This fall, River Dell welcomed a new teacher to the art department: Ms. Seiss.
Sophomore Haylee Villacis explained, “Ms. Seiss is a great addition to our school, and I think she positively impacts every student’s life.”
With her love for the color pink and her adoration of dogs (despite having no pets of her own), Ms. Seiss has quickly became a favorite teacher among her students. In her free time, she enjoys trying out new restaurants, diving into a good book, painting, and spending time with her friends and family.
However, she did not always want to be a teacher. Originally, Ms. Seiss had planned to work in healthcare.
Though, while studying biology in her first year at college, she realized that healthcare wasn’t what she really wanted to do. She had always loved working with kids and had a passion for art, and said, “You know what? Let’s combine the two.” This led her to become an art teacher, enriching the lives of countless students.
“Ms. Seiss has really made me love art more,” says Siena Corrigan, a sophomore at River Dell, “I didn’t know how much I actually loved art until I took her courses here.”
Ms. Seiss’s philosophy is simple: “I believe that art should be accessible for everybody and everyone. No matter what age or experience level students should feel welcome in the art studio.”
Art is a great creative outlet which is both peaceful and fun, making the world a better place. She takes pride in the fact that her students can come into her class excited to learn and grow in the classroom.
Regarding her favorite things to teach, ceramic projects have a special place in her heart. Clay is very hands on and it allows students to make sculptures as well as glaze them, which is similar to painting. She finds the fact that clay is naturally occurring and recyclable particularly fascinating.
While Ms. Seiss is a dedicated teacher, she is also a dedicated learner. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree for visual arts education through the SUNY system, with plans to graduate in August. This pursuit shows her commitment to becoming the best teacher she can be. It allows her to not only learn new teaching strategies, but also to create artwork and do research in the classroom.
Ms. Seiss’s transition from healthcare to art education is a display of her passion for both creativity and nurturing young minds. Her dedication to her students and her work is clear in every lesson, making her invaluable to River Dell High School.
