Art Teachers

I agree that state-of-the-art schools are something to aim for, but your letter writer left out the most important part of the ideal classroom: The person who sits behind the desk in the front of the room ("Baltimore needs state-of-the-art schools to grow," June 23). I was seven years old and had been in school for a year and a half when I was transferred from an expensive private boarding school to a public school in Baltimore City. I was left-handed, but nobody had ever heard of dyslexia.

Mavis S. "Sherry" Sheedy, a retired Baltimore public schools art teacher and longtime museum docent, died April 4 of congestive heart failure at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster. The Reisterstown resident was 74. The daughter of a civil engineer and a registered nurse, Mavis Sherron Grantham was born and raised in Whitney, Texas, where she graduated in 1956 from Whitney High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1960 in Spanish from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and later earned a master's degree in art education from Towson University.

Two former area high school teachers were among 14 current and former Baltimore County Public Schools art teachers honored in statewide exhibition, Duane Sabiston, who taught at Catonsville High School from fall of 1969 to fall of 1971 and at Lansdowne High School from fall of 1987 to fall of 1989, and Bruno Baran, who taught at Lansdowne from fall of 89 to spring of 1998, were among the six retired teachers who took part in the...

The object was to depict a vivid memory on colored paper, creating a narrative of depth and symmetry. Marriotts Ridge High School junior Taylor Hensh conjured up a piece illustrating what happens when New Year's Eve fireworks go wrong. The piece recalls a vacation at Deep Creek Lake two years ago with her family and a few others, when the fathers decided to set off fireworks — one of which struck Taylor in the arm, putting holes in her North Face jacket but leaving her otherwise unscathed.

While many know the Baltimore School for the Arts exists, some may not know much more about it than that. I, for one. Until I went to the art faculty show a few days ago and talked to Stephen D. Kent, head of the visual art department, I had the foolish idea that the students at this four-year high school took a little of this and a little of that (music, dance, theater, visual arts) in an effort to sort out what they wanted to do.Not at all. Students enter in one particular discipline, and take 20 periods of that discipline and 20 periods of academic studies a week, for four years.

As a small group of Harford County residents pleaded for more art teachers, school nurses and support for volunteer firefighters, the County Council president and county executive continued to lock heads in a power struggle.The dispute pitting Council President Jeffrey D. Wilson, a Republican, and County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann, a Democrat, has become a war of words as well as a question about spending power.About 30 people spoke last night at the first of two public hearings on Rehrmann's $174.

When it comes to art in Howard County, those who can, teach.It is one of the principles that Barry Shauck emphasizes."I think it's really important to be exposed to people who are practicing," said Mr. Shauck, who supervises the county's 75 art teachers. They "can show the creative . . . and decision-making process."During Mr. Shauck's six-year tenure, the number of art teachers in Howard has more than doubled. The expansion is due to the county's growth as well as Mr. Shauck's leadership and political skill, associates say.At the same time, he has expanded the number of student art exhibits to nearly one a month.

PARENTS WILL HAVE the opportunity to see origins of their children's artistic inspirations next month when Carroll County Arts Council opens a show featuring the works of several art teachers. The exhibit, "Carroll County Public Art Teachers: Insights Show," will run Sept. 10 to Oct. 3, and feature paintings, drawings and sculptures by teachers Ruth Aukerman, Bonnie Baber, Brigitte Delzingaro, Valerie Estes, Holly Ferraro, Stan Gilmore, Cristina Gruss, Joyce Harrison, Charmayne Noonan, Cara Ober, Jim Roberts, Sharon Shaeffer, Carolyn Seabolt, Melodie Taylor, Jane Van Bibber and Christine Wenderoth.

David Lancaster grits his teeth in concentration and slowly draws an oval on blue construction paper. In a few minutes he'll paint it tan, add some eyes and a nose and top it with a feathered headdress.David and the 20 other energetic 6-year-olds are busy drawing an American Indian, resplendent with a beaded necklace and war paint, because it's Thanksgiving.But the students at Jarrettsville Elementary also are learning about shapes, how to use brushes and follow directions, says art teacher Linda Milano.

