About Me
Hi! I’m Bethany, and I’m a preservice art educator.
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I’m originally from Saint Joseph, Michigan, a beautiful Midwest city on Lake Michigan. I come from an educator family. Being near beautiful scenery and having easy access to parks is something I value, which is one of the reasons I wanted to come to Fort Collins to attend CSU. My partner was in the NAVY for 10 years, which led to us moving frequently. Now that he is separated from the military, he is also pursing a teaching career— in Math Education. I’ve lived in Charleston SC, Saratoga Springs NY, Yokosuka Japan, Virginia Beach, then Portsmouth Virginia. Being finally able to choose our home in Fort Collins has been such a great opportunity for the outdoors, art community, and a fulfilling college experience.
I’ve known I wanted to be an art teacher since I was young. I was extremely lucky to have a middle school mentor that really helped me embrace my art skills. I credit Mrs. Cleworth’s encouragement and enthusiasm for my own desire to become a K-12 art instructor. While I hope to teach in a middle school (6-8 is my absolute favorite to work with,) I am open to whatever art teaching opportunities present themselves. I think it’s fairly clear in this bio, but I’m extremely passionate about this career path. Post-pandemic, we need the arts more than ever, and I’m here for it!
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I have a hard time saying I prefer one medium over another, since most of all— I love learning new or improved art skills. I feel my strength lies in 2D traditional media like painting, (especially watercolor,) drawing (I love micron pens and brush pens.) After finding an amazing art community in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, I have hopes of getting more involved in Fort Collins’ local art scene. Groups like Urban Sketchers, local plein air meetups, life drawing, gallery openings, mural volunteers, all contribute to a vital sense of belonging. I would love to help facilitate an art club for future students, as well as art outings, public artmaking, and helping my students see how valuable their art community can be.
