Cathy Hamilton~I am a C'Lectives teacher at The Classical Academy K-8 Charter school in Escondido teaching Pottery and 3-D art. I have worked at TCA for several years as well as continued volunteer efforts in the ARTS for our Escondido elementary school district since 1998. I have two daughters, age 24 and 19. My eldest daughter had a stroke at birth and has many special needs. My youngest is attending NYU this year as a sophomore. I began teaching Art 20 years ago when my first daughter started school. She really enjoyed "hands on" activities and is a very kinesthetic learner. Through the years,
I found that art was a great way to have her included with other typically developing children, especially in school. When my youngest daughter came along, I eventually realized she was deeply introspective and creative. I realized early on in my parenting how beneficial the ARTS were for both of my children for entirely different reasons. Over the years, I have developed a deep passion for the arts in education for ALL children, realizing that it is the one place all children can thrive and find hope and success, despite many barriers they may have in other academic areas. I have since taught children's art at Palomar College Child Development Center, in my own preschool classes, at every school each of my children have attended as a volunteer docent, and at Classical Academy for Enrichment Labs, C'Lectives, and as a long-term sub in the high school. I am also the Coordinator for the Escondido Alliance for Arts Education and am pursuing paths in our local schools and community to get the Arts back into our classrooms. I was the founder, facilitator and event coordinator for the smART Festival, which became a community event inclusive of all EUSD schools an effort that has connected local schools, businesses, artists, and community members in order to promote and teach visual and performing arts lessons for our students, especially in our inner city schools. The artwork created is then displayed and performed for the community at a city-wide arts festival each year(The smART Festival.) This will be year 6 for the smART Festival and I have successfully handed the coordination efforts over to the Center for the Arts Escondido and EUSD school district to continue community collaboration efforts. I am also co-coordinator of The Classical Academies Spring Art Show currently, which is now in its 3rd year. Working with students to bring out their inner artist and developing events that bring our community together around the Arts are two of my greatest joys and passions.