Me as an ART TEACHER

I began teaching Art at Mineola Middle School in 2004 and collected 14 years of teaching there. I spent 5 years teaching K-5 Art in 2014-2019 as well.This School Year, 2023-24,  I'm starting my 20th year teaching Art at Mineola High School! This will be a new adventure for me as a professional. I am so excited. I can finally say I have taught Kindergarten - 12th grade Art! 

Art has been my passion since my early years. We did not have Art at my elementary school, but did do some art in the classroom. I believe 2nd grade is where I truly found my calling as I was encouraged by my favorite teacher, Mrs. Raines at Ross Elementary.

Read my post about her here...

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/mrs-rainesshe-rained-love.html

Her encouragement inspired me to learn more outside of school. I began watching Commander Mark Kistler, the host of The Imagination Station on PBS every week. As a kids, I studied Garfield comic strips and drew characters form them. I loved the art of the popular Suzie's Zoo and

writing & Illustrations of Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends."

In 4th grade, I had dreams of getting my cartoons published in the Sunday Morning comic strips. I participated in contests and won ribbons for my Rodeo Art almost every year. I checked out "how to draw" books from the public library each time we went. This is how I learned most of my art foundation until I took my first real art class in 7th grade. 

Throughout my schooling, I was never THE BEST artist. I was good, but there were others that were much better. Art seemed to come easier to them. But as time went on, I kept going and the others stopped. They grew up to be successful and smart, but let go of Art. I held on and rose higher. Where I lacked skill and artistic ease, I made up for with passion and patience. Hanging on paid off. I was accepted into the Honors Art Program my Junior and Senior year of high school. This allowed me to earn college Art credit and was awarded small scholarships! 

After High School graduation from Clear Creak HS in 1998, I never really considered being a teacher. I was too in love with being the art student! So, I went to college to grow artistically, but found myself a little lost along the way. I knew I LOVED art, but beyond that I did not know my abilities. A trip to the counselor's office my freshman year at San Jacinto Community College gave me hope and guidance. I took a career and aptitudes test and discovered Teaching was one on my top career matches.

I dismissed this match for 2 years because of my lack of confidence to ever be a leader, talk in from of people, or work with kids. After attending one semester at Sam Houston State University with a working major in Graphic Design, I began to wonder if I had made the right choice. Graphic Design sounded exciting, competitive, corporate, and fun!... but would I really make an impact on the world or others by sitting alone behind a computer all day? The idea of teaching still kept coming back. Memories of Mrs. Raines sweet encouragement from 2nd grade propelled me forward closer to the possibility of helping others. With encouragement from a best friend, Shannon Seaton, who was studying to be a teacher, I decided to change my degree. 

I graduated from Sam Houston in 2003, with a major in Studio Art and a double minor in English and Education. 

I have never regretted teaching. I am so blessed to be able to share my love of Art with kids and show them my passion. I feel like a magician sharing my tricks, allowing them to surpass my abilities of creating something from nothing. I passion for Graphic Design never disappeared. I am happy to be able to use my wisdom as a teacher to create posters for classrooms. I have created over 300 poster online! 
Please visit my TeachersPayTeachers page.
I have tons of art teacher posters perfect for your classroom.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Lost-Sock-Art-Teacher

I also am able to use Graphic Design and marketing for the local sweet shop, Bryan's Cheesecakes! 

I create a new board each week for their display window. 

I use my love of English and comics still to write and illustrate books like "The Lost Sock", SuperTab, and "Mindy's Magic Timeship" series. I hope to one day get all of them published. 

I like to show students that my love of Art goes beyond the classroom and teaching. I do not just create with them, but continue to create online, in the community, and in my home. A true artist seeks  and finds inspiration, continues to grow and learn ... they are unstoppable. The love of Art cannot be held inside, but must be unleashed in every area of an artists life.