The St. Louis Public School District recognizes that Visual Arts is not a secondary subject. It is an important teaching tool that motivates, educates, and inspires students to move beyond what was read in a book and to find what is in their mind.
Because the contributions of the visual art teachers are invaluable, the St. Louis Public School District has awarded the third annual Visual Art Teacher of the Year Awards to two teachers who have made notable contributions in their field.
The Elementary Visual Arts Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Ms. Anne Constantinescu-Brad from Ames Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School.
Art is holistic and living and fluid. The creative process twists and flows, enriches, and includes. My students are learning to take advantage of what they know, infusing this knowledge with imagination, and creatively manifesting it though visual art,” said Ms. Constantinescu-Brad.
An educator with the district since 2001, Ms. Constantinescu-Brad was nominated by Ms. JaVeeta Parks-Prince, principal at Ames VPA, for “creating and delivering instructional content, teaching problem-solving skills; teaching etiquette and professionalism, and highlighting character education concepts via the arts.”
The High School Visual Arts Teacher of the Year has been presented to Mr. Jason Criveau from Clyde C. Miller Career Academy.
An educator with the district since 1998, Mr. Criveau acknowledges that technology, specifically computer arts creation and processing, has placed a “proliferation of visual imagery” in our society that has caused the role of visual arts in education to evolve.
He was nominated by Mr. Stephen Warmack, principal at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, who stated, “Mr. Criveau has always provided classes that attempt to push student horizons as far as he can and even has volunteered time after school for a number of years to conduct student clubs revolving around chess, animation, art, and other forms.”
As the 2012 SLPS Visual Arts Teachers of the Year, both Constantinescu-Brad and Criveau were honored with an awards reception at the Saint Louis Art Museum and presented with a $1,000 award from the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation. In addition, they were presented with a trophy, a plaque, and a $500 award for classroom supplies and/or professional development through the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund.
Bridge to STEM-Life Science Program
Individuals looking for a new career path in the life sciences are invited to register for St. Louis Community College’s Bridge to STEM-Life Science program.
The one-semester, 16-week program begins March 18. Classes will be taught in the state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories at the Bio-Research & Development Growth Park, 1005 N. Warson Road, across from the Monsanto World Headquarters.
In addition to science, math and computer courses and hands-on lab experience, individuals will receive career readiness training, gain job-seeking skills and assistance, and opportunities to network with biotechnology industry professionals.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will earn a Life Science Lab Assistant Certificate ofSpecialization from STLCC. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in a life science laboratory or entry into STLCC’s biotechnology associate degree program.
Participants must have a high school diploma or GED, and must be available to take classes 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, Monday-Friday. Tuition and books are free to those who qualify.
To register for the Bridge to STEM-Life Science program, call 314-513-4961 and leave detailed contact information. Include the correct spelling of your first and last names, your current telephone number and an email address. The coordinator of the program will call you to provide more information.
