Are you interested in learning more about pottery? Have you made pinch pots in the past but now want to learn how to throw pots? Mrs. Jones, one of the new art teachers at Mayo, is looking forward to bringing opportunities to her student to increase their knowledge in art, specifically in ceramics and pottery.
Growing up in Waseca, Minnesota, Mrs. Jones attended high school, where art never happened to catch her attention. Still she always had a crafty side to her personality. After graduating high school, she attended Minnesota State University of Mankato, where she changed her major a few times before coming upon art.
Mrs. Jones has been teaching art since 2001 even though she never thought she’d become an art teacher. It wasn’t so much that she focused on it as a goal, but instead, like “with most things, it chooses you.” In fact, Mrs. Jones earned an undergraduate degree in pottery. Soon after, she began teaching. Since 2001 Mrs. Jones has been throwing clay with students on the pottery wheel. Working with pottery is one of her absolute favorite things to do, as it is “a way to express yourself and who you are.” Bowls are her favorite things to throw on the wheel, since she says “a bowl is a gift. You can either receive something from it or give something away.” Not only does Mrs. Jones focus on teaching pottery and ceramics at Mayo, she also teaches a graphic design class and art at Century High.
When not in the art room, Mrs. Jones enjoys nature and traveling. She enjoys going on walks through nature with her family. Mrs. Jones also loves to travel the world and has been to Europe a couple of times with her art students. Before teaching in Rochester, Mrs. Jones had spent the last seven years teaching in North Dakota and the five years prior to that in Waseca, Minnesota, her hometown. While teaching in North Dakota she had the opportunity to travel to Italy and Spain with her students for an art history trip.
Now at Mayo Mrs. Jones looks forward to working with her students as well as being able to encourage them, letting them know that “they have it – no matter what they’ve been told.” Mrs. Jones’s first few weeks at Mayo have been wonderful according to her. She loves the diversity Mayo has as well as the great school system. Mrs. Jones looks forward to the school year and being able to work with her students to help them learn from art class. With all the years of experience she has with art and the encouraging attitude towards her students and their success there is no doubt that Mrs. Jones is and will be an incredible teacher at Mayo High.