What is your title at GCAA?

“I am a high school graphic design instructor.”

How many years have you been in education?

“I started here in August and I was [at] Old North teaching pre-k through 8th art before that. This is my second year in education.”

Where did you get your certification/teaching degree?

“From the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque back in 2005.”

Why did you choose GCAA?

“I think it would be a better fit for myself having a photography background [and] a little bit of graphic design background. I think [it’ll] be a better fit to give my knowledge to students who are interested in photography and graphic design.”

Do you like leaving an impression on students?

“Yes, I do. I think it’s important to y’know, have that, even years from now, but actually have them come back and be like ‘look what I’m doing.’ Even now, seeing the growth in my students [is] awesome.”

How do you think your previous experience (whether in education or not) will benefit you as a teacher at GCAA?

“It was a little more challenging doing pre-k through eighth. It was all a variety of different grades. It was all mixed up and down everyday. It really brought me up to par for where I should be, here.”

What do you like about teaching at GCAA?

“I like that it’s an arts based school and you focus on one area of art to teach.”

How would you describe your teaching style?

“I would say it’s creative, kind of a little more laid back. I still have my expectations that I need to meet with my students, but I think you gotta have that more inviting warm feel to come into your classroom.”

What’s been challenging about teaching at GCAA?

“I think knowing that there’s more different types of meetings, different groups of meetings. It’s just a lot more than what I had at Old North. It’s a matter of getting kind of used to a lot of the meetings. Department meetings, admin meetings, all of that, it’s a little more of a challenge to bring them all together.”

Is there anything else you would like me to know?

“I do photography and work outside of school. I do family portraits, seniors [photos], weddings and I do have a husband and he’s also an artist as well. He paints, draws and sculpts, so it’s kind of like a double whammy of artists in the house.”