February 2022 Art Teacher of the Month: Christina Ramirez

Congratulations Wisconsin Art Education Association Art Teacher of the Month - February 2022
Name: Christina Ramirez
School: Indian Community School; Franklin, WI

Ms. Ramirez encourages and supports building students with a strong Native Identity. She encourages students to build their self esteem, she continues to learn and grow so that all students can be successful. She volunteers, extends her days, and builds strong relationships at a time where those relationships make such a huge difference for students and staff. She is not Native American, but her students are. She makes sure to validate, learn, and expose students to authentic and appropriate lessons and experiences that provides opportunity to see that their way of being is not only valuable, but it is beautiful and necessary. She connects with others to support her growth and to support her students. She builds strong relationships built on understanding and love. She volunteers even providing a virtual workshop on New Year's Eve for students and the community to celebrate identity, and provides opportunities after school for staff to enjoy themselves and be rejuvenated. I’m invigorated and honored to begin teaching at ICS and look forward to growing with the whole community!

​Christina's Bio: My love for making things began as a child when I made bookmarks en masse for the whole neighborhood. I believe that children naturally create with uninhibited joy and determination. I love guiding students to connect with one another, their roots and the world around them through Visual Art Making. I graduated with a BFA in Visual Art with Teacher Certification and a minor in Spanish from UW-Milwaukee. I earned a M.S. in Urban Education from Marian University. I have been teaching art since 2001. I live in Milwaukee with my husband and four children.