Education
M.A.T. University of Memphis. 2007. Masters of Art in Teaching. Emphasis in Art Education. Tennessee State Certification K-12
B.A. University of Memphis. 1978. Bachelor of Arts. Communication. Emphasis in Radio, Television and Film
Awards
Joe W. Giles Lifetime Achievement Award from The Tennessee Arts Academy (2023)
Briarcrest Fine Arts Hall of Fame Induction (2023)
Melody Weintraub Drama Award- After establishing a theatre program at Briarcrest Christian Middle School
Tennessee Middle School Art Educator of the Year (2014)
Presentations/Publications
2024
National Art Education Association Convention (April 2-6, 2024-Minneapolis, MN)
Altered Books for Social Justice Workshop with Dr. Tina Atkinson
Contemporary Art in Context with Nancy Walkup, James Rees, Rama Hughes and Frank Juarez
Mentoring Matters Part 2 with Debi West
2023
National Art Education Association Convention
Contemporary Art in Context with Nancy Walkup, James Rees, Frank Juarez and Leigh Drake
Mentoring Matters-Rediscovering the Joy in Teaching with Debi West
2022
National Art Education Association Convention
· Records for Change-Altered Albums for Social Justice Studio Workshop (March 3, 2022)
· Art, Math, and M.C. Escher-Demystifying the Process of Teaching Tessellations Studio Workshop with Nancy Walkup (March 4, 2022)
2021
· National Art Education Association Virtual Convention-The Crackerbox Sketchbook Project Studio Workshop (March 4-6, 2021)
· Mississippi Art Education Association Conference-Altered Books Workshop (Nov. 11, 2021)
· Tennessee Arts Academy (Virtual) Presentation (July, 2021)
2020
· NASCO Education’s Maker Mondays Webinar Presentations:
o Altered Books Part 1 (November 23, 2020)
o Altered Books Part 2 (November 30, 2020)
· Tennessee Art Education Association Fall Virtual Conference
o Super Session: Lights, Camera Teach! (Presenting, Making & Editing Videos)
· Louisiana Art Education Association Virtual Conference:
o Keynote Presenter: The Magic of Art (October 23, 2020)
o Altered Books Workshop (October 24, 2020)
· Omaha Art Teachers’ Professional Development (Omaha, Nebraska-Virtually)
o Lights, Camera Teach! (Presenting, Making & Editing Videos)
o Motivational Lecture to Elementary Educators
· Tennessee Arts Academy (Virtual), July 2020,
o Pop-Up Cards Workshop
o Lights, Camera, Teach! - Improving Teaching Videos
· Williamson County Middle School & Secondary Art Teacher Professional Development- Altered Books
· National Art Education Association Convention (Proposal Accepted)-Sketchbook Frenzy, co-presented with Carrol McTyre (Conference Cancelled/Uploaded Taped Presentation to Website App)
2019
· National Art Education Association Convention (Boston, MA)-Altered Books/Changed Lives
· Mississippi Art Education Association Fall Conference-Pop-Up Card Workshop
· South Carolina Art Education Association-Pop-Up Card Workshop
· Tennessee Art Education Association Fall Conference (Nashville, TN)-Altered Books/Changed Lives Workshop
2018
· Virginia Art Education Association Fall Conference (Richmond, VA)-Life and Legacy of Stanley Bleifeld-Sculptor of the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial
· Mississippi Art Education Association Fall Conference (Jackson, MS)-Aminah’s Memory Box Project
· National Art Education Association Convention (Seattle, WA)-Aminah’s Memory Box Project
2017
· Middle Tennessee Art Education Association Regional Conference (Nashville, TN)-Keynote: Back to the Basics and Facing the Future
· National Art Education Association Convention (New York, NY)-Middle-Level Extravaganza-Sustainable City Games
2016
· Tennessee Art Education Association Fall Conference (Nashville, TN)- Narrative and Folk Art (Hands-On)
2015
Tennessee Art Education Association Fall Conference (Gatlinburg, TN)-Teaching Art with a Styrofoam Head (Hands-On)
2010
· My Journey to The Blind Side and Back-Discussion of experience as an actor in film, “The Blind Side,” at the University of Memphis, various high schools in the Mid-South and on Television
