Linda Brown is the new art teacher

Clearbrook-Gonvick High school has a new art teacher. She started last fall and she answered a questionnaire. Following are her responses to the questions.

Family. She has a dog called Sassi and a cat called Pusswha. She also has three sisters, two live in Bemidji and one in Minneapolis. She has 5 nieces and nephews and 5 great  nieces and nephews.

Education: Bemidji State University, Bachelor of Fine Arts with K-12 Art Education licensure. University of North Dakota - Master of  Fine Arts at Grand Forks, ND. Institute for Doctoral Studies in Visual study, Master of Philosophy, Art, Aesthetics from Portland, Maine.

Personal interests: Traveling, writing, making art of all types, wood working, interior design, reading about regional, national and world affairs. Listening to music and singing (badly) along. Going to art galleries and museums. Playing with my dog and cat, crocheting and sewing. I have to visit Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and DC and will then have fulfilled a lifelong goal of being and spending time in all 50 US states. Alaska and Hawaii included.

Previous Teaching Experience: I taught at BSU for 11 years, TrekNorth High School for two years and was a long term substitute at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis.

Place of Residence: Winter in Clearbrook and summer in the woods of Walkerbrook Lake, south east of Bagley.

What made you decide to become a teacher? I have always had concern and cared about people from all walks of life. Realizing that young people need to have a well rounded, quality education in order to enter the fast-paced, ever changing world of adult life prompted me to switch careers after working 17 years in human services. It just seemed the next natural step to take. To pass along whatever I can, the importance art plays in our history as human beings and help develop an interest in art and making art in young peoples lives. I hope to help students find the inner artist that resides in everyone.

What are your goals for this school year? To develop a strong curriculum for all ages K-12. Get to know students, teachers, staff and develop strong relationships. Reach out in our communities and find, public venues for exhibiting student art and to have students enter art competitions at least on the state level.

What do you hope to bring to Clearbrook-Gonvick and your students? I hope to bring my passion for art to the students in order for them to take art with them and make it a part of their lives. Art is a creative, self expressive activity that can boost self confidence, self image and self esteem. We also learn tremendous problem-solving skills when we are engaged in art making. These skills carry over into all aspects of life and help us find success in any number of life activities. I hope to have C-G schools gain a reputation of having a strong art program with actively engaged students who learn to find their personal path to self expression and share their work with our communities by having student exhibitions, just like the pros. To share the positive impact art can have on young people and increase awareness of the talent to be found in students from our area.