2022-23 November Sky Zone Teacher of the Month
Vanessa Holland, an art teacher at Homewood Elementary School, pursued a career in education in hopes of sharing her love of the arts and for her efforts, she was voted Sky Zone’s Teacher of the Month in November.
Teacher of the Month Blog Post
Myrtle Beach | February 10, 2023
Vanessa Holland, an art teacher at Homewood Elementary School, pursued a career in education in hopes of sharing her love of the arts and for her efforts, she was voted Sky Zone’s Teacher of the Month in November.
After winning the award, we caught up with Holland for a quick Q&A about her career in education and her passion for the job.
How long have you been a teacher (overall and along the Grand Strand)? I have been a teacher for the last 7 years. My first two years were in Georgetown County at McDonald’s Elementary and then 5 years in Horry County.
How long have you been at your current school and what grade do you teach? Homewood has been my second home for the last 5 years where I teach art to grades child development through fifth grade.
What led you into teaching and what continues to motivate you? My father was a culinary arts teacher and as a child I would always play teacher. I also have always had a love for the arts and working with children, so becoming an art teacher just seemed like the perfect job. What motivates me is sharing my love of the arts with my students. To help my students understand the importance of the arts and allow the students to express themselves and grow as artists.
What was your reaction to winning the award? I was very surprised and honored to receive the award. As a special areas teacher, we often feel overlooked compared to classroom teachers and it is nice to be recognized for the work that we do.
What was the reaction of your class? My art club kids were very excited to hear the news and are very proud to have Homewood represented. They know how much I put into classes as well as art club to provide various materials and new experiences from the everyday classroom.
Have you been to Sky Zone before? If so, what was your experience like? My family has been to Rockin Jump quite a few times. I have a 5-year-old son with autism that always has an amazing time running around and jumping on the trampolines.
What do you find most rewarding about being a teacher? Teacher’s shape the minds of young children and I enjoy teaching students from child development all the way until they leave us in fifth grade. Throughout those years, you can build strong relationships with them and become role models and teach them skills that they can carry with them throughout their schooling and provide a loving and safe environment where students feel welcomed and loved. By being an art teacher, I am able to provide students with an opportunity to express themselves creatively and help students to appreciate and understand the fine arts.
Outside of the classroom, what are some of your interests? Outside of the classroom I love to spend time with friends and family. We enjoy traveling to different zoos and aquariums and finding fun experiences to introduce to our son.