At Moorhead ABE, we are pleased to have many wonderful volunteers who help our students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Volunteers lead one on one conversations, help students with reading and writing, and help with many other learning opportunities. Currently, there is an amazing and unique opportunity for our students to have a quiet and inviting space to do art because of one volunteer. Susan is one of our volunteers who has been leading art lessons on certain Wednesday mornings for the past few months.
Our students can enter the classroom and have peaceful relaxation time to unwind and learn about watercolor, patterns, and other freeform art.
Susan, who has long served in the Moorhead School District as an educator, has always enjoyed art from a young age. As a volunteer, she has combined both her passion for teaching and art. She states how much she loves bringing art to people like it was brought to her at a young age. Growing up in Chicago, Susan’s mother greatly influenced her love of art. The two of them would go to the Chicago Art Institute and even took a few classes there.
Her creative personality is an amazing addition to our team. Susan’s lessons are giving the students a space to learn and create, experiences some of them have never had before. She stated that “I hope that somewhere inside it taps into a part of them that calms them, it gives them something to concentrate on completely. (When I’m painting) I personally don’t think of anything else and that is the beauty of it. It silences the outside noise”.
Fun Facts about Susan
Susan has quite the green thumb! She plants trees at her family cabin and has planted over 200 white pine seedlings. She is a part of a collaboration of people in Minnesota who have a goal to bring back the forest. Her family enjoys giving back, and planting trees is their way of giving back to nature.
What is your favorite children's book?
She loves Madeline books.
Her favorite part about books is the creative illustrations in children's books. As a child, reading and writing were beloved pastimes for Susan.
What do you like to do in the wintertime?
In the wintertime, Susan loves to snowshoe and go hiking. She even plans on taking lessons for cross country skiing.
If you are interested in some quiet art time, you can find Susan on certain Wednesdays from 10:15 am-12:15 pm in room 203.