Connie Rohde-Stanchfield
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School
Santa Ynez, CA

"I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in the fourth grade. I used to have school on the front steps with a couple of younger neighborhood kids as students. I was the teacher, of course. When I became a sophomore in high school, my freshman English teacher let me teach for her. By my senior year, I was teaching the grammar, poetry, and 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' units for her. I was sure I was going to be an English teacher! Yet here I am, an art teacher!"

"As superintendent, I have had the opportunity to observe Connie firsthand. Never have I witnessed a teacher have a more immediate impact on students than Ms. Rohde. Her art program has our students producing incredible art. I have witnessed 'art phobic' students discover hidden talent and others lining up to take her class because of her relentless pursuit of all students developing the technical aspects, as well as the language and love of art. She is a dynamo, a cheerleader, a zealot, and a counselor."

Connie's classroom is personal, fast-paced, and demanding. While the class is filled with music, talking, and continual feedback, it targets specific standards. It is a rigorous, discipline-based course of study incorporating art elements, principles of design, composition, personal voice, practice, deadlines, and shows. Connie says, "Art is hard work, continual risk-taking, complex sophisticated thinking that calls on the artist to tap the mind, the heart, the eye, the gut -- all simultaneously."

Other Highlights:

• National Board Certification
• Arts Outreach: founded and directed community arts organization serving 7,000-9,000 Santa Barbara County students and residents
• Taught drama, music, storytelling, dance, and creative writing to elementary and middle school youth during the school year in workshop formats, and during summer sessions, 1974-99
• Santa Ynez High School "Teacher of the Year," 2001
• IMPACT II Team Coaching Grant for Reading Strategies, 2001
• Otis College of Art and Design, "Teacher of the Year," 2000
• Scholastic Art Awards, teacher of student work selected for National Honors, 2000
• Selected for county cable TV program -" Innovations in the Classroom," 1999
• Instituted programs at the school: "Masters in Chalk Festival," 1995; "Common Object" Art Show, 1996; & "Artists-Athlete" Art Show, 1998
• Teacher of student work selected for AP National Art Tour, 2002
• MetLife Fellow in the Teacher Network Policy Institute, 2002
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago's TICA Summer Institute-Fellow, 2002
• Founded "Expresiones Latinas," a community arts organization for Latino population, 1985
• Founded the "Flying Leap Storytelling Festival," now in its 11th year, 1991
• Founded Denmark Children's Library and Arts Center in Maine, 1976-78
• Community Outreach: Art, God, and Family. ARTS OUTREACH began as a gift to the community. It was Connie's mission to see arts woven into the fabric of her community.