Art, Music, PE Content Specialists
Tara Mix is currently the Content Specialist for K-12 Art. Tara teaches at Elkhart High School in the Arts and Communications School of Study. Tara loves to model what is taught by using demonstrations and visuals. She loves to teach students how to see things differently whether it is in a photo class seeing the Rule of Thirds or Leading Lines or in a drawing class when students draw more with their eyes than with their hands. Tara would like to help teachers learn about the four elements of Discipline Based Art Education which are History, Aesthetics, Criticism and Production. Tara loves to teach Subtractive Charcoal Drawing. This lesson teaches students to think reverse/backwards and draw by erasing. Tara comes from a family of Purdue graduates. She loves to run no matter what the temperature is outside!
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Kyle Weirch is the Content Specialist for K-12 Music. Kyle teaches at both Elkhart High School and Pierre Moran Middle School. Kyle embraces student involvement by asking students for feedback about what they hear and what needs to be done to address improvement. He loves to teach the concept of intonation. Kyle’s classroom is full of student engagement and he does all that he can to give the students all of the resources needed to be successful. Kyle’s favorite lesson to teach is when he uses only gestures and not words. This forces the students to watch, listen and improve communication skills. Kyle’s wife Tracey teaches special education and music at Elkhart High School and his daughters both teach orchestra and band at the middle school and high school levels. