Community High School

The Heart is Where the Art Is

Kris Hermanson has been part of Community for a long time.  Over the years, she developed a positive reputation and was well liked by her students.  Kris’ kind and caring nature made her a favorite among the students.  However, after many years of working at Community, Kris finally decided to throw in the towel.

“She was a really nice person,” said Taylor Margolis of the retired Kris Hermanson.  “She really made her classes fun and I’m really going to miss her.”

Community High, however, did manage to find an excellent person to fill the void; Elena Flores, a former elementary school teacher, will be taking Kris’ place as the art teacher at Community High.

Elena, who had previously spent her time teaching art at Kings Elementary school, immediately took a liking to the place.

“It seems like a really friendly place,” said Elena of Community.  “It’s a place that I can really call home.” Elena went on to say, “Community has that institutional feel that Kings did.”

However, Elena believes that teaching high school students is much different from teaching elementary school students.  High school students, as she put it, often feel much more self conscious about their art work, whereas the younger students simply enjoy it for what it is.

“Working with little kids,” said Elena with a laugh, “is a little different.”

It is because of this that Elena wants to make a few changes in the art room.  Firstly, she hopes to develop positive relationships with her students.  Also, she hopes to create an atmosphere in which the students feel good about the art they make.  Moreover, she wants to make the art room a place where students want to be.