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Ms. Currier: Teacher, Artist, Traveler, and Good Samaritan

By Katherine Minion - 02/09
NEIRAD enilno edition

  • Education: B.S. Art Education; M.S. Education
  • Family: Mom, Dad, two sisters, and a brother ("I'm a middle child!")
  • Favorite Part of the Job: "Getting to know my students"
  • Favorite Food: "Veggies of course! I love pizza"
  • Favorite Actor: Joaquin Phoenix ("He's great in 'Walk the Line'")
  • Favorite Artist: "Mrs. Bosler!"
  • Favorite Getaway: The Setai, South Beach, Miami

Some of you may not know Ms. Currier, as she is tucked away in the F building along with many other art teachers, but for the students who do have Ms. Currier know what a unique teacher she is. Ms.Currier has a passion for art; she is able to have a good rapport with her students, but also has many other interests that you may not expect.

Ms. Currier has been teaching for eleven years, but in her three years at DHS she and another Ceramics teacher, Ms. Bosler, have worked together to advance the ceramics program and their success has been appreciated by the young artists at DHS. Through sheer devotion they have been able to add six potter’s wheels (making the total 12) and have added porcelain and stoneware for the students to work with. Although they are dedicated art teachers, Ms. Currier and Ms. Bosler have not failed to incorporate the formulas learned in the science wing in a meaningful, real-life way by introducing glaze formulation.  Ms. Bosler says of Ms. Currier, “She’s easy to work with.  We’re always trying new ideas and brainstorming together.”  Ms. Currier has done a lot of hard work, and she also recognizes the hard work her dedicated students do. She says her favorite part about being a teacher is “being able to share my knowledge and love of art I have with my students.”  What she loves most about her students is that “They’re fearless.  They make a mistake and they don’t get upset about it.”

Ms. Currier seems to really enjoy teaching her students, and her students love having her as a teacher.  Many of Ms. Currier’s students love that she is able to have a good relationship with them.  Sophomore Lee Bolton says, “I really like how laid back Ms. Currier is.  She sits down next to us and actually has conversations with us instead of sitting at her own desk like other teachers.”  Many students really appreciate that Ms. Currier encourages them by sitting with them and doing her own project while they work.  Sophomore Leslie Gill adds, “She’s really funny and jokes around with us a lot while still being a great teacher.”  Although Ms. Currier and her students get along quite well, she is still able to keep them in line and make sure they are working.  Freshman Emily Close says, “I think what makes her different is the relationships she has with her students, she’s fun to talk to because she relates to the students.”  One way Ms. Currier relates to the students is that she is a big fan of the popular show “Summer Heights High”.  She says, “I think it’s so funny.   It’s so realistic to what school is really like.”

Ms. Currier may have a love for art, but that is not the only thing she is passionate about.  If she weren’t an art teacher, “I would be dancing on Broadway,” she says.  Ms. Currier also loves yoga and traveling.  Her passport has indeed been used and crumpled as Ms. Currier spent a few weeks in Italy for the last four summers, visiting different villages every day. 

Ms. Currier also works to make the world a better place.  She is a member of the P.E.T.A. organization- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  She does not want to contribute to cruel treatment of animals, and has been a vegetarian for the last 14 years.   Also, she is participating in the “Empty Bowls” project with New Canaan and Trumbull High Schools.  Participants make ceramic bowls that are sold and all of the money made goes as a donation to a local, national, or international hunger- fighting organization of the artist’s or the donator’s choice.

One thing that makes Ms. Currier a good teacher is her passion for art. “I like to share the knowledge and love I have for ceramics,” she says. Ms. Currier takes ceramics classes at the Clay Art Center in Portchester, New York at night and over the summer, so she can stay on top of the new tools and technology used in ceramics.  Her students benefit from her knowledge.  Ms. Bosler says, “I think she’s a good teacher-she loves her job.”  Sophomore Emily Burke agrees saying, “She is always willing to help people with their work and is always teaching us new ways to make our projects better or to perfect a technique.” 

Although Ceramics is a year long class, many students recommend it because it is a really fun time.  Bolton says, “I really like ceramics because I get to make fun gifts for my friends and family and I have gotten to see my work improve through out the year.  I look forward to ceramics because I get to do work, but have fun at the same time.”   Burke says, “I would recommend this class because Ms. Currier is a really nice teacher and ceramics is a really fun class!”