Toni Byam-Pirotte
Position:
Advanced Placement Art History
Advanced Placement Portfolio 3/D
Ceramics II-IV • Sculpture II-IV
National Art Honor Society Advisor
Contact:
E-mail: toni.byam@gcisd.net
Homework:
Education:
Presently pursuing doctorate in Art Education-Art History, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
August, 1991-Master of Arts, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX. Thesis: Integrating the Visual Arts and Reading: A Teaching Guide.
June, 1988-Bachelor of Fine Art, University of Texas, Arlington, TX
Personal Notes:
I was called to teach and was blessed with the opportunity to help open Colleyville Heritage ten years ago. I enjoy all aspects of the arts and sports! Fortunately we are surrounded in the Metroplex with some of the nation’s best museums and sporting events. My curriculum for all classes integrates art history and my hope is to expose my students to a positive, cultural significant outlet. We have many field trips and invite you to join any time.
Teaching Philosophy:
The success and failure of my students have molded my experience as an educator. I have found through fifteen years of discovery that the true responsibility of a teacher is to motivate students to participate in life. By exposing students to a variety of opportunities, teachers can build student confidence through encounters that are not measured by right or wrong. Educators provide endless opportunities for these life-building adventures. It is the responsibility of teachers to connect on this immeasurable plane.
Some art teachers evaluate their students’ work on the basis of methodology set by the gifted student artist. However, I believe that a student’s work should be evaluated by his own synthesis of meaning. Simply stated, because not all students will be talented in the arts, the measure of success should be taken intrinsically. All children need to feel successful, and the visual arts, more than any other facet provides the optimum opportunity. The visual arts provide an opening in which all subject matter may enter. Fortunately for me as an art educator, I feel empowered by the opportunity to provide students with such a catalyst for learning. Art education is not exclusively about the production of art projects in an art room. It is about the exploration of ideas, thoughts and surroundings. The inclusion of art is part of our heritage and it serves as a positive vehicle to enhance life for all ages. The future of society lies beyond my classroom door where, through the use of art criticism, history, perception and production, I can open doors that might provide success where successes are needed most.