Samantha Melvin, 4th and 5th grade Fine Arts: Art, Music and Theatre
Named Teacher of the Year for Burnet CISD, 2009
Power of Art Award 2009, the Lab School of Washington and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
Elementary Division Chair, Texas Art Education Association
Western Region Elementary Division Representative, National Art Education Association
Boys & Girls Club, Art teacher, Advisory Council member, and volunteer
Contact me: [email protected]
About the Teacher... That's me--the Fine Arts Teacher! Let me tell you a little bit about myself: I have moved 12 times in my life! I have lived in Michigan, Mexico, France, Germany, England, New York, and Texas. I am married, and I have four wonderful children. I love to travel, to visit museums and art galleries, and to eat great food--I support our local CSA (community supported agriculture) and I think we all have a responsibility to learn about and take care of our environment. Before moving to Burnet in 2007, I taught Art to Kindergarten through 5th grade students at Hunters Creek Elementary in Spring Branch ISD, in Houston, TX. We did some really great projects like The Interactive Energy Garden (http://naea2008.digication.com/ then search in the e-portfolio directory for the Interactive Energy Garden) through an A+ for Energy grant through British Petroleum (BP) and many others in collaboration with teachers across grade-levels and subject areas. I had the tremendous honor of being selected Spring Branch ISD District Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2007, as well as being the recipient of the 2007 School Bell Award from the Spring Branch ISD Council of PTA's, and a recipient of the Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
I love teaching my 4th and 5th graders about Art, Music and Theatre--the Fine Arts go hand in hand with everything we do! We had a great year last year--and I can't wait for this coming school year. Our theme for the Fine Arts Studio is "Exploring the World" so we have a lot of great things ahead of us. Watch for our online art exhibit on Artsonia as well, as it is a means to providing additional funds for our fine arts program, but also gives family and friends the opportunity to see our creative work! (link to be added in the fall)
I believe every child is an artist and a thinker. My teaching philosophy is to create an environment that builds an appreciation for the Arts and a platform for self-expression. Each person has the ability to express creatively that which defines them as an individual. It is my role as a teacher and a facilitator to help my students connect to themselves and to others through the Arts.
Arts education is the education of the whole child.