We want to shine a spotlight on our art teacher, Ms. Ana. Last year, unexpectedly, we lost our well-loved and dedicated art teacher to a full-time job, and we worried and wondered how we would move on without her. Art has always been a huge part of our ODE days – there is no enrichment without art! But, we should not have worried, because we were more than blessed with the timely addition of the amazing Andriana (Ana) Jones!
Ms. Ana quickly acclimated to our days at ODE, and that might be because she herself was homeschooled all the way to high school! What a beautiful coincidence, if you believe in those kinds of things. I personally don’t think there are any coincidences, but that is not a subject for this moment.
Here are a few things about Ms. Ana. She, as mentioned, was home educated from birth through 8th grade, and then attended Trinity High School in River Forest. She pursued a degree in early childhood education, and went on to earn a BS in psychology, and has a background in graphic design. After all this training, she spent ten years teaching, and loves to impart her love of art to all kinds of students.
Ms. Ana’s personal life is full and fun. She has been married for 6 years and has two sweet girls, ages 1 and 4. Her family is an awesome mixture of cultures and ethnicities – African American and Indian. Together, they love to explore through biking, road trips, and adventurous cuisine.
Ms. Ana’s favorite dessert is falooda. What is falooda, you might ask. Falooda is a refreshing Indian treat, traditionally made with vermicelli, rose syrup, sweet basil seeds mixed with milk, and often served with ice cream.
Another favorite activity for Ms. Ana is vegetable container gardening. So fun!
We are so excited about our year together, and Ms. Ana is planning a lot of creativity for our students. Here is Ms. Ana’s message to you.
“I strive to be a partner in your child’s learning experience and exploration of the arts. With a background in child development and psychology, I can ensure each art experience is created with DAP concepts in mind and most importantly, in a way that ensures each child has fun while developing their creativity.
Throughout the school year, we will explore the elements of art, famous artists, art techniques, participate in group projects and the children will have consistent opportunities to create freely. The children will work with an array of materials and concepts as we journey through the exciting world of art.”
My daughter adores art class at ODE! And I’ve been impressed with the art projects they do every week too. Thank you Ms. Ana!!