LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC EDUCATION PAGE 4
Anoka Middle School ’ s Jolanda Dranchak recognized for administrative excellence
Her paintbrush held delicately in her hand and dancing across the canvas , Jolanda Dranchak creates colorful and lively images — images celebrating life and illustrating the intricacies of emotion and experience .
The Anoka Middle School for the Arts ( AMSA ) curriculum integrator grew up dancing , singing and drawing and soon felt the magical embrace of the arts .
Dranchak believes that dance , music , illustration and theatrical performance allow an expression of ideas and emotion , encourages analytical thinking and enriches life experiences .
Her passion for the arts and her work at AMSA was recently recognized with the 2016-17 Art Educators of Minnesota Administrator of the Year award .
Jolanda Dranchak , of Anoka Middle School for the Arts ( AMSA ), works with students .
“ I am so excited and honored to receive this recognition . It really validates how important the arts in our life is — but really it takes all of us . It ’ s not just me . I work with students to inspire ideas , but the teachers implement those ideas to work with students . It really speaks to the dedication of the teachers . I share this with all of them ,” Dranchak said .
Dranchak grew up surrounded by and engaged in the arts and said that is the key to her understanding of the value the arts bring .
“ Learning to sing , dance , act and draw were activities I was encouraged to participate in at a very early age ,” she said . “ Access to see music performances of various cultures , operas and theater plays was part of my growing up . Those experiences helped me to realize the power the arts hold .”
Immersed in the beauty and vitality of the arts , Dranchak studied arts education at the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in arts integration .
The administrator of the year describes the arts as something more than a simple adornment but something that has value for all of life . That is a message she endeavors to instill in the hearts and minds of students .
“ Arts helps us develop collaborative , multi-disciplinary and creative thinking skills . Whether one is showing a story through dance , music , illustration or theatrical performance , these qualities are at the heart of it all ,” she said . “ What is more important to remember is that
Jolanda Dranchak , of Anoka Middle School for the Arts ( AMSA ), was recently named Art Educators of Minnesota Administrator of the Year .
all of these skills are valuable in any career and are sought out by employers in all fields .”
Dranchak urges students to practice their artwork with consistency , kindle their curiosity and keep their artistic passions burning .
“ Like anything , you need to practice your art , otherwise you kind of stifle yourself ,” Dranchak said , adding that she continues to practice her own artwork , as well .
“ I do art when I need an outlet , or to escape or relax , get my mind in a different creative place . Art is so valuable , such a cherished experience . It really enhances life , brings such value to every day ,” she said . ■
Roosevelt Middle School ’ s Pam Schwandt named art teacher of the year
Pam Schwandt believes creating artwork exercises creative problem solving , provides a safe place to express feelings and emotions and allows endless opportunities for discovery .
“ You hear people say you ’ re born to make art or you aren ’ t ; you ’ re artistic or you ’ re not . I don ’ t believe that . I believe you might not be born able to do art yet but there is endless possibility . You just haven ’ t acquired your artistic ability yet ,” she said .
Schwandt instills that belief in her students at Roosevelt Middle School ( RMS ) in Blaine , and delights in seeing smiles emerge as they recognize their own creativity .
“ That ’ s my greatest joy — seeing these fabulous little people find the beauty and artistry that exists within . That is my greatest reward ,” Schwandt said .
Another reward was recently bestowed on Schwandt when she was named the state ’ s Middle Level Art Teacher of the Year by the Art Educators of Minnesota .
“ It ’ s so humbling to be nominated — it ’ s not just about me . Without these students I couldn ’ t be an art teacher ,” she said . “ And I ’ m still learning and growing every day . These little people , my students , are always showing me something new .”
Schwandt , who graduated from Burnsville High School and earned her bachelors and masters degrees in art education from the University of Minnesota , has taught art in Anoka- Hennepin schools for more than three decades .
She began her career at Lincoln Elementary School in Anoka where she taught 13 “ years before accepting a position at RMS 18 years ago .
“ I always knew this is what I was meant to do , and now just think — for 31 years I ’ ve gotten to do what I love ,” the art teacher said , smiling at the gift of teaching she so enjoys .
Art is an outlet . It ’ s a safe place to express yourself , to investigate , to solve problems .
For Schwandt , art is therapeutic , refreshing , joyful and essential .
As she grew up assisting her dad as he tinkered on cars , the creative little girl exercised creative thinking and ingenious problem solving . Her artistic mind worked and whirled and creative juices nourished artistic seeds taking root in her heart .
Tinkering on cars wasn ’ t artistic — far from it , her concretesequentially thinking dad would say – but the elements of artistic creativity she saw at work in the garage sparked more imagination and creativity and further affirmed her desire to work with art someday .
Her dad eventually recognized the value of her “ abstractrandom creativity ” and presented his artistic daughter with a Christmas gift of a drafting table , art portfolio and sketchbooks .
“ That meant so much to me — he recognized my passion and encouraged me ,” Schwandt said .
Today , Schwandt wants more than anything for her students to recognize their own passions , to see their own creativity and to embrace their own artistry .
“ And artwork is so much more . Art is an outlet . It ’ s a safe place to express yourself , to investigate , to solve problems ,” she said .
Though she never had a favorite art form to teach , Schwandt said she loves combining media whenever possible . For her own artistic creations , Schwandt especially enjoys mosaic .
“ Because I can take broken things and create something new ,” she said . “ It is tedious and time consuming , but so rewarding when complete .”
Another reward comes when
” she hears from former students about the enduring value of art
in their lives . - Pam Schwandt , RMS art teacher
Roosevelt Middle School art teacher Pam Schwandt compliments one of her students on his Kabuki painting .
“ Not every art student will be an artist . One of my former students became a meteorologist , another builds bridges . They may not be artists but they are using creative thinking and problem solving in their work , so really they are doing artwork ,” Schwandt said . ■