Sara P. Cunningham

Welcome

To my digital art education portfolio. Here you will discover who I am as a educator and an artist. You will find documentation of my various experiences within my art education classes and lesson plans for middle, high school, and higher level education. I have also included many images of student artwork as well as images of my own works. My resume with credentials, and teaching philosophy are included as well.

I was born and raised in Steubenville, Ohio where I attended Catholic schools for twelve years. When I graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1999 I attended Jefferson Community College, where I completed the general transfer courses and graduated with an Associate of Arts in 2005. In 2001, I entered West Liberty State College and began my studies in Art Education, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelors of Art with a focus in Fine Art.

I then began to pursue my passion for art through the mental health field. I focused on using basic crafting skills to help patients with anxiety or stress. During this time, I began taking courses in Sign Language. That led to an A.A.S. in Sign Language Interpreter from West Virginia Northern Community College graduating in 2009.

After working in the mental health field, I then moved on to a job at a craft store where I was surrounded by the atmosphere of arts and crafts. After three years of retail I realized my passion was not just in art but was in teaching art. I then went on to finish my teaching certification to follow my dream of being an art educator that I started so many years ago. Proudly, graduating in 2011 from West Liberty University with a B.A. in Art Education.

Most recently, I have completed M.A. in Art Education through Kent State University. My thesis project focused on art museum education. This project has expanded my view of art education outside of the classroom setting. I have since then incorporated more art history into my art lessons, giving my students a more wider view of the world outside.

I now have twelve years experience teaching art at the junior and high school level. I also have a year of instructing an Art Appreciation course at the local community college. Living in Steubenville, I belong to the Art Association and advise the local chapter of The National Beta Club, a community service organization. Giving back and helping others within my community is important to me as well as teaching my students this practice.

I love art, all the art, creating, looking, doing, and learning all about all the art.

Get in touch at [sarapaddy81@gmail.com]