Art Teacher Joins Old North

Art Teacher goes to Old North 

Confluence Academies Old North Campus hired me to be Art Teacher for 2023-2024 school year. I am over-credentialed and underqualified in some respects but thrilled to explore this opportunity. I have worked as Paraprofessional and frequent substitute for The Special School District (7/2013-9/2018). I completed my Master of Arts in Teaching at Fontbonne University (2018). I became Certified as a Special Education Teacher and Art Teacher. I taught in a self-contained classroom at Great Circle (10-2018 to 1-2021) navigating Covid and virtual learning via Zoom part of the time. I returned to SSD at Special Education teacher at Westview Middle School (at SSD partner district Riverview Gardens from 7/2021-12/2022). I accepted an opportunity to fill an immediate need as Art Teacher at Winfield Middle School Jan/Feb 2023. Over the Summer, I explored Special Education positions but was determined to follow my passion for teaching Art. Old North gave me the opportunity.

I was able to connect with businesses in the Old North neighborhood and secured a high-profile window display in two businesses during the Old North Restoration Group’s Art/Music and House Tours Festival on September 16, 2023 and again on September 21, 2024. The visibility was perfect to showcase the excitement brewing at Old North Academy, US International Foods and Legal Services on North14^th Street proudly featured student work in their shop windows. Vendors and visitors enjoyed the festivities including music at Crown Square, sidewalk chalk, house tours and more.

So with my modest portfolio of education experiences in Special Education and Art I’m proud to display some evident of the results. Stay tuned. More is sure to come. Stay tuned.

The work, is often produced with a lack of adequate materials in a timeframe that is less than optimal but you can see sparks of creativity and creative problem solving when you can challenge students to express themselves. Above: An 8th grader responds to the challenge to "draw what you see around you in the classroom." Another 7th grader invents a story where the main character is looking for an outfit for an important outfit for an event and goes to her closet only to find herself lost in a closet that is so big she gets lost. (A fantastic premise.) Also above is work by Winfield Middle School that together shows the work and the school theme YOU ARE  WORTH IT. A Bingo sheet helps enhance the communication around women in STEAM at Neuwoehner High School (Special School District).  At Great Circle students were challenged to design Covid facemasks. Art is also an integral part of communication of PBIS program elements on classroom doors and bulletin boards.

You and Me

American Gothic, 1930 by Grant Wood at Chicago Institute of Art 

You and Me

We’ve lived our lives and made our choices,

No regrets, all is well, We listen to childrens’ voices.

Be in the moment. Don’t forget to breathe.

If we were together, would we ever leave?

 

I wouldn’t change a thing. Neither would you.

As time goes by, we do what we do.

We’re far away but really in the same space.

A quiet, peaceful, mostly joyful time and place.

 

Alone as a spec of dust or a grain of sand.

Isn’t it wonderful, just so grand?

“Get off my lawn!" said the angry old man.

We do what we do and we do what we can.

(Just know I’m your number one fan,)

AABB, AABB, AABB, AABB according to plan.

“Everybody’s an artist” says the art teacher.

Van Gogh started as art and book seller, and a preacher.  

Van Gogh Sunflowers, 1889 at Philadelphie Museaum of Art

Confluence of Events at Old North

 

Confluence Academy - Old North Campus  

“Come see our students' amazing artwork on display at US International Foods, 2607 North 14th Street in St. Louis. More than 100 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders used tempera and acrylic paint to design their beautiful pieces. The artwork will be on display through mid-September. Plus, don't miss the Old North House Tour & Arts Festival on September 16th. Hosted by Old North Saint Louis Restoration Group Thank you to our dedicated and passionate Art Teacher, Mr. Morgan, for creating this opportunity for our students! #oldnorthacademy #confluenceacademies”  

   

How fun is this, a sort of confluence of events resulted in me working with my friend David Shogren, American Marketing Association St, Louis Chapter President on his Old North Restoration Group committee. The committee simply asked for student artwork at the very moment I was preparing for my new art teaching job at Old North Academy.