Kari Giordano

School of Education, University of Edinburgh - Arts Education

I teach art, design, and photography to grades 7-12 at Mount Everett Regional School in Sheffield, Massachusetts. I received my Bachelor of Fine Art from State University of New York at New Paltz and my Master of Art in Teaching from Rhode Island School of Design. Beyond my teaching duties, I serve as the K-12 Arts Curriculum Leader as well as advisor to numerous school organizations. My awards and honours include the prestigious James C. Kapteyn Award for Excellence in Teaching, Berkshire Community College’s 40 Under 40 Award, and State University of New York at New Paltz’s 40 Under 40 Award. I have had over a dozen articles published in SchoolArts Magazine, a national art education publication, have presented my design curriculum at the National Art Education Association National Convention and have been invited to speak at the New Paltz Women in Leadership Summit. Outside of education, I own and operate a freelance graphic design and photography studio. I live and work in Berkshire County, Massachusetts with my husband and two young sons. For my inquiry project, I am excited to study rural arts education and how practical, place-based projects can connect rural students with their local communities in an age where urbanisation has a profound impact on rural districts.