Creativity is all in a day’s work for Ramzie Highsmith, M.A.T. ’24, a first-year art teacher at Edgewood STEAM Magnet School in New Haven. The school serves kindergarten through grade 8.
Though never afraid to color outside the lines, Highsmith — who earned a perfect 4.0 GPA at Southern — is committed to excellence. The artist’s achievements include being honored as the recipient of the Prospective Teacher of Color Scholarship from the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council. Highsmith received $1,000 as the only incoming teacher honored. Two other scholarships were presented to early-career teachers.
David Busso, president of the council, announced the award, noting: “Your passion, dedication, and promise were deeply evident in your essay and letters of recommendation, and you have reinforced our belief that the future of the teaching profession is bright.”
Highsmith, in turn, recognized Patricia Bode, associate professor and art education program coordinator, for easing the journey to the front of the classroom: “Dr. Bode has been such a huge support for me, and I owe my success to her.”
At Southern, Highsmith earned a master’s degree in teaching with a concentration in art education Pre-Kindergarten – 12. Previously, the educator completed a bachelor’s degree in illustration at the Pratt Institute in New York City.
Among the joys of this first-year of teaching: supporting students as they incorporate their voice into their art projects. “My goals for teaching are to inspire students to create art that reflects their identity as well as develop their empathy for our multicultural world,” says Highsmith.
