Annette Thornsberry has been working at St. Martha since 1998. In her first four years, she was the kindergarten assistant to Mrs. Cooper. Then she became the art teacher. Mrs. Thornsberry has occasionally taught religion and health, and monitored the cafeteria and parking lot. She is an alumnus of Louisville Catholic schools (St. Elizabeth of Hungary and Mercy Academy) and studied art at the University of Louisville. Mrs. Thornsberry attends St. Edward Church. She is married to her husband, David, and they have two grown children.
Q & A with Mrs. Thornsberry
Highlight of the year:
Spring Art Show, Martha Gras Auction Art
Passion:
I want students to feel good about themselves when they create art. Creating art is a process that involves all the senses, integrates all core subjects and helps students learn to solve problems.
Philosophy:
I believe in the Six Facets of Learning by Wiggins and McTighe (similar to Bloom’s Taxonomy). A student who creates and designs should be able to 1. explain their art, 2. interpret art, 3. apply what they have learned in art to other subjects, 4. learn to have perspective and use constructive criticism about art, 5. empathize or acknowledge that artists/art can be based on personal experiences that have value and 6. have a self-knowledge of styles and habits of art that can shape their understanding.
Favorite part of teaching:
I love when students have that moment of surprise that they really have created something from nothing more than an idea. I always want them to be proud of themselves when they create art.
Favorite teaching memory:
A former student, who attended Catholic High School and then Yale and Harvard, came back to ask me for help on an art history paper.
Favorite thing about St. Martha:
St. Martha has a strong, enduring backbone. Students often grow up and return with their own children. When parishes close, many of those students choose to attend St. Martha. We are a home to many people.
My hope for my students:
I hope they realize that art class is/was important to their education in some way and that they can use or remember what they have learned in the future, whether they are an artist or a scientist.
Fun fact:
My favorite season is the Fall and that is where I find artistic beauty from God and nature the most. I am married and have two grown children. I attended St. Elizabeth grade school and Mercy Academy High School. I studied art at University of Louisville.
