It’s a new school year, which means new classes and new teachers—especially this year. We give a warm welcome to the new staff, one of them being Mrs. Emily Sgrignoli, our new high school fine arts teacher.

What better way to honor her arrival at Beaver Area than to ask her some fun get-to-know-me questions. Please give it up for Mrs. Sgrignoli . . .

Where did you go to high school?

I went to Center Area High School, and that was before the merger between Monaca and Center, so that would be known as Central Valley [now].

Where did you go to college?

I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a bachelor’s in Fine Arts and Studio Art, Painting and Ceramics, and I also had a bachelor’s from IUP in art education from Pre-K to 12.

Did where you grow up have an impact on your occupation choice?

When I was in high school, I always thought of high school as a time when you’re finding yourself, and I took private art lessons from a local artist here in Beaver. Her studio was on Third Street. Her name was Carol Volz Begley, and taking her classes helped me find my love and my passion for art.

How long have you been doing this particular job?

This is my twelfth year teaching art full time. It’s mostly been in a high school setting, although I’ve had middle school as well, and I wanted to be an art teacher ever since I was in tenth grade.

Is this job what you have always wanted to do or did your “path” change and lead you to this new occupation?

I fell in love with art when I was in high school, and so I was always thinking how I could use my art as a career, since it is a career passion, so teaching is always the path that I wanted to take.

What is something you want your new students to know about you?

I believe every child is an artist and every student can be successful in my class and every student has a different strength in art, and no matter what art, they will find something that is a personal strength to them.

What is your biggest strength that will help your students at Beaver Area High School?

I practice what I preach: I am an artist, and I have a variety of strong studio skills that will help students through my actual demonstration, my hands-on help and feedback, and also that I do have high expectations for them, which I think will tie results with their work.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

I think it’s seeing the transformation between when a student comes in. I hear a lot of negative talk that “I’m not a good artist, I can’t draw this and that,” and then when they do something they’re really proud of or really excited about that’s just really satisfying to me—like they gain that confidence and prove themselves wrong.

Who was or is your biggest inspiration?

My own children because they always approach the world with such excitement about everything; they are curious about the world, and I admire that.

What is one thing you wish your students would take away from you and remember for life?

There is more than one right answer to everything in life, every situation, every problem you have to solve. There are multiple solutions and there is not a right and a wrong all the time; sometimes it’s that there are several different paths to get to that solution.

What is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part about my job is getting to create fun projects and see how different students interpret the projects. I love to see how a student's ideas and plans evolve throughout the art making process to reveal the finished product.

If you could teach another subject what would it be?

If I couldn’t teach art, I wouldn’t teach. I would be interested in something like psychology, like a counselor or something like that, but I don’t think I would teach another subject.

Students can’t wait to get to do some fun creative projects with Mrs. Sgrignoli this year and get to know her even more. Hopefully this article inspires you to give your new teachers a chance to get to know and appreciate their work and all they do.

Have a happy new school year, and give a warm welcome and appreciation for the new teachers and students this year!