My Why - Michelle Turek, Art Teacher at Field

Picture of staff member Michelle T, holding 2 stuffed objects that was made by students.

Michelle Turek has always loved art. She is a creative soul who immersed herself into artistic endeavor’s as a child in an early pursuit of an art career. Her parents, however, wanted her to pursue a different path – a path of service. So, she combined the two and became an art teacher, first earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the American Academy of Art College in Chicago and then earning her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees of education at Northern Illinois University. She also has 22 hours towards her Ph.D. 

 Turek worked for a short time as a graphic designer before teaching high school Advanced Placement Art at Round Lake Area Schools District 116, but found a preference in teaching elementary students. “I love to plant the seeds of creativity in younger students and have them guide their own research, discover their own innovative connections. I tell them, ‘I’m not the boss of your ideas.’” Her students learn to collaborate and connect with each other while digging deep into their inspiration. 

A drawing of a snowman by a student.

 It’s this method that allows her students to become fearless and to use their intuition to tap into their creativity, including problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through the analysis and interpretation of different works of art. It also builds confidence and skill sets by teaching students how to communicate their ideas, from simple to complex descriptions, strengthening growth mind-set and emotional intelligence, and allowing students to make more informed decisions about the world around them. For her Individualized Education Program (IEP) students, it gives them a chance to be leaders, trust their judgement, and develop self-confidence. And for her dual-language students, it highlights their culture in a visual way and strengthens their linguistics while encouraging other students to appreciate diverse perspectives and think outside the box. 

 She chose District 21 because of the kind and supportive teachers, robust curriculum and diverse community. She is an empathetic teacher who has been teaching for 18 years and would love to eventually mentor art teachers. 

 In the meantime, she is a mom to her 12-year-old daughter and wife to her husband of 27 years. Her spare time is filled with creative endeavors, like drawing, painting and playing the violin in a local bluegrass band.