Kelsey Gagnon-Mathews graduated from Appalachian in the Spring of 2011 and is now a teacher at Western Guilford High School n Greensboro, NC. In the seven years she has been at Western she has built the Visual Arts Program from one and a half art teachers to two, full-time teachers and helped build the Advanced Placement Studio Art program, working with students in 2D, 3D and Drawing portfolio settings. 

Painting by Jaki Haboom

Kelsey studied Art Education and minored in Geology, worked at Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff while in school and was awarded the Steel Reece scholarship to Penland School of Craft for a summer session her senior year.

I loved my experience at ASU – specifically the diversity of teaching styles I experienced. I had professors that pushed me ‘too hard’ and others that ‘didn’t push me enough’ however, in hindsight I see that the former were helping me fill my potential and the later were helping me find my own gumption to do so.

Some of her most rewarding experiences at Western, have been the Appstate student teachers she has worked with. “I have truly enjoyed the fresh, innovative ideas and challenging questions and experiences these Mountaineers have brought to my teaching experience.”