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Mr. Anderson
Mr. Anderson
Art Specialist: Grant & Grove
Years at WRPS: 18
Growing up in a small Northern Wisconsin town, I was a boy with big dreams. I majored in Art at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with an emphasis in Education. After teaching for a short time in Wisconsin Dells, I decided to call Wisconsin Rapids home. I have a Masters in Education degree from Saint Mary's University in Minnesota with an emphasis in Technology. I love to Travel! From whale watching in Alaska to climbing the windmills in the Greek Islands, watching volcanos erupt in Hawaii to scaling ancient ruins in Central America, traveling shaped me into the human being I am today. I love to share artifacts and cultural experiences from traveling into my art room. I was named WRPS Teacher of the Year in 2017, Wisconsin Elementary Art Teacher in 2020, and Wisconsin Teacher of the Year in 2023.
Mrs. DeFord
Mrs. DeFord
Art Specialist: Howe & Think Elementary
Years at WRPS: 2
Wisconsin Rapids is my hometown and Lincoln High School is my alma mater. Following high school, I went to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for my degree in art education. After graduation, I moved to Wausau, WI where I taught elementary art for 4 years before returning to my hometown and continuing my career as an elementary art educator in 2022.
When I am not teaching, I am spending time with my husband and family. I love to spend time outdoors hiking, camping, making campfires and exploring nature. I worked as a camp counselor for five summers during my college years. My favorite art medium is clay. It would be a dream come true to have my own pottery wheel and kiln and be able to create my own ceramics at home.
Mrs. Francis
Mrs. Francis
Art Specialist: Mead & Grove Elementary School
Years at WRPS: 25
Years in art: 1
Mrs. Lessard
Mrs. Lessard
Art Specialist: Woodside & Central Oaks Academy
Years at WRPS: 2
I grew up in the city of South Milwaukee, WI. I went to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree, Majoring in Drawing and minoring in Painting. I spent 12 years as a graphic designer in the Milwaukee area before moving to Necedah. I spent 15 years working in the Necedah school district starting as a volunteer, then a special education paraprofessional, also a sports coach and finally the elementary art teacher. I enjoy running for fun, creating art, gardening, and dancing to good music. I retired from coaching after 15 years and 33 seasons of 3 sports; basketball, track and cross country. Now I get to enjoy watching my 2 grandchildren play sports and spending time with my son and 2 daughters. I love to teach art because it allows us to create beauty from nothing. My favorite saying is "The EARTH without ART is just EH". I hope to inspire ambition and creativity in my students!
Ms. Grossbier
Ms. Grossbier
Art Specialist: Washington & THINK Elementary
Years at WRPS: 12
Years in Art: 1
I've had a long and varied path to becoming an art teacher. In addition to being a WRPS classroom teacher for 12 years, I was also an interior designer, public relations writer, grant researcher, and tour guide for the paper mill. I love teaching in the city in which I was born and raised. I am a graduate of UW-Stevens Point.
When I'm not teaching art, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Mark, our family, and my Dachshund, Oscar. I have two children in college: Harrison (UW-Madison), and Josephine (UW-Eau Claire). I love the outdoors and spend as much time as possible gardening, hiking, and having campfires. I also love cooking, reading, sewing, traveling, and making paper collages.
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