Ms. Lee, a drawing and painting teacher, is someone who has made an impact on my learning. Through patience, dedication, and encouragement, she creates an environment where you want to continue learning.  

  I never liked art and honestly never thought I would. It just was not something I cared about or wanted to try. All of that changed when I had Ms. Lee sophomore year. She showed me that art can be enjoyable and meaningful.

  Not only is she great at art, but she is always available to listen and care about how the students feel. Her kindness makes the classroom feel like a safe place where everyone can be themselves and try their best. 

 Art career 

  Ms. Lee started discovering her love for art back in middle school, but she started painting in high school. In middle school she had an art teacher, who inspired her and made her realize she is good at it.  

  Although she would enjoy teaching science or English, she says nothing compares to the joy she gets from teaching art. Seeing her passion for it makes her lessons exciting and inspiring, and it is clear she would not want to teach anything else the way she teaches art now.  

  Here’s some advice she would give students who want to teach art:  “Do it, there will always be good days and bad days but follow your passion.” One thing she would want everyone to understand about art is that everyone can be good at it if they’re creative. It is not about being perfect. 

 Being a teacher at Miami High 

  She has many favorite things about working at Miami High. The kids, along with the positive environment and powerful sense of culture make each day special. Before teaching at Miami High, she taught at Citrus Grove, but she always dreamed of teaching at Miami Senior High.  

  “My favorite part of my job is seeing how students are willing to always try and learn something new,” said Ms. Lee. She explained that a typical day at school is never the same, never really knowing what to expect. 

 A Glimpse into Mrs. Lee’s early years 

  Before becoming an art teacher, Ms. Lee never thought she would go into teaching. She first studied marketing in college, but one class was enough to know it was not for her. She returned to art and realized she loved it and began teaching kids to paint. In high school, she was in color guard and took art classes, attending Coral Gables High School, but wishing she could go to Miami High. Her favorite part of high school was senior year which she recalls as the most fun and memorable year of all. 

 Balancing work and personal life

  Outside of class, Ms. Lee does not have much time for art, but she loves spending it with her son, helping him grow into a good person.“During summer, I try to take care of myself the most I can, since I don’t really have much time during school,” she said.  

  Other than spending time with her son and taking him to camp, she loves taking care of herself also by exercising, attending appointments. Some things Ms. Lee enjoys outside of class are traveling, eating, sleeping and even simple trips to Target.  

  Her top singers are Adele, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. “Those are the only concerts I would go to,” she said. She is not big on social media, and one thing that might surprise students is that she has been teaching for 20 years.