I have been teaching since 1986. I was born in Staffordshire, a county in the north of England. I come from generations of coal miners and ceramic workers with an inherent appreciation of design and hard work. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honors degree in Fine Art from the University of Lancashire, majoring in sculpture, before attending The University of Manchester for my Art Education Certification. I taught at an inner-city, public Catholic school where I was also the faculty ‘Active Learning Coordinator’ developing strategies for teachers to actively engage students in their own learning. I also served as a Northern Examination Moderator and Secretary of the Art Educators’ Union. During that time I was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in Connecticut, which led me indirectly to Fort Myers. I have been an Art Educator in Lee County since 1993 teaching Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture and Printmaking from beginner to college level. Art is an integral part of my personal and professional life. Like ‘air’ I never take it for granted; It keeps me alive!

 patriciaab@leeschools.net 

I moved here at the age of 14 from the South of France and I am a proud Cypress Lake graduate. My father is a true Parisian and my mother is originally from the French island colony of Martinique. I have traveled through Europe and been highly influenced by these experiences and the rich art and architecture that I was exposed to.  This is reflected in my artistic outlook and expressed in the paintings I produce.  I believe my students benefit as well from my life experiences and my acquired distinct perspective of language and art. One of my proudest accomplishments was an internship at the Louvre Museum in Paris.  Here I experienced unforgettable art and culture, moments that I share with my students today. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and I have been a high school art teacher since 2010 in Lee County. I have taught all levels of Drawing, Painting and Ceramics.  I am a member of the Lee County Art Education Association and the Florida Art Education Association.  Since 2011, I have been a steering member of Pride and Patriotism; a local community group that sponsors a yearly patriotic art contest in Lee County.  Art has been such an important part of my upbringing and a passion that I share with my students every day.  It is important to me that students benefit from an outstanding art education in and out of the classroom.  I am very excited to be home again as a part of the Cypress Lake High Center for the Arts team! 

 elodiec@leeschools.net 

My desire to pursue a career as an art educator stemmed from the encouragement I received from my teachers at Cypress Lake High School. I graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. degree in art education and I have a M.A. degree in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design. During my teaching career, I have taught International Baccalaureate visual arts courses, obtained National Board Certification and served as president of the Lee Art Education Association.  I was named Lee County High School Subject Area Teacher of the Year in 2003, 2010 and 2016.  I am a member of the Florida Art Education Association and National Art Education Association. I have over 25 years of teaching experience in drawing, painting and ceramics.  My interests are in portraiture and landscape painting where, as a teacher, I stress the importance of working from direct observation.

margueriteep@leeschools.net