My name is Adam MacIntyre-Ross and currently I am the sole art teacher at Vanderheyden Hall in Wynantskill, NY. The kids we take in to our facility come to us with a heavy history of difficulties in a traditional school environment due to trauma, severe learning disabilities, emotional/social/behavior disorders, and often a combination of those challenges for them to overcome. We have children who come for the school program during the day, and some who are residents at our facility who come to school daily as well. The other teachers and I try our best to create a different environment from regular public schools that allows students more flexibility to help them succeed
My biggest challenge is getting enough funding to get basic art supplies, and try to get some specific things for special projects. In addition to funding cuts the past three years, Tittle 1 and other avenues for me to get supplies can take four months or longer just to hear if were even been approved for the funds. I also like to do unique projects that students may not have had exposure to in the past, like Oaxacan Alebrijes, the assemblage art of Louise Nevelson, using Nintendo XLs to teach animation, and even graffiti artists like Banksy. But, without the supplies, all the great ideas cant really get very far. This year, I am getting $0 for my budget for supplies.
Right now, things are not looking so good in my supply closet. I am running out of drawing paper, paint, brushes, ceramic clay, pencils, markers, and a number of other critical materials. Those are just the basics! I have students who want to do some really interesting projects (sculpture from stone, large scale paintings, graphic designs for skateboards) but I do not have the supplies, the funds, or the time to get them through the usual bureaucracies (if my requests are even approved at all). While our entire school desperately needs any funding they can get, and my administration is supportive of my efforts, Ive been told its fine for me to try and secure supplies via other means. So at the moment, I am looking for quality art supplies just so I can run my class. I am allowing students to select their own project ideas and run them by me this year, and so far its very successful. But my dwindling art supplies are a major problem.
Any help, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated.
- Adopted in 2013 by Anonymous, Carrion, Catherine Lee, Elyse Ross, Helene Sacks, Jenna,Danny & Dad, Joyce Melnick, jtvh, Justin Vela, Kyle Garvey, Loic, M + L Romanoff, nancy palley, Nelson Pecora, Randy and Stephen Maged, Rochelle Mantanona, S!, Starscreamer's Rants and Raves action figure revie, Ted
- Not Adopted in 2012
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