Spartanburg, S.C. - Charlotte Kerr is spending her afternoons in second grade art class at Woodland Heights Elementary where she is helping the children master abstract expressionism. Music plays while the children dip paint brushes into bright colors of paint and transform a plain canvas into a work of art.
Kerr, a junior from Gaffney majoring in elementary education at the University of South Carolina Upstate, is taking advantage of a new degree program the University began offering this fall to expand her career choices. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education with teacher certification. This degree prepares students for careers as K-12 art teachers, for graduate work in art education and for employment in schools, museums, and community art organizations. The program also has a strong focus in technology and works in concert with the BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in graphic design.
“This experience has completely opened my eyes and it helped me choose elementary education as my intended profession,” said Kerr, who originally majored in art.
Kerr is observing Catherine Vitale’s art classes at Woodland Heights and getting great instruction from the 29-year veteran.
“This program is a great opportunity for the college students in that it gives them real hands-on experience in teaching art and working with the children,” said Vitale. “They also learn how to introduce a lesson and see how the children are working with art.”
It is valuable experience that Kerr is really appreciating.
“Seeing how I can put my art skills to work in a classroom has been a major revelation. Now I can’t wait to begin a career as an elementary art teacher.”
This comes as good news to many school districts in the Upstate. Dr. Mary Lou Hightower, director of the art education program at USC Upstate, conducted a research study on the retirement trends of art teachers in the Upstate. Her research uncovered the possibility of more than 50 vacancies in art teacher positions within the next three to five years.
“There has been a critical need for trained art teachers for the public schools,” said Hightower. “After completing this study, I began working on the creation of an art education major here at Upstate.”
According to Hightower, five students are currently enrolled in the program with another 15 awaiting admittance pending their Praxis 1 score and fulfillment of other general education requirements.
“I am receiving at least three calls a week from students interested in this new program so I anticipate a steady increase in enrollment for each year,” said Hightower.
Darryl F. Owings, superintendent of Spartanburg County School District Six, said that having the Bachelor of Arts degree in art education with teacher certification available in this area for Spartanburg students is a great asset and credits Dr. Hightower with being instrumental in its planning and implementation..
“Not only will the program availability of the degree opportunity serve student needs, but it will assist the school districts in recruiting and hiring qualified art teachers,” said Owings. “The presence of such a program enriches our districts through the opportunities to network and share among the entities in the county. Dr. Hightower’s practical experience as a classroom teacher and her intimate knowledge of how schools work enhance the program’s ability to produce high-quality, well-prepared art educators."
For further information, please contact Dr. Mary Lou Hightower at (864) 503-5817.