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About Art Smart with Mrs J

Get to know Cheryl Johnson and what her education journey is all about!

About Mrs J

         Throughout her entire life Cheryl Johnson (a.k.a Mrs J) has loved two things: art, and children. She always considered being an art teacher, but it wasn’t until she moved to a new town while in high school that I knew I wanted to be an art teacher. Her new school offered amazing art classes with the best art teachers she had ever had. They encouraged her to be herself, push the limits, and take risks. They inspired Johnson and now she wants to inspire future generations.
          She attended Central Connecticut State University from 2011 to 2016. During college she began working at a ceramic studio as a studio assistant, summer camp teacher, class teacher, and wheel instructor. On December 16, 2016 she graduated with a degree in Art Education. Just three days later she started her first official teaching job as a high school Ceramics teacher. Johnson worked as a PK-5th grade art teacher in her first full time district in the 2017-2018 school year. She has been a K-5 art teacher in her current district since 2018.
          Cheryl Johnson just recently started her Masters in Education program where her focus will be in Curriculum & Instruction.

What Makes A Great Educator?

           A great educator is caring, inspiring, and takes an active interest in all of his or her students’ success. I have had many art teachers, but the best ones were the ones that were inspired and invested in their own creativity as well as their students’. Active participation in creative endeavors is critical for the mind of an art teacher. If an art teacher is no longer inspired to create, how will they to inspire creativity in their students?

           How do you use your creative mind every day? Growing up, I thought that working in multiple media put me at a disadvantage as an artist because I didn’t feel like I was specialized enough. Little did I know that my experience with many media would be incredibly helpful to me as an art teacher. The beauty of art teaching (especially in elementary) instead of working with one media, I get to explore multiple exciting mediums a day! Painting, drawing, found objects, sewing, stained glass, clay, and so much more keep our days full of excitement. The possibilities for creative exploration are endless, and you're in the right place for art lesson inspiration!

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- Cheryl Johnson

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