Mrs. Hamelin has been an art teacher at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School for the past six years. In that time, she has taught painting, drawing, intro to design, mixed media, and AP art. Mrs. Hamelin initially attended Attleboro High School, where she took art and met Ms. Nygaard, who was a major inspiration for her. With her guidance, she was able to build confidence and accept her creative side, expanding her love for art. After high school, she moved on to Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in fine arts. It was in college, working in an art studio, that she realized her passion for teaching and proceeded to earn her teaching license after graduating.

At the beginning of Mrs. Hamelin’s teaching career, she had studio teaching experience and her own experiences as an artist creating her own work. The skills she learned from these experiences translated into her teaching career. Now, Mrs. Hamelin is enrolled in an art education master’s degree program, where she is learning theories of teaching and pedagogy, refining her approach to teaching. She has learned greatly how to guide students in spaces with diverse students with different needs.

Moreover, one of the most important lessons she has learned is the value of individuality within the classroom. She states, “The beauty of teaching is the uniqueness of each student-artist.” She further explains that every student brings different perspectives and ways of seeing the world. Because of the many variables, Mrs. Hamelin emphasizes the importance of meeting students where they are, taking time to attentively listen to them.

Balancing the required technical skill and allowing her students to have creative control is something Mrs. Hamelin deeply cares about. She provides open-ended prompts for students to apply new techniques with personal choices intertwined. For example, when learning how to paint using oil, students choose the subject surrounding their piece. Or, while drawing people, students can choose any person of their choice. This structure allows students to build confidence with technical abilities and produce work that authentically represents their individuality. Mrs. Hamelin directly challenges the traditional idea of what “good art” looks like by exposing students to historical and modern art, showing that art comes in many forms, not just a singular structure.

When it comes to her grading, Mrs. Hamelin evaluates based on the technical skill implemented into students’ pieces whilst having open-ended prompts. Because of the wide range of ideas from her students, she also grades based on objectives and how students utilize their studio working time within class. 

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Hamelin’s life is just as creative. She resides in Rhode Island with her partner, where they spend a lot of their time learning and creating art together. They both deeply enjoy fantastical activities, filling their weekends with Renaissance fairs, Dungeons and Dragons, movies, crafts, and concerts. Their shared love of creativity extends far beyond the classroom into her day-to-day life.

When asked how she would describe herself, Mrs. Hamelin stated, “I would describe myself first as an artist.” She further expresses, “All I want to do is make art and other things that allow me to feel creative.” And that she is patient, nerdy, and deeply cares for others. Whether she’s a teacher, friend, aunt, or partner, caring a lot is a core part of who she is as a person.

An interesting fact about Mrs. Hamelin is that she loves animals. She is the owner of two cats and a turtle, but over the years she’s cared for all types of animals both in her free time and jobs. Notably, she had worked as a zoo photographer and face painter, describing it as “an amazing opportunity.” Also, she has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan for the past seven years.

Overall, Mrs. Hamelin embodies what it means to be an artist and a teacher. Her passion for creativity, individuality within work, and meeting students where they are creates a classroom that is open for students to explore themselves freely. She empowers her students to develop confidence in themselves as well as their own artistic abilities. Through her teaching, Mrs. Hamelin proves that art isn’t just a subject but a way of engaging with the world.