Meet the RCSD Art Teachers

RFA Art Teachers

How long have you been an Art Teacher?
I have been an art teacher for 12 years.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part about being an art teacher is sharing my passion for fine art, and watching my students grow confidence in their art-making. Because art can be a peaceful practice, it allows the students in the art room to relax and build trusting bonds with each other (as well as with me), which is very rewarding.

How do you believe art impacts students?

Art has always been incredibly beneficial to students, as a way to de-stress and express their emotions - and challenge themselves with new skills and increased creativity. During this pandemic/isolation time, I've noticed more of a necessity for art-making. Creating art allows students to express their fears, worries, and otherwise indescribable emotions in a safe and rewarding way. There are times that I feel I am teaching not only important skills, but coping mechanisms as they make their way through this tumultuous and historic time. To say I love my job is an understatement - I spend most days full of pride as I watch my students soar.

How long have you been an Art Teacher?
22 years at all levels k-12

What is your favorite part of your job?
Helping students discover their talents and develop their skills as artists.

How do you believe art impacts students?
Art is integrated into so many aspects of our lives. I think students are relieved to be able to hold a pencil or paintbrush and not look at a screen during art class. Art offers students a unique experience that often leads to lifelong passions for creating whether it be drawing, painting or another artistic form.

How long have you been an Art Teacher?
I've been an art teacher for 12 years.

What is your favorite part of your job?
The best part of my job is witnessing students taking pride in their work and being excited about what they've created.

How do you believe art impacts students?
Art allows students to build multi-sensory connections. It enables and stimulates visual, tactile, cognitive, and therapeutic elements within the creative process. I believe these connections are relevant for life's everyday challenges.

How long have you been an Art Teacher?
As a teacher, I am known as Carolyn Comfort, I go by Karry though. As a working artist, I go by Karry Fuller Comfort. I have been exhibiting & selling artwork in CNY for over 30 years. Currently my work is represented by a local gallery, “The Copper Easel” 216 W. Dominick St., here in Rome.
I am in my twelfth year of being an art educator. I have taught for Rome City School District since I began. I grew up attending RCSD, K-12. I am pleased to teach in the district that graduated from.

What is your favorite part of your job?
The favorite part of my job is introducing concepts to students that help them to be successful and confident in their abilities. Everyone can learn to create unique and beautiful art. The methods that I teach, especially regarding “special concepts”, when taken seriously, can help the individual student to want to learn more. This is what I love about teaching!

How do you believe art impacts students?
I believe that “the arts” in education are an especially important part of becoming a well-rounded human being. Art education at its most elementary level helps students develop and work their fine motor skills, lean to create, and appreciate art. It helps students express themselves in a manner that they may not be able to otherwise. As a fine artist, an art educator and an adjunct professor of art I have had much experience of the way creating an original work of art can build confidence and make learners more curious. Art is everywhere, everything is designed, it takes an artist to do this. It is something that grows with you as you develop skill. It is something that a student can excel at well into later years of their lives.

How long have you been an Art Teacher?

I have been an Art teacher for almost 25 years. I am so thankful that I get to work with little Artists.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is working with kids and sharing my talents. I know I am successful with a lesson that moment when we finish an art project and my students look at their work and feel proud of what they have accomplished. My goal is to help build confidence, as well as skill. Many times, people are not aware of their abilities. It is my job to help them unleash their creativity. I provide a comfortable atmosphere where students learn how to "step out of their comfort zone" and express their ideas. Sometimes I wear headbands with cat ears, Pokémon hoodies, or sneakers that light up.... I like to relate to the kids and make them feel comfortable.
How do you believe art impacts students?

I believe Art has a great impact on how students think and reason. Art helps build confidence in decision making. There are no wrong answers when you are creating a piece of artwork. I teach my students to "think outside of the box" and problem solve. These are useful skills for real life situations. It is a learned skill to see things as an "Artist" sees things. These skills are useful when dealing with everyday situations such as visually trying to imagine how a new paint color will look on a wall, or how to turn a large piece of furniture to fit through a doorway. Art class allows students to have fun while learning. It is a very personal experience. Students get to learn about themselves and unlock their imagination while they are creating. They get to learn how to manipulate art materials to achieve certain outcomes. Art class is scheduled once a week in Elementary school. Parents always tell me if they are scheduling appointments their artist will not be happy if they have to miss school on the day art is scheduled.

Strough Art Teachers

How long have you been an Art Teacher?

 How long have you been an Art Teacher?

This is my 3rd year teaching for the Rome City School District, but I’ve been teaching art for 12 years now.

What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is creating an experience where my students learn they can create something they never knew they could before!

How do you believe art impacts students?
I believe the arts can do many things for our students. Art teaches students they can grow any skill by practicing. It can give them an escape, help them gain confidence, strengthen hand-eye coordination and even help them connect with other subjects in school.

How long have you been an Art Teacher?

I went back to college to get my degree in Art Education in my mid-thirties. After graduating, I taught art part-time and subbed for five years, and have been teaching art full time for five years.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love seeing student’s excitement when they persevere and create something that didn’t think they were capable of. I think that the ability to work through problems and learn from your mistakes is one of the greatest lessons we, as teachers, can give to our students.

How do you believe art impacts students?

The life skills of being willing to try something new, and push through those first few attempts and learn from your mistakes are huge. I tell my students that I make mistakes each and every day, but I never make the mistake of not learning from it or learning how to fix it. In art, students know that they are in a safe place to make mistakes and learn from them, and this is a skill they can take with them in all aspects of their life.

Elementary Art Teachers

How long have you been an Art Teacher?
I have been an art teacher at various positions for 32 years and this will be my 23rd year in Rome as an Art Teacher.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job, especially the elementary, is seeing the tremendous growth of the children's art skills as they move through the grades.

How do you believe art impacts students?

The arts are everywhere and impact everyone in so many ways. By educating the students to have an awareness and appreciation of the Arts, I believe, will help them grow into a well-rounded, creative person.

How long have you been an Art Teacher?
I have been teaching art for about 20 years, and have had experience teaching in preschool through high school.

What is your favorite part of your job?
There are many things I enjoy about my job, but the most important is my students. I really have the opportunity to get to know my students. It’s a special part of my job that I get to see students from kindergarten to sixth grade. I have the opportunity to watch students use what they have learned and grow and change and flourish, from year to year. It’s a credit I share with my coworkers. Even when things are hard, I appreciate being fortunate to be amongst people who work super hard to provide their best for the students.

How do you believe art impacts students?

Art impacts each child differently. What I provide for students is a safe and calm place to explore and develop ideas, explore creative mediums, and build on a base knowledge of skills. Art allows students to experience lessons that will affect more than just paper, for example: more than one perspective matters. I teach that there is more than one way to solve what appears to be a problem. I teach that often good things can arise from accidents, and that it’s okay to fail sometimes. Art is a good place to practice those life skills.

Some students come with a smile because they want to explore with supplies, and some students overcome what they think they can’t do. Some students just need a good place to express emotion.

Art impacts us as a society in so many ways on a day to day basis, I want to teach children an awareness and appreciation for that as well. I may be a little biased, but I believe art is more important for students now than ever before.