Green Pines Elementary Art Teacher Wears Attire That Connects to the Lesson She’s Teaching

Sept. 14-18 is National Arts in Education Week, a celebration of the transformative power of the arts in education. In Rockwood, we are fortunate to enjoy the talent and dedication of fine arts educators and students who create, perform/present, interpret, respond and connect with the arts! Here is the story of one of our outstanding fine arts educators.

Green Pines Elementary art teacher Julie Jenkins is known for her sharp sense of fashion and love for the arts. Jenkins says art has always been a part of her life, and it brings her so much happiness.

“I love creating and sharing that passion with my students,” Jenkins said. “Art is so important in a child’s education because it gives students a way to express themselves, explore their creativity and communicate their ideas and feelings through creating. I love being able to share something I’m passionate about while helping my students discover their own unique ways to be creative and express themselves.”

One way Jenkins communicates her love for the arts is wearing attire that connects to the art lesson she is teaching at the moment.

“What inspires me to wear attire that connects to the art lesson I’m teaching is the connection I hope students make with what they are learning, along with my love of both art and fashion,” Jenkins shared.

Jenkins has been dressing in colorful, artsy clothing for more than 10 years.

“I see it as another way to express myself creatively and share my love of art and fashion with my students,” she said. “My favorite attire is anything fun, colorful or artistic—it gives me a little dopamine boost, makes me feel confident and reminds me to embrace who I am and encourage my students to do the same.”

Jenkins and her fourth- and fifth-graders have been working on a zentangle project for the past two weeks. Last week, she wore a zentangle-style dress to school.

“Zentangle is a wonderful way for students to build on the foundational art skills they have been learning since kindergarten, especially their understanding of lines, shapes and patterns,” Jenkins explained. “Students take these familiar skills and slow down, become more mindful of their movements and focus on adding detail and repetition to create their own unique designs. The process encourages students to be patient, focused and creative while giving them an opportunity to relax and enjoy the process of making art.”

Overall, Jenkins said she feels like her students, colleagues and parents enjoy her outfits.

“I’m constantly receiving compliments on what I’m wearing,” she said. “I always hope that my colorful and creative outfits bring a little joy to their day and remind them that creativity and self-expression can be found everywhere—even in what we wear.”