....Paying it Forward

My high school art teacher called me in January to inform me that she was retiring from teaching this year. She also wanted to know if I would be interested in her job. At first, I had to absorb that my high school art teacher was actually retiring! I'm no spring chicken, but it's been decades since taking her classes. Needless to say, when she went on to explain that she had been teaching Talented Art to elementary and middle school kids and that the classes were small, etc., I jumped at the opporuttunity. It was a long process, and fast forward today,  I am now a Talented Art teacher!  I'm not sure how Orleans Parish does their recruiting, but  I am quite impressed with St. Charles Parish Schools.  Everyone is so positive, encouraging and really about educating kids!  I've been wanting to teach kids and teens for a minute but not in the chaotic manner in which most inner city art teachers & teaching artists are bombared with in regards to oversized classes, tons of disciplinary issues and trying to teach students who could care less about art.  I am thankful for this opportunity and trust that my art career will be working side by side along my teaching career.  My goal is to be a steward of excellence and a trail blazer for the Artists and Art Educators.... A balancing act indeed! 

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