Robin Stauffer is the JCPS Certified Employee of the Month for December 2024!
An educator for 27 years, she has taught art at Glendale-Kenly Elementary since 2015. Before moving from Ohio to North Carolina, she spent 14 years teaching early childhood education.
Why did you choose the role of teaching?
As a young child, art was my favorite subject in school. I was also very active with my local YMCA, and when I was 13 I worked as a summer camp counselor for three years. Then, when I was 17, I became the Arts and Crafts Counselor. As I was planning for college, it was a natural progression for me to study Art Education, and continue my love of working with youth and art.
What has this profession taught you?
Being an educator has taught me to be flexible and that it’s ok to change up your teaching strategies. All children learn differently, so what was engaging for one class may not connect with another class.
How do you create an environment for your students to feel successful as they learn?
I show my students that it is ok to fail, and not all ideas turn out as expected. Also, with many of my lessons l allow students to choose what they create so that their art is special to them, and it's different from others in their class.
How do you plan to build on your award winning strategies?
I plan to continue learning new strategies through Art Professional Development, and by collaborating with other art teachers to learn what strategies are supporting their students' success.
As an educator, why is it important to build relationships with your students? How do you do that in your classroom?
Building relationships with students is important because when the students feel that your classroom environment is a safe space, they will try their best and ask for help when they need it.
One technique I use in my classroom to build relationships with my students is by greeting every one of them at the door with either a high five, fist bump, elbow bump, or silly dance. This simple act allows me the opportunity to speak with each student one-on-one before they enter my classroom.
As you continue as an educator, what are your future goals as it relates to education?
I would like to attend a national art conference. It would be wonderful to brainstorm with other educators from all over the United States, and see all the fantastic art ideas to bring back and share with my students.
What advice would you give to those thinking about a career in education?
My advice to anyone thinking about a career in education is to remember your "why". My "why" is watching a student create a piece of art that they didn’t think was possible. That is the reason I’m a teacher.
Also, make time for yourself and family. Balance is the key to keeping your mental and physical health in good condition.