Claire Montesano
Visual & Applied Arts Teacher
Bachelor of Science, Art Education, Nazareth College; Master of Science, Art Education, Nazareth College
For Mrs. Montesano, choosing a career as an art teacher checked all the boxes. “I always liked school,” she says. “I liked helping others and I enjoyed learning new things.” A career as a professional educator? Check, check, check. “Art was always my favorite subject in school,” she continues, “so naturally I chose to become an art teacher!”
Teaching Art Online
Mrs. Montesano began teaching in 2007 at a traditional brick-and-mortar school. When she joined the faculty at Great Lakes Learning Academy in 2021, she knew that a hands-on subject such as art would need to be adapted for an online environment. “I try to incorporate videos,” she explains, “and additional resources within our tougher art lessons and assignments to help engage my students in the topic and processes.”
She has found that one of the biggest benefits of virtual teaching is how much more individual attention she can give each student, something that wasn’t really part of art classes at brick-and-mortar schools. “I love being able to work one-on-one with students,” she says.
One of Mrs. Montesano’s favorite things about teaching online goes beyond her specific subject area. She enjoys seeing how the virtual environment encourages students to develop “skills needed to be successful as an adult, like time management, goal setting and self-discipline.”
Family Adventures
When she’s not teaching, Mrs. Montesano keeps busy with all sorts of activities with her husband and children. “Family adventures” include heading to the beach, traveling to the mountains, or even just “going on adventures around town.” She paddleboards. She reads. She enjoys caramel drinks from both Starbuck’s and Dunkin’.
Mrs. Montesano is the only teacher at Great Lakes Learning Academy who felt it was important to mention her favorite color. It’s purple.