Name: Mel Arnstein
Subject and grade(s) taught: Visual Art, all grades, all tracks
How long have you been teaching?
This is my first year on my teaching license. Prior to this, I worked for six years as a teacher’s assistant in middle school special education programs.
Who or what influenced you to become a teacher?
My teachers growing up, especially my middle and high school art teachers. I love to learn and I love to teach. When I discovered teaching was something I was good at, I decided to become a teacher. I encourage anyone to discover what they are good at and to foster those skills. It is important to love what you do—both in work and play—so that you are happy.
How do you spend your track outs?
Since I’m the art teacher, I serve all tracks and I am a 12-month employee. When I take time off, I enjoy gardening, spending time with my family, and exploring North Carolina. I am a new resident (since 2013) and I love that NC is a mix of the north and the south. I am originally from New York state and my husband is from Georgia.
What are your hobbies?
Drawing cartoons and comics; cooking; gardening; and learning
What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
Learning. If I stop learning, then I feel ineffective. As an educator, I must learn how to gear my lessons towards my students’ needs and their skill sets. Despite what stays the same, change is always happening. I must learn to adapt so that I can help my students learn how to adapt.
If I weren’t a teacher I’d be…
A chef. I love cooking and I began learning from some pretty awesome ladies (my mom and grandmothers). I would love to have the time to practice more advanced cooking techniques. Anything can be someone’s art: whether it is cooking, making a work of art, or running a business. This is ultimately what I love about art and most especially about the word itself. Art is a Latin-based word that at its root means skill. Whatever I do in life, I hope to learn as many skills as I can while honing the skills I use the most. Then I’d want to teach my own children one day…and end up as a teacher anyway!
How you can help Mrs. Arnstein and her students
Show your appreciation for all of Mrs. Arnstein’s hard work by fulfilling one of her supply requests: white computer paper, boxes of tissues, empty cereal boxes, and used tools (hammers, pliers, screw drivers, etc.), wood planks, pencils, and pink erasers.
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