Just weeks before the school year began, administration was left with nobody to teach AP Studio Art 2D Design Photo after the sudden resignation of Mary Woodruff. But rather than hire from outside, the art department kept things in house.
“Two weeks before school started Mrs. Woodruff resigned, so together as a team the art teachers got together because you have to be certified in art in order to teach 2D Design,” art teacher Jeff Seidel said. “We looked at our schedules and saw which classes could possibly give and we decided the best option would be for me to cut my Sculpture 3 class and go ahead and take over the 2D/AP Photo class.”
Although Seidel had never taught the course before, he brings a new mindset and approach to photography.
“He helps with a lot of the artistic side of photography like the composition, which I didn’t know a lot before,” senior Kate Hawley said.
In previous years, this class has been a double blocked class, however this year there had to be a change.
“Because I only had one opening in my schedule and the district would have to pay me extra to double block and the budget is tight, we had to trim it down to one period,” Seidel said.
Although he was thrown into teaching this course unexpectedly, Seidel enjoys stepping outside of his normal routine.
“It has been amazing,” Seidel said. “After teaching for 20 years you kind of get stuck in a rut sometimes and I have been teaching the same classes here for at least the last five years, probably six. It’s a new challenge and it is exciting. The kids involved in the program are overall really dedicated and it looks like there is a really good foundation we can build upon.”
Students are also enjoying this new change.
“I think the class is definitely different but in a good way,” junior Mayra Yundt-Pacheco said. “I was pretty shocked when I found out Mrs. Woodruff was not going to be teaching it, but I think Mr. Seidel is doing a good job especially for such short notice so it should be interesting.”
