Renata Francesco

I am a driven and community-minded art educator with significant experience teaching, developing curriculum, and facilitating programs in the arts for child, teenage, and adult participants. I have significant experience in designing programs centering contemporary artists and their practices across a global lens in both the public and private art sectors. In my approach to arts programming, I always aim to build up from the natural interests and curiosity from the audience.

The studio is a site for community, and I encourage participants to learn from one another’s approaches to projects as well as my own instruction. In my career as an art teacher, art student, and an artist, one of the most valuable aspects of building up my work has been by seeking out feedback from my colleagues and peers. When students can recognize their peers as artists, or see a peer in an artist, they in turn recognize the artist in themselves.

Morris School District: Visual Arts Instructor, 6-8th Grade (2022-2024)

• Successful differentiation across language and disability needs for over 150 students concurrently
• Centering student perspectives through culturally responsive teaching practices and lesson plans
• Curriculum design: Graphic Design (8th grade, digital art), Connected Art (7th grade, contemporary art), Experimental Drawing (6th grade, conceptual art practices)
• Familiarity with 2020 NVAS

Morris School District: Drama Set Crew Supervisor (2023-2024)

• Increased student engagement with theater department by 40% within one year
• Managed multiple technical teams of students ages 11-14: backstage crew, prop design/management, costume development, lighting
• Facilitated communication between multiple parent volunteer teams and lead directorial team

One River School of Art and Design: Studio Instructor (2020-ongoing)

• Collaborating with multiple teams and departments to develop programs for adults and teens.
• Developing on-site and offsite events in partnership with local businesses and contemporary artists for teen and adult students, virtually and in person.
• Leading studio workshops, camps, and special events alongside regular weekly class instruction.
• Overseeing and documenting project development consistently between classes, camps, and events.
• Fostering an inclusive and encouraging environment or students of all ages and skill levels.

One River School of Art and Design: Curriculum Writer (2021-2022)

• Developed curriculum in accordance with company-wide lesson plan and project unit structures.
• Demonstrated flexibility and prompt communication when receiving feedback on lesson plans.
• Collaborated with remote and on-site teams to meet company educational and administrative goals. 

MAT, William Paterson University (received August 2022)

BA, Visual Arts + Spanish Language and Literature dual major, Art History minor (received May 2019)