Dara Henning

Purple Room, Middle School Art

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:

I have been at Akiba since 2008.

Education/degrees:

B.A. in Literature and Studio Art, Scripps College in Claremont, California
M.A. in Art Education, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

I like to teach because:

My job is also special because I get to spend my mornings with the youngest students be with Akiba-Schechter’s oldest students in my Middle School Art classes in the afternoon. There I hope to teach students to look more closely at their environment, explore new materials and dynamic methods for making art, and let their own ideas flow freely.

My favorite part of teaching is:

When students come up with new ways of using materials that I may not have thought of yet.

I became a teacher because:

Working with young children and teaching art, I am always discovering new ways that kids learn about themselves and the world.

When I'm not teaching, I

Love to paint, make prints and read. I also really enjoy running with Barbara or Susan or playing guitar in our band “The Don’t Frets.” I grew up in Hyde Park and am lucky to have lots of family around; I love being with my family, especially my daughter, who is in elementary school at Akiba-Schechter!