This month, we wanted to welcome our new art teacher, Terry Neal! Terry is an accomplished graphic artist who has owned her own small design business for over 30 years. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, she joins EYC to help show our students that there are artists in them all! Already, her enthusiasm for art, her talent for growing the kids’ confidences, and her positive, infectious energy have made her well loved by the students and staff alike.
We wanted to share a little about Terry with our community. Here are her answers to some of our get-to-know-you questions.
What do you teach at EYC Academy?
Terry: I teach Visual Arts, Digital Photography, and Digital Art and Design.
What have you done in the past and how do you bring that to your work at EYC Academy?
Terry: I have been a graphic designer for over 30 years working with clients from all over the globe. I enjoy meeting new people, learning about various businesses and getting to be part of my clients’ new adventures. In 2008, by happenstance, I was asked to fill in for a friend to teach an after-school enrichment art class. I immediately fell in love with teaching the young students to draw and paint and become confident in their creative abilities. I then asked myself how I could continue to teach along with doing graphic design. I began teaching classes at Rockwood Community Education. I taught adults and young students several different art classes and mediums. What I found is that it took me back to what I originally enjoyed about drawing and creating. The students would energize my creative soul! At that point, I told myself I had to find a way to do both graphic design and teaching art and here I am.
What attracted you to EYC Academy?
Terry: I was immediately drawn to the idea of once again being able to teach young students art and hopefully help them gain some confidence and love for creativity.
What is something people might not know about you?
Terry: I grew up as an Air Force BRAT and lived all over the world. Yes, I changed schools several times and learned how to adapt. I look back on that experience very fondly. I would have to say that North Creake, England was the most interesting place I lived as a child.
We lived off-base in a very small village which I recently traveled back to. I found it had not changed in decades and I enjoyed that trip immensely.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Terry: Growing up in Germany and England, I would love to live in Europe again.
We are thrilled to have Terry join our team this year. And we can’t wait to see what the students do next!