· Teacher’s Night Out - Art Museum at the University of Memphis
Professional development opportunity for Memphis area teachers in connection with the Paul Revere Williams Project Exhibit
2009
National Art Education Association Convention, Minneapolis
· Presented, “Making a Memory Tower and Motivating Minds” (Research-Based)
· Co-presented with Dr. Donalyn Heise, Paul Revere Williams Project and
The L.I.F.E Project (UM Collaborative Community Outreach)
Publications:
1. Beyond the Shape of the Spoon (February, 2022) SchoolArts Magazine
2. Pop Art Perspective-Clip Card (January, 2022) SchoolArts Magazine
3. Design Boards (December, 2021) SchoolArts Magazine
4. Art, Math and M.C. Escher (October, 2021) SchoolArts Magazine
5. Ping Pong Prompts-Clip Card (May, 2021) SchoolArts Magazine
6. Honoring Kindness (January, 2021) Cover Article SchoolArts Magazine
7. The Cracker Box Sketchbook (September, 2020) SchoolArts Magazine
8. Choice Based Self-Portraits (Summer 2020) SchoolArts Magazine
9. Clay Cottages of Hope (January, 2020) SchoolArts Magazine
10. Weaving Nature into the Art Classroom (November, 2019) Cover Article SchoolArts
11. Why Art Really Matters to Me (September, 2019) SchoolArts Magazine
12. Dismantled Robots (May, 2019) SchoolArts Magazine
13. Proofs and Spoofs (March, 2019) SchoolArts Magazine
14. I Resemble That Remark – Clip Card (January, 2019) SchoolArts Magazine
15. Before and After Selfie – Clip Card (December, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
16. Portrait of Nature – Clip Card (November, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
17. Pop Art Design-Warhol – Clip Card (October, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
18. Pinch Pot Creatures (September, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
19. Postcards from Outer Space-Clip Card (Summer Issue, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
20. Family Tree Silhouettes-Clip Card (May, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
21. Steampunk Bugs! (March, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
22. Highlighted in “I Can’t Live Without” (February, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
23. Giving Light to Hope (January, 2018) SchoolArts Magazine
24. Big Dot Art-Clip Card (December, 2017) SchoolArts Magazine
25. Tower of Memories-Clip Card (November, 2017) SchoolArts Magazine
26. Big Shoe Fables-Clip Card (September, 2017) SchoolArts Magazine
27. Art Rocks in Memphis (Summer Issue, 2017) SchoolArts Magazine
28. What’s Your Line-Clip Card (April, 2017) SchoolArts Magazine
29. Romare Bearden and Me (February, 2017) SchoolArts Magazine
30. Art After Hours (October, 2016) SchoolArts Magazine. Co-authored with Dr. Donalyn Heise
31. How to Be a Highly Effective Art Teacher (Aug./Sept. 2011 Digital) SchoolArts Magazine. Co-authored with Dr. Donalyn Heise
The Indispensable Art Teacher(May/June 2011)[1]SchoolArts Magazine. Co-authored with Dr. Donalyn Heise
[1] *SchoolArts Magazine is a national publication with an international reach. Published by Davis Publishers.
Books:
· STEAM Education: An Interdisciplinary Look at Art in the Curriculum (2024) Contributing Author. National Art Education Association Publication
· Proofs & Spoofs (March, 2020) STEAM, Grades 2-8, Book Davis Publications
· Author/Illustrator - The Little Bluebird (2001) Children’s book.
· Illustrator - ABC’s for Teachers by Billie McDonald Jeffries (1993) Devotional book for teachers.
Exhibits
Faith Ringgold's, "Anyone Can Fly" Foundation Art Auction - New York (2014 -2019)
Charlotte Ehinger-Schwarz 1876 Solo Exhibit - Memphis, TN (2015)
The Spa Midtown Solo Exhibit - Memphis, TN (2016)
New Hope Christian Academy Art on the Grounds sponsored by Crosstown Arts - Memphis, TN (2016)
Interests
Art Advocacy
Acting- Listed with Colors Agency in Memphis. Appeared in several television commercials. Role of history teacher in the film, "The Blind Side"
Writing