Teacher of the Week: Caryn Rock, The Woodlands High School

As a society, we may forget that teachers are public employees in the vein of firefighters, policemen and politicians. Teachers perform a public service. To become a teacher is a choice to forsake the almighty dollar and instead serve the interests of the general public (that’s you and me). So it’s worthwhile to recognize this sacrifice and acknowledge teachers for the heroes they are--heroes in the everyday war of attrition we wage against ignorance and apathy. In this weekly series, Woodlands Online features one Woodlands area educator for his or her outstanding contributions to our children’s development.

Caryn Rock teaches Art I, painting, and photography classes at The Woodlands High School in Conroe ISD. After graduating from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she never intended to become a teacher and instead tried to find work in advertising. But steady work for graphic designers is hard to find, and after a brief stint as a substitute teacher, Rock says she “discovered a new passion” in education. Rock quickly received her teaching certification and decided to teach high school art.

“I appreciate the fact that with high school students, there is never a dull moment because they are capable of working with a variety of materials and media so there are constant opportunities to try new things,” says Rock.

The arts present a unique challenge for teachers as the skills required are more abstract and innate than, say, defining limits in calculus. “Learning art helps in improving patience, motivation, concentration, observation, hand-eye coordination (helpful for sports), fine motor skills, builds confidence, and teaches resilience,” says Rock. These skills are why the arts are a vital supplement to academic curricula, as they foster abilities neglected in the traditional classroom.

Art is an exercise in self-discipline and defies the binary logic of some academic courses--there is not always a right or wrong when it comes to a brushstroke. “I consistently encourage students to engage themselves in the process, be open to experimenting new things and always do their best. And break the rules in a creative way, of course,” says Rock.

But since several fine arts credits are required for graduation, certain students walk into Rock’s class with an apathetic mentality. Art class can sometimes be seen as a “blow off” class, or a prison sentence for those creatively ungifted. Rock aims to challenge students and bring out each student’s latent abilities.

Rock recalls a student from her early career. “She had no idea she had any drawing ability at all because she had no experience, yet when she learned and practiced, she flourished! She ended up taking Art 2 the next year and getting nominated into National Art Honor Society,” says Rock.

This kind of story is the source of Rock’s job satisfaction. She recognizes that her classes can be a students “refuge and help them find their niche” in a sometimes less-than-inclusive high school environment.

As for those who see art as a “blow off” class, “many students have claimed it to be their most challenging class, and it always thrills me to hear that,” says Rock.

Rock is also excited to introduce some new elements in her classes this year. She plans to implement the service Remind 101 to help students keep up with their classwork. Students subscribe to the service via text message and then Rock can send out reminders via the Remind 101 website. It appears to be a huge help. “I've already used it a couple of times in my photography classes to remind them to bring in a photo they took over the summer for critique and had 100% success,” says Rock.

Services like this are helpful, but it should be noted that technology can also be a double-edged sword. “I've seen students get disqualified from art competitions due to working from images they found online. Current technology makes it very easy and tempting to cheat, but it's also gotten much easier to catch the perpetrators,” says Rock. “Be sure and do your own, original artwork.”

Rock is excited to be back in the classroom for another school year. Yes, there are the monotonous logistics of her job that include managing the myriad of supplies used in her various art classes and sticking to a budget, but that is eclipsed by the larger joys of her job. Rock is back in her element helping students find their inner muse and inspiring high schoolers to pursue art as a profession and lifelong passion.

Caryn Rock was nominated for Teacher of the Week by our Facebook fan Charlotte Braden.