Becca Michael Current Position Title or Avocation: Visual Art Teacher- Intro to Art, Photography 1-4, Jewelrymaking/ Metaldesign, Advanced Placement 2D Design with a focus in Darkroom Photography Current Professional Institution or Locationin which you are working: Alpharetta High School, Alpharetta, Georgia Email: [email protected] Web address: www.bemichael.weebly.com
Degrees Master of Arts in Art Education, University of Florida- anticipated 2020 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, Valdosta State University- Fall 2014
Key Professional Appointments July 2015 to current Art Teacher Alpharetta High School Fulton County Public Schools, Atlanta, GA
Teaching grades 9-12 in Photography, Advanced Placement 2 Dimensional Design, Advanced Placement Drawing, Drawing, Introduction to Art, Jewelrymaking
Communicating with school administration
Communicating with parents about students’ progress
Coaching Varsity softball (Fall 2015-Fall 2016)
March 2015 to April 2015 Long Term Substitute Teacher Riverwood International Charter School, Sandy Springs, GA
Teaching grades 9-12 in Visual Arts and Photography
2/14 – 4/14 Volunteer Art Instructor, Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, Georgia
Taught skills and developed interests in various areas of art
Communicated ideas with students based on their interests
Taught students in drawing, painting and printmaking
Classroom management for 2nd grade students
1/13 – 5/13 Art Instructor, Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, Georgia
Taught classes in the basics of ceramics
Provided feedback to the students and facilitators to encourage and improve performance
Classroom management in a ceramics for grades 6 and 7
8/12-12/12 Assistant Art Instructor
Taught students in drawing, painting and printmaking
Assessed students’ interests to tailor topics and curriculum
Classroom management for 2nd grade students
Professional Associations Professional Association of Georgia Educators- Member since 2010 National Art Education Association- Member since 2011 Georgia Art Education Association- Member since 2011
Research Interests Mental health with art, art education, experimental photography
Narrative Biography I am a firm believer that anyone can learn to create art. Through the use of research based strategies and inspiration, I strive to create a creative learning environment for all students, regardless of their skill level. Teachers provide the stepping stones to pave the way for a students’ educational path. The path they choose, is solely up to them. By exposing students to a variety of approaches, they become well versed in the language and media of art. Not only do they learn to create art, they learn the professional language of how to talk about it.
I am a passionate artist and educator, focusing in Black and White Photography and Jewlerymaking/Metalsmithing. My artwork uses nature inspired elements and physical pieces. I am also very interested in how art can help students with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. With a long time diagnosis of anxiety, depression, and a panic disorder, I find the use of artmaking to soothe the nerves, and I am interested in the reasons why and how I can use that in the classroom to help students that struggled like me.
The large photograph in the center is the work of one of my former students, as well as the one on the right (though it is cut off) The picture on the left is one of mine (again cut off).