Morgan Hughes de Rham
EDUCATION
MFA, Sculpture, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, 2009
Post-Baccalaureate, Studio Art, Tufts University, SMFA, Boston, MA, 2007
BFA, Painting and Art History, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 2002
CERTIFICATIONS
New York State Professional Teaching Certificate, Art Education (Pre-K-12), 2015
New York State Initial Teaching Certificate, Art Education (Pre-K-12), Queens College, NY, 2011
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND PRESENTATIONS
National Arts Education Association (NAEA):
Presented Breaking Down Barriers: Art at the Center of Cross-Curriculum Design at the National Arts Education Association Conference at the Hilton in New York City, March 2017
New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA)
Presented Breaking Down Barriers: Art at the Center of Cross-Curriculum Design, conference in Buffalo NY
Integrating Visual Arts and Humanities, Speyer Legacy School, January 2017
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Art Teacher, grades 6-12 (2018-19), grades 9-12 Eastchester Union Free School District, September 2018– Current
AP Art History Instructor: Developed and taught a dynamic AP Art History curriculum designed to cultivate art appreciation and prepare students for the AP Art History exam through engaging lectures, discussions, activities and visual analysis.
Adaptive Art Educator: Designed and implemented modified daily lessons for students with special needs, utilizing tactile materials and hand-over-hand techniques to ensure inclusive access to visual arts education.
Curriculum Innovation: Redesigned the Global Crafts curriculum to better accommodate diverse learning styles and introduced a comprehensive weaving and textiles program.
Grant Recipient: Awarded competitive grants from the Eastchester School Foundation and EHS PTA (2021, 2022) to fund the integration of looms and textile materials into the curriculum, benefiting both Global Crafts and Adaptive Art programs.
Diverse Course Instruction: Taught a wide range of courses including Studio Art, 3-D Design, and Global Crafts, all aligned with New York State Visual Arts Standards.
Art Exhibition Leadership: Co-managed the Annual High School Spring Art Show and initiated the display of student artwork within the hallways of the Art Department wing.
National Art Honor Society Advisor (2018–2024): Directed chapter activities, facilitated weekly meetings, managed budgets, collaborated with PTA for events such as the Senior Fashion Show, and led the planning of the annual induction ceremony and community outreach projects.
Student Advocacy and Support: Participated in annual student review meetings, providing insight into individual student strengths and areas for growth.
Departmental Collaboration: Partnered with fellow art educators on curriculum development, instructional strategies, and coordination of guest artist lectures and workshops.
Art Teacher, grades K-8, Speyer Legacy School, September 2014– June 2018
Developed art curriculum and taught lessons centered on engaging interdisciplinary-based art lessons to reflect equity, diversity and differentiation while following a combination of the National and NY State Art Standards.
Collaborated with Humanities, Math, Science and Makers Lab teachers to maximize content in cross-curriculum lessons and culminating events.
Met the needs of students in a high performing accelerated learning environment by creating challenging and meaningful lessons.
Organized class trips to museums to reflect interdisciplinary curriculum.
Chair of Year of Arts: organized arts-based enrichment events for the school community including 8th grade mural, visiting artists and art historians, dance performances, student workshops, student art exhibitions, and funds for new instruments.
Serve as the 8th grade advisor planning social and emotional learning through team building activities and mindfulness methods.
Design and implement detailed rubrics for activities and projects to support clear assessment and grading.
Utilize technology applications such as Canvas and Schoology to organize grades, rubrics, and lessons.
Provide a positive and stable environment through effective classroom management strategies.
Design and develop middle school textile program incorporating surface design, weaving looms, sewing machines, and screenprinting.
Coordinate and teach extra-curricular club for middle school students interested in advancing their skills in art and art history.
Co-chair of NYSAIS financial assistance committee to assess school's financial assistance resources and policies
Co-chair of NYSAIS P.E. committee to research alignment of P.E program to mission and NYSAIS athletics.
Art Teacher, grades 3-8, Adolph S. Ochs School, P.S. 111, November 2011– June 2014
Developed and taught engaging standards-based art lessons which reflected the Common Core Learning Standards, interdisciplinary studies, multiculturalism and differentiation.
Provided a positive and stable environment through effective classroom management strategies.
Served on the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (P.B.I.S.) Team to help implement P.B.I.S. to encourage respect for all, reward good behavior and improve the school learning environment.
Designed and implemented detailed rubrics for activities and projects to support clear assessment and grading.
Devised and taught lessons for small group art club and extended day periods on topics including 8th grade high school art portfolio preparation, fashion illustration, sewing techniques, surface design and remedial math.
Collaborated with teachers, parents and Display My Art on the PTA fundraising project.
Secured art supplies through private donors and Materials for the Arts.
Planned field trips to art museums and the High School of Fashion Industries.
Organized art shows to recognize student work and develop art appreciation within our school community.
Teacher/Weaving Instructor, Textile Arts Center/ The Weaving Hand, Brooklyn, NY, June 2008 – August 2010
Designed and facilitated sewing and weaving projects for students ages 6-12. These lessons included the creation of soft sculpture, clothing, pillows, bags, blankets and stuffed animals.
Designed and led field trips to various museums and the Brooklyn Zoo related to class projects and lessons.
Developed Weaving into Sculpture curriculum for both children and adults. Taught various techniques of weaving on a 2 to 6 harness loom, focusing on transforming two-dimensional woven items into three-dimensional biomorphic forms inspired by Louise Bourgeois.
Worked in conjunction with faculty to build a 20x16x5 foot loom and introduced it to the public. The loom was featured at the 2009 Off-Broadway Awards and the 2009 Bridgeport Music & Arts Festival.
Teaching Assistant, Relief Printmaking, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, September 2008 – May 2009
Provided problem solving techniques to students regarding technical difficulties with printing involving woodblocks, linoleum, paper, presses and inks.
Developed curriculum that interpreted a given theme while combining printmaking techniques including embossment and monotypes.
Prepared student work for the print installation show, Urban Tribes.
Demonstrated embossment techniques utilizing carved linoleum blocks and found objects.
Organized materials and equipment for slide presentations and lead critiques to provoke discussion.
Associate Director, Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY, February 2003 – May 2006
Managed daily gallery operations, including: communicating with artists and clients, providing on-demand information, assisting in sales of artwork, researching and updating artists’ biographical information.
Composed press releases and designed invitations for exhibit openings.
Assisted in the installation of opening exhibits, as well as attending to the maintenance and safekeeping of art inventories and organizing shipments of work including specialized packaging for art fairs.
RECENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ CTLE
Reaching and Teaching Students with ADD/ADHD (2023)
Teaching Special Populations (2023)
Service Learning (2023)
Teaching Social and Emotional Learning, (2022)
Fostering Resilient Learners, WTCI (Feb-April 2022)
Educating Special Needs Students (2019)
Mindfulness: Classroom Orientation from Trained Teachers, NAEA webinar, Lark Keeler and Diane Scully (Oct. 2017)
Diversity Conversation with Dr. Donnell Butler, Franklin and Marshall College (Sept. 2017)
Media Literacy (Sept. 2017)
Sexual Stereotyping, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Michelle Philips, Esq. (June 2017)
Discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me (April 2017)
NAEA Conference New York City (March 2-4 2017)
Contemporary Artworks That Inspire Brave Conversations
Art Studio Becomes Growth Mindset Studio
Cross-curricular Art Lessons
Diversity in Children’s and YA literature, Suzan Mehler, (Jan. 2017)