Art Education is Essential because “in the 21st century global economy, the arts equip students with a creative, competitive edge. The arts provide the skills and knowledge students need to develop the creativity and determination necessary for success.”
Arts Education Unified Statement (2020), NAEA.

Art Education is Essential because in addition to learning art techniques, students are, “Taught a remarkable array of mental habits not emphasized elsewhere in schools.”
Hetland, L., Winner, E., Veenema, S., & Sheridan, K. (2007). Studio thinking: The real benefits of visual arts education. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Art Education is Essential because "just 45 minutes of art making, at any skill level, significantly reduces stress hormones."Kaimal, G., Ray, K. & Muniz, J. (2016) Reduction of cortisol levels and participants' responses following art making. Art Therapy, 33(2), 74-80, DOI: 10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832

Welcome! I am the Elementary Art teacher here at Salem CSD and an itinerant art teacher for WSWHE BOCES. I teach art to grades K-6 and I'm located in Room 206. 

I am dedicated to providing your student with the best art education possible. The art curriculum is based on the 2017 New York State Learning Standards for the Visual Arts. More information on this can be located here.

My goal as an art educator is to challenge and develop artistic skills and techniques while also promoting individual expression through the arts. In a world where most information is given and received visually, understanding how to decode an image is vital to the success of future generations.  
The art curriculum for all grades is designed to allow students to build upon their artistic skills from previous years. Each project we do is based on the four basic art disciplines: art history, art criticism, aesthetics and art production. 

Art history is explores cultural contributions and provides a historical and social context. 

Art criticism helps students to understand the meaning of art works while teaching them how to organize thoughts and make thoughtful judgments.

Aesthetics is concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty in art and brings up the ultimate question: What is art?

Art Production is the process of creating a work of art. Different media and processes will be explored through "hands on" activities. 


*Please take note that I keep most art projects to display in the school throughout the year and at specific school functions. ALL art work made by your child will be returned to them by the end of the school year!
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. I am greatly looking forward to a fantastic year in art!