Anna Irwin loves seeing her students get creative
Anna Irwin is in her first year of teaching in the West Holmes Local School District. She teaches art at Killbuck, Lakeville and Nashville elementary schools.
When Anna Irwin was a student, she admired her teachers and drew inspiration from them.
She decided to become a teacher herself because she wanted to be a friend to today’s youth like her teachers were for her.
“I also enjoyed camp counseling and wanted to work with children year round,” said Irwin, who teaches art at Killbuck, Lakeville and Nashville elementary schools.
Irwin, a first-year teacher, had a moment that immediately stuck out to her within her first few weeks of teaching.
“So far my favorite memory is at Lakeville when I was on recess duty, and some students were turning over mowed grass, pretending they were flipping hay,” she said. “That made me smile.”
Heading into the school year, Irwin didn’t realize how thoughtful her students would be after they finished her class for the day.
“I am always so surprised by the number of students who want to stay after art class to clean my room,” she said. “Many students even want to mop my floor and organize my desk.”
Irwin enjoys watching her students glow while learning about art and recognizing what they can achieve.
“I love watching students get creative and find joy in making art,” she said.
Getting to know all her students has been the most challenging part of her job.
“I teach at three schools and see each student for only 45 minutes per week,” Irwin said. “Learning names and getting to know each student will definitely be a yearlong process.”
Irwin participated in FFA, marching and pep band, concert symphonic band, Academic Challenge, stage crew, 4-H, National Honor Society, and Spanish Club when she attended West Holmes High School. In college she participated in pep band, jazz band, Faith in Action, Quaker Leader Scholar Program, peer navigator, Eco Club, Service Leader Board, Activities Programming Board and the Peace Corps Prep program.
When Irwin isn’t in the classroom, she enjoys playing accordion, violin and clarinet; hanging out with friends, family and her goats; and being in nature by hiking, biking or doing anything outdoors.
“When I’m not teaching art, you can find me milking cows at a local dairy farm,” she said.
“Teacher Spotlight” is a feature on a teacher in the East Holmes or West Holmes school districts.