • Inspiration: developing ideas

  • Drawing: explore colored pencil, marker, chalk pastel, charcoal and oil pastel

  • Painting: explore watercolor, tempera, ink, and acrylic

  • Collage: explore types of paper, textural objects, magazines, prints, bits of discarded artwork and our original photographs

  • Fiber Arts: explore several types of weaving, sewing, quilting, embroidery and jewelry making

  • Sculpture and 3-D construction: explore cardboard, found objects, clay, plaster, paper mache, soap, wire and wood for construction

  • Clay: explore the multitude of projects created with hand building methods of pinch, coil and slab. Also learn proper joining techniques.

  • Printmaking: explore stamping, monoprints, marker transfer, collograph, vegetable prints, junk prints, texture rubbings , styrofoam prints and screen printing

  • Architecture: explore building with LEGOS, blocks, magnet boards and Lincoln Logs

  • Technology: explore Stop Motion Animation, Photography, various art apps

Pop-Up stations : these stations are temporary and pop up throughout the year

• • Calligraphy

  • Origami

  • Puppets

  • Mask Making

  • Artist Trading Cards

  • Camp Kindness: we often create art to send out to the community to show kindness.

  • STEAM

  • Mini Museum