MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
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T. Dean WhiteDean White is the Lead Art Instructor at Zone of Light Studio, and has taught after-school art clubs at Oak Grove, GLOBE Academy, Springdale Park, Kittredge Magnet, Hess Academy, and 21st Century STEM Academy.
Dean has been teaching Art and Art History to grades 2 through 10 for over ten years. Dean is an Art/Creative Director and Graphic Design/Illustrator. He designs and prints t-shirts for area Scout troops, churches and schools, is an active leader with the Boy Scouts of America, and enjoys painting murals. Working with children keeps him young at heart. Watching their creative thinking expand and artistic skills develop is a constant inspiration and motivation -- and a whole lot of fun! Dean and his wife lives in Decatur, and has a son and daughter. |
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Erin Warner
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Jaia RobinsonNoted as a talented abstract artist, Jaia Robinson's art embodies a vibrant use of color and texture. Jaia’s art creates a positive environment, dealing with healthy emotions. Her work is often referred to if ‘Love’ had an image. Jaia’s unique style was initially fueled by her upbringing as the youngest of three. She used art as a way to communicate with her siblings. Her work is a collaboration of motion and stillness. Jacqueline received her BA in Art from Clark Atlanta University. While in school she began teaching. She understands the importance of arts in Education and uses it as a tool to promote academic success.
Jaia’s art is featured in private collections across the country, her art has also transformed into Fashion, having her custom shirts featured in boutiques domestically and internationally. She was also a featured Artist at the 100th year anniversary for the NAACP. Jaia an ambitious traveler, has had the opportunity to be mentored by some of the world’s greatest artist. While in Europe she visited many studios and was inspired by the cultural diversity that she saw. Jaia believes that art can change the world and make it a better place, and is doing her part every day to make this a reality. |
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Kara RiceKara is currently teaching high school in Fulton County Schools, but has been teaching elementary school for nearly five years. Although she teaches photography, drawing, and painting, she specializes in jewelry making and silversmithing. She also enjoys painting, drawing, ceramics and sculpture, but my passion has always been small scale metal sculpture (jewelry).
Kara graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 2009 and the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in Art Education in 2017. Although she am an art teacher at a public school, she has been teaching summer art camp and working with children in afterschool programs for nearly ten years. |
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Kimberley WalkerKim is a certified art teacher working for Fulton County School District. She has been teaching art for 10 years total and love teaching art! She has two children: the oldest goes to Roswell High and the youngest goes to Crabapple Middle School. She says, “I have my hands busy driving around two teenagers, but, in my free time, I love to paint, read, watch movies, eat out and enjoy my two children. I look forward to working with your children this summer!”
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Stacy Christian"Hello everyone, my name is Stacy Christian. I have been living in Atlanta for a long time but I am from Ohio. I am a mom, daughter and sister. I LOVE teaching and have been teaching for 17 years! My favorite time is Fall and I hope this summer you fall in love with art!"
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Tracey MatthewsAs a lifelong learner, Tracey feels that working with children is a fantastic way to continue to gain knowledge. Each age group offers unique talents and she is grateful that, as a ZOL instructor, she is able to expand her craft to working with younger children (other than her own).
When asked: "How does art and children fit into your world?", Tracey replies "As a middle school mathematics teacher, I do not get as many opportunities as I would like to bring art into the classroom. I am, however, able to incorporate a creativity extension in elements of my lessons. As an educator, a personal goal is to nurture all of the learning intelligences and this integration makes that easily attainable." |
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Dorothy V. Bell-PolkDorothy is an Atlanta based actor, singer, songwriter and teaching artist. Her vision is to to be a catalyst for many people to learn how to use art in understanding and sharing their own stories; especially the unheard to find, to love, and to use their voices. Theatre has afforded Dorothy to use her gifts and voice throughout America, Quebec, The Netherlands and South Africa.
Since 2000 she has explored multicultural, interdisciplinary and mixed art and is always on a mission to bring those formats into the classroom. Currently, Dorothy is a lead teaching artist for the Youth Creates! Program at 7 Stages Theatre and leading the NEA Big Read projects in local schools in Atlanta. She has also taught at Clark Atlanta University, Clarkston Community Center and The Globe Academy. “I am a believer in art integration and use theatre as a way to combine all art forms.” |
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Marian D. HudsonMarian graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Art Education. She has been teaching elementary school art for Fulton County for 3 Years. Her personal favorite types of art to create are jewelry and metal-smithing and textile arts like embroidery and fabric dyeing.
