Visual art speaks to all of us. It allows us to communicate and find commonalities. Art provides avenues for us to join in helping each other and the world around us. 

In the last few years my visual arts focus has been on school and community service projects that inform and unite. This transformative process uses items that others think of as trash.  We take this “trash” and create something new and unique.  While working with found items, we can create a masterpiece together.

I would love to work with your students to create a collaborative project that either dovetails with a standard/unit that you currently cover or create a brand new lesson. Using visual art as the vehicle for learning enhances and deepens student understanding. Through the process of creating collaborative art, we learn so much about ourselves and each other. We learn to trust, find that there is more than one way to solve a problem, and discover that it is ok to make mistakes. It is working through those mistakes that the most interesting things happen within the process of making art!  

My visual arts journey started with teaching after-school art. I also worked for the local community Foundation of Arts in designing and creating sets and costumes.  Next, I found such joy teaching 3 and 4 year olds art at the local preschool center. There is nothing more magical than a small child exploring and discovering art.  I am now a certified art teacher in a title 1, k -5th grade public school. Being able to open minds and hearts through the lens of visual art is my passion and privilege. I am also an Arkansas A+ fellow and a National Board Certified Teacher. 

I have a B.A. in Communications with twelve hours of college art courses. I have also studied with a local artist in Jonesboro. Through study and trial and error, I have expanded my knowledge, ability and confidence. In the past few years my personal artwork has been given to charitable auctions in the Jonesboro area and statewide. My artwork has also been displayed in the Arkansas Arts Council Small Works on Paper Exhibition, the Helena Watercolor Show, the McFarland Art Gallery in Jonesboro and in the Jonesboro Sun Newspaper. I developed and implemented a three-week art program for 387 students in the first through fifth grades. I also coordinated a group of 9th graders in the designing and completing a tile memorial to the 9/11 tragedy. I taught after school art classes to ages 5-13 through the Foundation of Arts in Jonesboro, and have taught special needs children. I have also created sets and costumes for local plays. Arkansas State University, MS in Early Childhood Services Arkansas APPEL, program 2nd year, 2012 -2013 Art Teacher, 2004 -2011, Jonesboro Pre- K Center Art Teacher, 2011- Present,Jonesboro Public Schools MicroSociety/Kindergarten