Welcome to the art room at PES! I am so excited to be your child's art teacher! My name is Jordan Durden, and I am originally from Rome, GA, as well as a proud graduate of Darlington School, where both of my parents were educators. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Berry College.

This is my seventh year teaching in public schools. Prior to joining Pepperell, I spent five wonderful years at Trion City Schools, along with additional experience teaching in a private school setting. I am passionate about helping students discover their creativity and grow into the amazing artists I know they can be.

In my classroom, I follow the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) for Visual Arts and focus on the core elements and principles of art. This year, I am also incorporating Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) into my pedagogy. TAB offers students a high degree of choice in the mediums they use to express themselves. This choice-based approach increases intrinsic motivation and emphasizes the Studio Habits of Mind, helping students build creative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills they can carry into all areas of their lives.

At PES, students will explore a variety of media, including graphite, watercolor, tempera, mixed media, graphic design, and clay. I strive to create an engaging and supportive environment where all students feel empowered to explore, create, and express themselves through art.