On March 19 the Teen Arts event at RCBC happened, drawing in art teachers and students from Rancocas Valley. I was fortunate to interview three amazing teachers who attended the event and accompanied art students from RV. They were able to give me their experience being an art teacher at RV and how they inspire and uplift their students every day here.
Ms. Pulla has been working at RV for thirty-one years and teaches three art classes: Drawing, World Crafts, and Art 1.
Not only can she teach through K-12, but she also has her certification in all types of levels of education, understanding how each kid learns. One of her favorite classes to teach is her World Crafts class; she enjoys learning about different cultures and sharing that knowledge with her students.
“I guess when they see how much I love it and have passion for it and see how I want them to grow I guess they buy in,” Pulla said when asked about her impact on students. It shows she really cares and just wants her students to grow and to have fun in her class.
She thinks the Teen Arts event at RCBC will motivate students, seeing other young people in our county who are doing different media and styles besides what they are doing in their class. She wants this event to make a lasting impression on them to step out of their comfort zone and take risks.
Mrs. Saiia has been at RV for seven years. She teaches four types of art classes (Art 1, Art 2, Ceramics 1, Ceramics 2).
Her favorite class to teach is Ceramics because it is one of the many classes she sees students struggle with since the content is so new and unfamiliar. However, by the end of the course the students are so proud of their progress and Saiia recognizes this. She hopes that students feel seen and accepted for who they are when they take her class, and that she is giving them the room and space to feel seen and heard.
The long-term impact lasting impression she wants this Teen Arts event to have on the RV student is that they “continue to create and challenge themselves beyond.” The Teen Arts event gives students a broader perspective on what is possible in Saiia’s opinion, encouraging them to keep creating.
Mr. Furno has taught at RV for twenty-three years. He teaches four art classes (Art 1, Art 2, Art 3 honors) in addition to teaching at RV Prep.
His favorite class to teach is Art 3 Honors because it is a thinking class, and the students in that class have to be really creative with their ideas for their projects, and he has great expectations for them.
Mr. Furno was a graphic designer before he became an art teacher; he defines himself as a “jack of all trades.” He can do all types of art, and likes to keep up with trends, bringing new artists that are popular right now into his classroom.
Mr. Furno thinks this Teen Arts event will influence or inspire students: “When there is good art out there,” Furno says, “people look at it and think, ‘Wow, I wish I could do that!’” Mr. Furno expresses that if people do take an art class and find it challenging, they should appreciate art more. If they couldn’t do it, then the act of creating art isn’t as easy as they thought it would be.
He wants the Teen Arts event to inspire RV students through viewing the other schools’ artwork.
To be left wanting to create more, and perhaps get into other shows and show their artwork more is one of the goals as he said “that is a hard thing to do, to have confidence to show your artwork.”
All three of the teachers profiled above want the art kids here at RV to know that they want you to have a voice and give you the opportunity to be able to show your art as much as possible in high school. These are the three amazing art teachers here at RV that make me glad that I get to go to a school where art is in the spotlight.
