Preparing for 12th Year teaching

So here I am...at the end of my summer break reflecting over the past 11 years I have taught, getting ready for my 12th year of teaching. I have spent around 15 hours updating the Digital Photo presentations for Digital Photo 1 & 2, which meant going through student photos I have saved from the past 8 years of teaching Digital Photography.  (I previously taught B&W Darkroom Photography and had the photo room converted to Digital after my 4th year at Topeka High.)

While I had the visual pleasure of sifting through hundreds of photos for updating presentations for the new students, I kept coming back to two main thoughts:

1. I have been fortunate, lucky, blessed, etc... to have taught some EXTREMELY talented students over the years, and they have blessed me with their talents.

2. Hindsight is totally 20/20!  I should have started this blog years ago to keep track of all the amazing accomplishments these photo students have achieved from entering & winning contests, to scholarships awards earned, to starting their own photography businesses, (there's more than one!)  

Keeping track of student's accomplishments starts now with listing all the accomplishments the Digital Photography Program achieved this past 2022-23 school year!

Really it all started with me having the opportunity to write an opinion article for the Kansas Reflector that was published June 9th, 2022 about high schoolers using their digital photography to express their voices and the inspiration they inspire.  After my article was published, the Topeka Capital Journal in turn wrote an article on me about me inspiring my students and teaching them to use their artistic voices to express themselves, which in turn was published June 29th, 2022.  June was busy talking about my photography students, but it was important for them to get more of the exposure they deserve. 

That excitement talking about my students' and their talent had me excited for the possibilities for my photo students as the 2022-2023 school year started, and as soon as school started they were busy working, creating, and entering into art competitions.

The first contest the kids did well in was an in house one for the health clinic located at Topeka High.  They were needing artwork to spruce up the waiting area and rooms, so photo students submitted some photos and had some chosen.  Kerstein Schmitt, Jovanni Vargas, & Blake Arndt all had photos accepted and each received a $100 gift card to Amazon on top of having their photos printed poster size for the clinic.  The kids were also featured on Good Kids on WIBW.  They were really excited, we all were!

Kerstin

Jovanni

Blake

After that little rush of excitement for the kids, it was time to get ready for the major art competitions we annually enter - Kansans...As Talented as you think, and Scholastic, which is "the nation's longest running & most prestigious recognition program for creative teens!" 

Eli Weichert earned 2nd place in Color Photography for Kansans... for his picture of Yahir walking up the stairs.

Eli

Scholastic was successful as well!  Here are how the students did for that competition.  Honorable Mentions get mentioned, but the Silver & Key winners had their photos printed and they were on display at the Mark Arts Gallery in Wichita, Ks for a month.  Some kids also received scholarships!

Naisr McFadden - Leaf Puddle Reflection - Honorable Mention

Kerstin Schmitt - Cherry Blossom - Honorable Mention

Kaylyn Sharp - Obscure Sister Portrait - Honorable Mention

Eli Weichert - Bench - Honorable Mention

Ethan Martell - Don't Fear The Reaper - Silver Key

Alex Hartley - Rural Decay - Silver Key

Destiny Shipley - Candid Smile - Silver Key

Peyton Wheat - Train Shadow - Gold Key

Nasir - HM

Eli - HM

Kerstin - HM

Kaylyn - HM

Ethan - Silver Key

Destiny - Silver Key

Peyton - Gold Key

Alex - Silver Key

In between the art contests and news appearances, the photo students also worked on showing their artwork outside of school.  We had 4 off site official shows this past school year, 2 each semester.  

In October of '22 we started our partnership showing at the NOTO arts center and in April of '23 we had our second show there.  Both had great receptions to the public, and we are looking forward to showing there again in October of '23 and March of '24.

November of '22 & March of '23 saw us continuing our YEARS long relationship with Matryoshka Tattoo, making it twice a year we show there now.  See us in November of '23 & April of '24.

Well...Honestly I think it is time I wrap this post up.  As you can see, it was not only a busy school year, it was a successful one with students expressing their voices in their talented artwork.  

If you would like to see more of exceptional student work that I have saved from over the years, please click here to have access to hundreds of photos to view from extremely talented students!

However, I could not end without saying thank you, thank you for your support over the past 11 years, no matter how you may have supported me, my students, and our artistic voices.  I also have to say thank you to my mentors who have gotten me this far and continue to be available for advice, and I most importantly have to say thank you to my former students of 11 years, and my future students.  Thank you for everything you have let me teach you, and you have taught me!  Together we have created an image empire that will astound generations to come!