All+About+Mrs.+Kutz

 = = = All About Mrs. Kutz    =

**My name is Mrs. Knehr Kutz, yes I have two last names! I was born May 30, 1982 not too far from here, in a little town called Pine Grove. That is actually where I still live with my husband and my two house rabbits, Binky and Bella. My husband is a dairy farmer, so it should come as no surprise that I love cows...particularly brown and white ones (guernsey). Oddly, I don't like milk! Other than cows, my biggest collection is of Crayola stuff...I love Crayola, and the fact that such a huge influence in childrens art is based in Pennsylvania! Did you know the first Crayola crayons were actually wrapped by hand by local farmers in the Easton area? ** 

In school I always loved Art, Math, and English, although spelling is not my best subject. I've learned it's always best to look up words if you're not sure how to spell them! I wanted to first be a teacher in elementary school, then a hair stylist, then an artist. By middle school I had moved onto a psychologist, then an art therapist. I graduated from Pine Grove and went to Kutztown University and majored in Art Education with a minor in psychology. I graduated Summa Cum Laude (kind of like making the honor roll in school) with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. I was a member of three honor societies, Psi Chi (Psychology), Phi Kappa Phi (General), and Kappa Delta Pi (Teaching). I was the president for Kappa Delta Pi for two years, that was fun! College was hard work, but it's worth it and I'm proud of what I have earned!  After Kutztown, I went to Marywood University for graduate school in Art Therapy. Art Therapy is a type of therapy that uses art to help understand and express oneself. It is a very cool profession! However, I really missed teaching!!!!!!! So, after a year up there, I packed up and moved home to start teaching. I substituted in St. Clair and Schuylkill Haven schools, and also worked as a long term substitute high school art teacher in Oley School District. After that I took a full time job with the Schuylkill YMCA. I got to plan and run programs for ages 3-93, including an afterschool program and summer day camp. I also developed an art program for the YMCA that taught art to children of all ages. My oldest student, who was in my painting class, was really 92 years old **! Then, a position opened up here at Tri-Valley!

I really love teaching "in the valley"! While I have many interests, my passion is teaching, and I really love teaching grades K-6! Currently, I am finishing my Masters Degree in Art Education at Kutztown University. Taking a class during the year and going to Kutztown each week is stressful, but I love learning so it is more than worth it! I also LOVE shows like NCIS and CSI: NY, when I get a little free time. As an artist, I love to paint. I typcially either do large scale abstract figures, or smaller very detailed pictures. It depends on my mood! My favorite artist is Andy Warhol, but I also love Wayne Thiebaud and Wolf Kahn. I love artists that take the everyday and make it interesting enough to be called art. I also love artists who challenge typical uses for color (look closely at a Thiebaud painting).**