DeWitt
A R T I S T + T E A C H E R
I became an art teacher because I wanted to give students a place to belong in schools. Becoming department chair at Sycamore High School is my goal because I plan to lead this group of educators towards increasing enrollment in art courses, improving articulation between grade levels, and providing students more opportunity to succeed at their level.
How?
On the following pages I will walk you through what I have accomplished so far in my five years that will support the three goals outlined above. Then I will explain my plans on how to achieve these goals throughout the next three years if selected as the next Department Chair.
I instruct 2D media in the following course: Studio Art I & II, Painting I & II, and Senior Portfolio. When I joined the Sycamore HS staff in 2018 I curated and implemented a new curriculum for our Painting course; including but not limited to: student choice, contemporary issues, and the instruction on how to create alternative art.
In Studio Art I planned and implemented changes to the previous curriculum to make sure the skills students were learning were at a higher level than what they engaged with in Middle School.
Both of these transformations made strides towards allowing students more choice in their product while still maintaining state standards in the arts, reflective of my second and third goals.
Student Choice
Since starting at SHS grown the pottery wheel section from two functioning wheels to six. I proposed an equipment budget to the current DC and was approved for two wheels every two years. To start this process off was awarded an SEF grant for wheel in the “off year” of the budget.
Teaching and fostering students to emote thoughts, feelings, and opinions is my top priority in my 3D courses.
Creating curriculum that tailors to individual students increases engagement in each project and also heightens their ability to think creatively. 3D students have placed in the top three at every conference show for the last five years, while under my instruction.
Balancing three separate 3D curriculum in one class period has prepared me to balance many responsibilities in my professional career. Being the only staff member at the high school level who knows how to run a kiln, reformat glazes, and reclaim clay has given me the opportunity to advise and instruct my colleagues in a professional manner.
Art Club has grown exponentially since I first started at SHS. We currently have 30 active members and 70 in total paid. During the course of the five years here at SHS I have attended two International Key Club Conventions and one District Convention with Sycamore students.
Pumpkin Fest - Key Club - Art Club
For the last 3 years have served as a Pumpkin Fest Director on behalf of the Sycamore Kiwanis Club.
This experience has prepared me for working with a multitude of leadership styles, working with a budget, and has allowed me to make connections with key community members for the future
Why
The Reason
The reason I want to be Department Chair, at the heart of it, is really quite simple: it’s for the kids. Every goal I state in this outline can be lead back to improving our department to better educate students. I believe that this has always been the goal, given the hard work and effort of my predecessors, the plan is to continue in their footsteps.
Having worked closely with the Department Chair for the last five years has allowed me insight into what the job entails, how to manage a creative group of people, and the logistics of this department financially. This insight has prepared me to run supply orders, maintain budgets, write grants, and how to lead vertical articulation.
These goals are what I deem most necessary for our department to address. Because of our wide variety of clientele, as the department meets in the coming year these goals may be subject to change.
Year 1:
-Identify needs at the Elementary and MS level
Future
3 Year Plan
-lead monthly department meetings K-12
-Begin restructuring Studio Art at HS level
Year 2:
-Build portfolio review between MS/HS
-Asses El-Ed boundary affect
-Audit all level budgets and propose changes
Year 3:
-Enact restructuring of Studio Art at HS level
-Lead articulation between El-Ed and MS
-Assess classroom sizes at all levels
● Increase enrollment in art courses at HS level
● Improve articulation between grade levels
● Improve student’s opportunity to succeed at all levels
future is to createit.” - Abraham Lincoln