Baxter Visual Arts Dept.

About Me... Hello! My name is Mrs. Kizilarmut. This is my second year teaching visual arts in Baxter, IA! I feel very fortunate to be able to make art with the students in Baxter each and every day. Here are a few facts and tidbits about me. Enjoy! Facts... I graduated from Harlan Community High School in Harlan, IA. I got my bachelor's degree from Northwest Missouri State University in Marville, MO. I will be finished with my master's degree from Drake University this coming spring! Yeah! My husband, John, and I have a son named Evan, who is almost 2 years old. We also have 3 dogs: Dolce, Sadie, and Indie. These are some of my favorite things... Favorite Quotes: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Percicles Favorite foods: Special K Red Berries Cereal, Mexican food, cheesecake Favorite T.V shows: Fringe, CSI, Modern Family, and anything on HGTV!!! Favorite music: Pink Floyd, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Latin music, jazz, anything written for the clarinet...there's really too much to list! Favorite Activities: running, biking, camping, gardening, playing with my son!!!		Created with flickr slideshow from softsea. Art Teaching Philosophy I truly believe that all students are capable of creating meaningful works of art, and that through the process of creation, students gain a better understanding of themselves and of the world around them. As an art teacher, I want to be able to share my passion for art with my students. I want to teach my students to think creatively and critically about the world around them, open their minds to new ideas and perspectives, teach them to embrace diversity, and motivate them to strive for excellence in all they do.

"Art in all its distinct forms defines, in many ways, those qualities that are at the heart of education reform — creativity, perseverance, a sense of standards, and above all, a striving for excellence." Richard W. Riley, U.S. Secretary of Education under President William Clinton.