Cassie Stephens shows me a good example of someone who projects a positive affect in just about everything they say, which is something I would love to think I could aspire to someday. It was a treat to hear her explain things that she wished she had known going into her first year of art teaching. It makes sense to me that the art teacher should be on fairly good terms with the custodial staff, as the art room can sometimes create quite a bit of waste and mess, especially if I don’t give perfect instructions or the kids happen to make a mistake with their tools.
Another key point that I have heard elsewhere but agree with the more I learn about it is keeping your supplies tied to art instruction as opposed to being available for the rest of the school. Budgets are tighter than I ever thought they would be as I learn how much paper, glue, or paint I available for any given student for the course of a year. I can appreciate that an art instructor would need to keep these supplies close to the chest, as it would be easy to overlook from another department’s perspective.
I also responded to her suggestion for reaching out to teachers within your building that you feel display exceptional qualities. I’ve certainly seen teachers who commanded respect and attention much better than I have been able to, and I’ve tried to glean some tips from observation alone, but I appreciated the push to specifically reach out for mentors.
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