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Lana EnsmannLana is an art educator since 2003, with a BFA in Photography and Art Education and an MAEd in Art Education. She has been teaching art with Fulton County Schools since 2006 and is at Riverwood International Charter School.
Lana has been teaching summer art camps since 2002, starting in Bloomington, Indiana to the Spruill Arts Center where she was the director for their summer visual and performing arts camps for several years as well. Since she teaches high school aged children during the school year she likes to change gears by teaching elementary aged children in the summer! |
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Lauren WoodyLauren is a certified Art Teacher K-12 with a specialty in Special Ed. She is a part of the only Adaptive Art program in school systems in the state of Georgia. Bringing awareness and creating art with children of all ages, with all types of exceptionalities is her passion.
Lauren is in her 5th year of teaching Adaptive Art in Fulton County Schools. In her spare time, Lauren loves all forms of art but particularly enjoys oil painting, wheel throwing, and visiting local art galleries. |
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Lauren O’HaraLauren has been an art Educator in Fulton County for over 7 years. She loves teaching at her Elementary school in North Atlanta, as well as her middle and high school students where she teaches at a local art gallery.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Lauren graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Art Education. Her life revolves around her fun students being creative little artists! She lives at home with her husband, and 3 furry babies-- 2 cats and 1 puppy. Lauren and her husband are currently expecting their first child, arriving in the next few months! In her spare time, Lauren loves to be creative in her art studio, play with her animals, and travel as much as she can! |
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Kathy VanTongerlooKathleen VanTongerloo is from Romeo, Michigan and moved to Bethlehem, Georgia 4 years ago with her husband and cats. She studied art and art history at Oakland University with emphasis in oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting and worked with the sculpture John Piatt.
Kathy has taught drawing and basket weaving to elementary students throughout the years at enrichment day camps. Kathy loves working with children and seeing their creativity in action. |
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Dr. Tracey RobertsDr. Tracey Roberts is a native of Georgia. She has been an educator at Oak Grove Elementary School for about five years. Her educational studies began at Spelman College where she pursued a bachelor’s degree. Further pursuit of education led her to matriculate at Clark-Atlanta University where she obtained a master’s degree. Dr. Roberts later obtained her doctorate degree from Argosy University.
The utmost goal of Dr. Roberts is to provide a safe and nurturing environment that enables students to use verbal and artistic skills to have successful interactions with others. When she is not working with students, she enjoys traveling, exercising, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, and skiing. |
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Jon-Erik MontgomeryJon-Erik is passionate about giving students the tools to make choices in their own artwork, and understand and appreciate the artwork of others. Jon-Erik has had the pleasure of working with Children Inspiring Hope: an international cultural exchange program, where students create works of art based on a theme and exchange artwork with a partner school in Ghana, West Africa.
Jon-Erik is a father, teacher, and loves to draw and paint. He is an artist who experiments with the processes of drawing and painting, both conceptually and technically. Jon-Erik received his B.F.A. in painting and drawing from Georgia Southern University in 2010, and his M.A.Ed. from Georgia State University in 2015. Jon-Erik currently teaches at Cliff Valley School in Atlanta, Georgia. |
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Kelly AlbrightKelly Albright graduated from the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs! She also has a Master's Degree in Reading and L:iteracy. Kelly taught second grade for eight years at Hawthorne Elementary in DeKalb County. She is currently teaching third grade at Oak Grove Elementary. She has one daughter, and being a mom and teacher inspires her each day. Kelly’s mission is to motivate, challenge, and nurture each and every child! She looks forward to working with your child.
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Sonia Emore
Sonia Emore, from Chicago Illinois, is currently a teaching assistant at the GLOBE Academy. Sonia is also a singer songwriter, with a strong background in art. She says she absolutely loves painting anything that has to do with nature. "I’m one of the most amazing story tellers you would ever meet. I love to travel and meet new people. I love to uplift and inspire people to be their best. I believe that there is so much beauty in the world we live in, you just need a courageous soul to release it, and that’s what I intend to do." |
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Beth Deery
Beth Deery was an original founder of Zone of Light Studio and enjoys working special events, summer camp, private parties, and after school programs that enhance creativity. She has taught art for 11 years at Oak Grove Elementary School, where she also sponsors the Art Club. She has 17 years experience working as an art educator. Beth previously taught at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School in Sandy Springs. Beth grew up in Atlanta attending Sagamore Hills Elementary and Briarcliff High School. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Art History in 1991. In 1992, she returned to Atlanta and worked in commercial photography including working as a photographer for Atlanta Magazine from until 1995. Beth received a teaching certificate in 1995 from Georgia State University in K - 12 Art. Beth lives in Atlanta with her husband and two daughters. |
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