Moore Brings Passion for Arts, Teaching to New Role at Valley Head School

Everyone needs a vocation, but it’s a blessing when that work intersects with a person’s heart and skills in a way that ignites their passion. This aptly describes the new art teacher for Valley Head School.

Caroline Moore was hired last month by MERF to serve as the school’s art teacher. When speaking with Moore, it quickly becomes apparent that “serve” is the appropriate word.

“Students just soak up the goodness of life,” says Moore. “And if you affirm that and promote that in them, really the best of them comes out. That’s how I see my job as an art teacher.

“I told them, day one, ‘I’m here for you guys,’” she continues. “‘I want to expose you to a bunch of different mediums. I want to bring in watercolor and acrylic and clay and mosaics, and we’re going to do beadworking, because I want you guys to fall in love with some expression of art so you can take that outside of the classroom. You may not know that you love working with clay until it’s brought here before you, and that’s something that you can do for the rest of your life.’”

Moore studied psychology and entrepreneurship at The George Washington University in D.C. before moving to California for training as a holistic health practitioner. She also launched her studio and art career while there.

Just over a year ago, Moore moved to Mentone, where her family ties run deep. Her mother, Deedee Morrison, lives here, and her grandparents ran camps here decades ago. She opened a shop on the Moon Lake campus, and later taught several age groups at Nature’s Classroom before becoming art director at Camp DeSoto. The experience confirmed that working with children and teaching art were part of her calling in life.

This became more apparent when she was approached by MERF last month to fill a last-minute vacancy in the art teacher position at Valley Head. She quickly developed curriculum and a class structure, all aimed at creating opportunities for expression for her students.

“I want to create a space where they feel encouraged to make mistakes, try new things, and just be affirmed,” Moore says. “Being an artist is just making something new, making something that didn’t exist before. You had the idea before you brought it into being. And so I’m just excited to see kids start to see themselves as artists and as creators, and to think about themselves differently, forming a new identity as people who can create and try new things and not mess up … you can’t mess up in art.”

Moore is bringing an intentional approach to her work as art teacher, balanced with a focus on the personal growth brought on by the creative process. “I have an entire curriculum map for each grade and where they’re supposed to be by the time they leave my class, so that by the next year they have these basic, rudimentary skills,” she says. “So I’m excited for skill development. But more than anything, I’m excited for a shift in identity and self-affirmation so that they feel loved and empowered in my classroom. And of course, skill development will also come alongside that. But yeah, for me, teaching is just affirming students.

“I’m really in love with my job,” Moore adds, “really passionate. And I think the kids can feel how much I love it and love them already.”