Les Art Students

When Leeds Elementary School elected to hire an art teacher, there wasn’t a classroom for the instructor. Hallways became the impromptu setting for student creativity.

Three years later, Tina Miller has a classroom and growing number of students and a new problem. Even with a budget or just more than $4,000 for materials, the need for supplies to continue harvesting the creativity of her students seems never-ending. This includes paper, clay, toothpicks, paint, pencils and more. While the funding does aid in filling her classroom shelves, it doesn’t meet all her students’ needs.

“I get the same amount of funding that all of the other teachers do, the difference is, I have a ton of supplies that have to be purchased throughout the year,” Miller said. “I have to constantly fundraise to purchase the things I need for my curriculum.”

Miller tries to host a fundraising event each year to help add to her classroom funds, as well as provide the community with a wish list of needed items. She tries to reuse as much as she can and recycle from year to year, but that still leaves her with less than she needs.

“I think art is a very important subject for students to study. It’s a great outlet for creativity and I work to incorporate other subjects into our art projects,” Miller said.

The theme this year is science. One of the current projects the students are working on is making chrysalis models.

“Art class is really fun for us, and we learn a lot,” Natale Goff, a fourth-grade student said. “Ms. Miller lets us be ourselves and be creative in class.”

The creativity encouraged through art is one of Miller’s main goals. She wants to give them an opportunity to learn about a subject and then make something that relates to it, enhancing their learning process inside the classroom.

“My favorite part of art is how we learn to do new things,” Helena Hatcher, a fourth-grade student said. “We get to work on our own projects and big projects for the whole school to see.”

Miller hopes the community will join her as she tries to amplify the students’ artistic education. That is the hope behind the creation of her art class wish list, which she has publicized, listing several basic craft materials students need.

“I do what I can to use what I have, and I receive some help from parents, but anything else would be greatly appreciated,” Miller said. “I have students from kindergarten through fifth grade, and I want them to be able to have the best learning experience possible.”

For those willing to donate items from her wish list or make a financial donation, you can take either to the Leeds Elementary School front desk.

Art Class Wish List:

Clorox Wipes

Facial Tissue

Paper Towels

Food Coloring

Aluminum Foil

Flat Toothpicks

Shaving Cream

Dishwashing Liquid

Q-tips

91% Rubbing Alcohol

Salt

Disposable Cake Pans

White Cord

Marbles

Rocks, Minerals, or Shells