Meet Mrs. Lewis: MERF’s Fine Arts Teacher at Valley Head School

Art is not a regularly offered class throughout DeKalb County — it’s a rarity. For over 30 years, MERF has worked to change that, providing arts education through the support of donations, grants, and community involvement.

MERF is proud to have local educator Sherryl Lewis as part of this mission. While she is just completing her first year with MERF, she brings more than 30 years of experience teaching art and music. In a full-circle moment last month, we discovered that I was once one of her clogging students back in the 1990s, a reminder of the lasting impact educators have across generations.

At Valley Head School, Lewis introduces students to a wide range of artistic techniques, from drawing and watercolor to clay work and her specialty, traditional American folk art barn quilts. Beyond her talent, she brings organization, patience, and an ability to keep students engaged and inspired. Her dedication has also helped MERF successfully secure two grants from the Alabama Council on the Arts, an organization committed to strengthening communities through programs like ours.

This year’s annual art auction highlighted her work with students in grades K–6, who created their own barn quilts. Through the process, students developed an understanding of symmetry, color, collaboration, and communication, while gaining the confidence to create independently.

She is now preparing for the upcoming Tiger Art Gallery, where K-6 students will showcase multiple works of art they’ve created throughout the year and perform music and dance. This event is a celebration of the creativity and hard work of VHS students.

We invite the community to come out and support the next generation of young artists on May 6 at 6 p.m. in the old gym, directly following the PTO meeting. Refreshments will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

If you’re interested in supporting MERF’s art program, you can donate art supplies to the school or make a contribution to Mrs. Lewis’s classroom through merfhouse.org.