Nina Irwin

Highly creative Teacher with 15+ years of experience developing visual art and art history education for children, families, adults and senior citizens. Skilled at employing art history to meaningfully engage students with multidisciplinary art projects. Energetic classes employ multicultural practices in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and digital design.

My goal as a teacher is to connect students of all ages with their inner creativity - allowing them to express themselves uniquely and witness their own immense potential. Also connecting them to people and art traditions of other world cultures.

Art and Art History Teacher, PreK - 8 at Highlawn Montessori School (2008-09 – 2015-05)

• Collaborate with teacher to create interesting and fun art/art history lessons in an ordered, calming environment. Incorporate digital technology including Photoshop and digital photography.
• Connect with students as a role model - displaying, humor, hard work ethic, compassion for others, and enthusiasm for tasks great and small.
• Create balanced lessons which include plenty of physical movement to enhance learning and focus.
• Enthusiastically encourage students to share their new knowledge of art and art history outside of school with their families, creating a lifelong interest in the arts.

Art /Art History/Literature Visiting Teacher, 7-8 grades at The Barstow School (2017-03 – 2017-03)

• Collaborate with Literature teacher to develop engaging art project coinciding with current reading.
• Encourage students to create highly personal work by creating a safe, kind and supportive emotional environment.
• Motivate students of all levels by giving personal attention to each student and encouraging them to push past their perceived limitations.
• Challenge all students with my high expectations while balancing the lessons with personal examples of overcoming failures.

Art /Art History Teacher at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (2008-01 – 2020-05)

• Create interesting and engaging art/art history classes for all ages based on the permanent museum collection. These classes reflect the extremely high standards of a world-class museum.
• Develop fun, multicultural workshops for families - specializing in Islamic culture, Mexico, and India.
• Develop clear, organized written materials for interactive "art carts" for museum visitors. These carts, placed around the museum, invite visitors to explore and handle art objects, increasing their personal connection to and understanding of various exhibits.

Substitute Teacher at The Guadalupe Centers Charter Schools (2023-12 – Present)

• Manage the classroom, follow lesson plans provided, develop lesson plans, and encourage students in a cheerful environment.

Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art – University of Missouri, Kansas City (1992)

Minor in Art History – University of Missouri, Kansas City (1992)

M.A. Program in Art History – University of Missouri, Kansas City (2009)