Kim and Shirley Seyler, of Parkton, announce the engagement of their daughter, Amber Kate Seyler, to Timothy Joseph Vyskocil, son of Robert and Diane Vyskocil, of Nottingham. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Hereford High School and the College of Notre Dame. She is currently employed as an art teachers for Harford County Public Schools. The future groom is a graduate of Eastern Technical High School and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is currently employed as a correctional commitment specialist at the Baltimore County Department of Corrections.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will kick off the school year in Maryland on Wednesday, with an address and Q&A session with 850 Baltimore County language arts teachers at Perry Hall High School.  According to a release from the U.S. Department of Education, Duncan will join new county Superintendent Dallas Dance, and new state Superintendent Lillian Lowery, in discussing the Obama administration's education reform efforts, specifically those...

E. Carey Kenney, a noted Pikesville artist who headed the art department at McDonogh School for more than three decades and whose oils and watercolors were inspired by the Owings Mills campus' rolling hills and fields, died Thursday of pneumonia at Seasons Hospice at Northwest Hospital in Randallstown. He was 98. "Ed Kenney was a dear friend and a fabulous teacher. He was a wonderfully colorful person," said George S. Wills, a semiretired Baltimore public relations executive and painter who graduated from McDonogh in 1954.

I agree that state-of-the-art schools are something to aim for, but your letter writer left out the most important part of the ideal classroom: The person who sits behind the desk in the front of the room ("Baltimore needs state-of-the-art schools to grow," June 23). I was seven years old and had been in school for a year and a half when I was transferred from an expensive private boarding school to a public school in Baltimore City. I was left-handed, but nobody had ever heard of dyslexia.

When Mark Chewning was a kid, he dreamed of being an artist. But at some point, the Baltimore resident's dream became all but dormant, giving way to about 27 years in the photograph-retouching business and a stint as supermarket deli clerk, as well as marriage, parenting, unemployment, divorce and self-doubt. Last week, Chewning, 54, was honored as the Student of the Year at Howard Community College. The single parent says his dream of becoming an artist will probably never come to fruition.

Two former area high school teachers were among 14 current and former Baltimore County Public Schools art teachers honored in statewide exhibition, Duane Sabiston, who taught at Catonsville High School from fall of 1969 to fall of 1971 and at Lansdowne High School from fall of 1987 to fall of 1989, and Bruno Baran, who taught at Lansdowne from fall of 89 to spring of 1998, were among the six retired teachers who took part in the...

Mimi Rafferty , an art teacher at Trinity School, in Ellicott City, received the Outstanding Visual Arts Educator Award, on Oct. 21, presented by the Maryland Art Education Association. The award category is Career Teacher at the Elementary/Middle level in an AIMS school. AIMS is the Association of Maryland Independent Schools. Rafferty holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Antioch University and is currently in her tenth year as the art instructor at Trinity School, where she teaches students from age 4-14.

Museum a supplementFrom: Arnold L. LehmanDirectorThe Baltimore Museum of ArtI would like to draw your attention to a section of the article "Teachers urge council to find money for raises," [The Harford County Sun, May 17] by Carol L. Bowers. A paragraph at the end of that article may lead to an incorrect perception about Baltimore's cultural institutions.Contrary to The Harford County Sun reporter's account, The Baltimore Museum of Art enjoys a strong and continuing part nership with Harford County teachers.

Harford County schools may end half-days for elementary students next year, terminating what some parents have called a day care nightmare.But teachers are opposed to the move because they will lose valuable planning time, according to the Harford County Educational Association, the teachers' union."

Kim and Shirley Seyler, of Parkton, announce the engagement of their daughter, Amber Kate Seyler, to Timothy Joseph Vyskocil, son of Robert and Diane Vyskocil, of Nottingham. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Hereford High School and the College of Notre Dame. She is currently employed as an art teachers for Harford County Public Schools. The future groom is a graduate of Eastern Technical High School and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is currently employed as a correctional commitment specialist at the Baltimore County Department of Corrections.

Joshua Paul Parker readily admits he makes his language arts students at Windsor Mill Middle School work hard. "Proficiency is not enough," he said. "They have to shoot for perfection. There is strength in striving. " That attitude embodies Baltimore County's aspirations for its more than 100,000 students and led to Parker's choice as the teacher of the year Monday during the county's 24th annual celebration of its teaching talent. "He lives and breathes the philosophy of our blueprint for progress," said Joe A. Hairston, superintendent of county schools.