This year, RM welcomes a new art teacher, Addison Coryell. Ms. Coryell’s specialty is Studio Art, and she teaches Studio 1 and Studio 3, as well as AP/IB juniors and seniors–classes that suit her painting and drawing background. 

Before RM, Ms. Coryell was a teacher at Wood Middle School, this being her first year teaching high school students. “At RM, I’m really excited to start teaching different age groups because I’m coming from Wood Middle School. So it’s nice to work with a range of students from beginner high school to more advanced high school levels,” she said.

Due to teaching so many different levels of students, Ms. Coryell enjoys watching students of all levels showcase their creativity. In all her various classes there are art projects she is most eager about. “My favorite art projects . . . we’re getting ready to start a surreal landscape with my Studio 1 and 3 classes, so I’m excited to see how that turns out. With my more advanced students, the AP and the IB juniors, I’m excited to do a 3D project. They’re doing an unconventional piece of jewelry, so it’s going to be a wearable item. And then the seniors, I like working with them, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re doing, because they have more flexibility in what they’ll focus on,” Ms. Coryell said.

Speaking of her highest level of students, Ms. Coryell explains that while AP and IB art are similar at heart, different things are required of students. “AP has a lot more focus around the process of art making, whereas IB  . . . focuses around art making, but there’s also a lot of sustained writing that the students need to do,” Ms. Coryell said. However, she is able to enjoy all aspects of the class. “I like seeing what students are writing about what interests them, because that helps me guide them better,” she said. “They get to choose their artwork for something called a comparative study . . . focusing on three artworks by at least two different artists, contrasting time periods and style.”

Ms. Coryell recommends that anyone interested in taking art, no matter the level, should come and talk to her (or one of the other art teachers) about where to start. Her classroom is located in Room 41. She believes Foundations of Art or Studio 1 are good starting places to discover your artistic passion, then moving from there into higher drawing classes (AP 2D Art and Design), or even sculpture classes (Ceramics). “Arts is something that everyone can fall in love with,” she said. “Even though I’m new here at RM, I’m here to help.”