Growing up and raising a family in Decorah, Iowa has provided many abundant experiences to expand my appreciation of art and design. Spending time with middle school and high school students grants me a unique perspective of the various themes we discuss in class. Listening to my students reflect on identity, social media, power, nature, resilience, inspiration, creativity, and other topics transforms my own understanding of artistic behavior. As I encourage students to develop lifelong learning habits, I continue to shape my own learning goals.
Throughout my career I have sought to educate students, family members, community members, and fellow educators of the positive impact artistic development can have on every individual. We should understand that artistic behavior is not a talent you are born with, only a practiced skill that anyone can enjoy. My classroom is a safe and supportive catalyst for artists at any skill level.
As an artist, I am always seeking a new art experience and developing skills that push my comfort level. I hope to instill a similar growth-mindset in my own students. As we take risks in art, we learn so much about ourselves. Whether we are taking risks in a new media or advancing our knowledge of traditional art forms, every artist has room for improvement. Please enjoy a sample of various media and skills I've explored. Some artwork demonstrates opportunities I’ve gained recently and some artwork is from long before I became a teacher.
Amy Courtney
Education
Professional Experience
Throughout my career I have sought to educate students, family members, community members, and fellow educators of the positive impact artistic development can have on every individual. We should understand that artistic behavior is not a talent you are born with, only a practiced skill that anyone can enjoy. My classroom is a safe and supportive catalyst for artists at any skill level.
As an artist, I am always seeking a new art experience and developing skills that push my comfort level. I hope to instill a similar growth-mindset in my own students. As we take risks in art, we learn so much about ourselves. Whether we are taking risks in a new media or advancing our knowledge of traditional art forms, every artist has room for improvement. Please enjoy a sample of various media and skills I've explored. Some artwork demonstrates opportunities I’ve gained recently and some artwork is from long before I became a teacher.
Amy Courtney
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, University of Northern Iowa, Fall 2005
- Master of Arts in Art Education, Eastern Illinois University, Summer of 2017
Professional Experience
- Art Instructor at Decorah Middle School and Decorah High School, Fall 2012 to Current