Jill Ritchey

Art Instructor Jill Ritchey has been teaching classes at Shades Valley High School since 2006.  Mrs. Ritchey also previously taught Painting, 2D Design and Mixed Media courses at the University of Montevallo as an Adjunct Professor. Mrs. Ritchey received her MFA in Painting from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, East of Seattle.  Mrs. Ritchey received her BFA in Painting from the University of Montevallo.  She has also studied at Birmingham-Southern College, University of Georgia's study abroad program in Cortona, Italy, and took printmaking courses at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago while working at Gallery 312 in Chicago, IL as a gallery assistant and art exhibit preparator.  Mrs. Ritchey has also served as NAHS sponsor since 2006 which provides students opportunities for community service and leadership through the visual arts.  Mrs. Ritchey has previously served as Fine Art Dept Chair, AAEA Secondary Division Chair and AAEA NAHS Chair.  Mrs. Ritchey is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Alabama and will be teaching Dual Enrollment college courses within Shades Valley High School starting in 2024.

Special Awards and Highlights

In 2013, Mrs. Ritchey won AAEA Alabama Secondary Art Teacher of the Year Award,  and in 2014 she won the NAEA Southeastern Region Secondary Art Teacher of the year award.  In 2011 she traveled to India with NAEA, and in 2016 she was selected as a participant for a travel grant offered through the State Dept. Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs, the Fulbright/IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Program and traveled to Morocco in March 2017.  Mrs. Ritchey coordinated a one week trip to Italy with art students through EF Tours in June 2019.  Mrs. Ritchey enjoys traveling whenever possible, and always seeks opportunities to connect her students with other students around the globe, promoting arts advocacy and arts education initiatives.

You can learn more about this program here: