Choice Leads to Deep Dive in Art - Teachers Honor Teachers
- Maggie Boggess, Columbus City Schools
“Sarah is a passionate advocate for all voices to be heard and valued. She subtly compels students to consider new perspectives, ask questions, and critically explore big ideas.”
-Maggie Boggess
It is my pleasure to share about and honor Sarah Jones Rough, an K-5 art teacher at Clinton and Winterset elementary schools in the Columbus City School District. I began working formally with Sarah when we became thought partners with the "Cultivating Creative and Civic Capacities" project in collaboration with the Columbus Museum of Art and Harvard's Project Zero.
As a fellow Columbus City Schools teacher, I have always enjoyed exchanging ideas with her during professional development sessions and was thrilled to begin a three-year project with her and other incredible educators. At the beginning of the project, we never imagined that we would be supporting and inspiring each other through a pandemic as fellow educators and as moms! With Sarah's encouragement, empathy, and observations, my teaching has been strengthened and enriched immensely. I can truly say that teaching through the pandemic would have been more stressful and discouraging without her thoughtful input and calm optimism. Anyone meeting Sarah experiences her gentle encouragement and compassion.
“Her students are lucky to have her and my teaching has been strengthened because of her,” says Maggie Boggess.
In addition to being an amazing human being, Sarah is a dynamic and outstanding educator. She follows a "Choice-Based Studio Model" for her classroom. This allows her Clinton Elementary School students to dive deeply into ideas and materials that interest them. Because students follow their ideas, their experiences in their studio space are more engaging and meaningful.
Sarah is also a passionate advocate for all voices to be heard and valued. She subtly compels students to consider new perspectives, ask questions, and critically explore big ideas. She encourages student autonomy and agency through her studio approach, which creates confidence in her students. At a time when we are seeing increased student anxiety and mental health issues, I can imagine how therapeutic and needed this is!
“Sarah is committed to sharing her experiences as a ‘Choice-Based’ teacher with other teachers.”
In addition to this, Sarah is committed to sharing her experiences as a "Choice-Based" teacher with other teachers. Recently, she even volunteered to lead a professional development session for all Columbus City Schools elementary art teachers on this topic. Sarah is always happy to lend books and other resources as well. When others have not understood her approach, she allows the students' work to demonstrate how effective and important this method is to students' esteem and cognitive development.
For these and countless other reasons, I am excited to share about Sarah and her students so they can be honored and celebrated.
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation launched a new program last fall inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Maggie Boggess expresses her admiration for fellow teacher, Sarah Rough. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.