The class is anxiously rushing as a sudden project has been dropped into their laps. With an hour dead line, they must make a sculpture made out of just a 18×24 inch piece of paper, a glue stick, and string; the project itself is worth a hundred points.
Why would any teacher do such a random and spur of the moment thing? Ms. McCulley finds that it truly brings out one’s craftsmanship, creativity, and productivity.
Ms. McCulley teaches multiple art classes at Carter High School, one out of the many is her art one class. Before she came to Carter she had taught at a variety of schools, but the one that started her realization of wanting to become an art teacher was her daughter’s elementary school. She goes on to tell a story of how she had volunteered at her daughter’s school, because they had no art teachers, and asked all the students to draw what they had done that weekend. While the majority of the kids had come up with picnics, and parks, one boy came up with him on a surgeon bed. Ms. McCulley went onto talk about how that day she had learned how art is an extremely powerful thing, one that can give a voice to someone who cannot express themselves through words.
Ms. McCulley has taught almost thirty years and has plans to retire soon. She says, “I plan to rest… take care of my mental health.” She says that she wants to get out while shes still kicking in her boots so that she can still be, “relevant.” She also wants to restart their soap and lotion business,”Wild Hare.” Possibly, she may even start teaching more community classes as she has in the past before her teaching days, of course long after she has gotten a thorough enough break.
She says that her “people” are teenagers, and as she has enjoyed her time dearly as a teacher, specifically she has enjoyed it most with high schoolers. Her take away from everything was that no matter if you claim to be an artist or not, the greatest joy you can have is forging something for yourself. So get out there and make a legacy; Ms. McCulley sure has, in the hearts of many students she has touched dearly with her inventive and hands-on learning experience.
Carter Corps News 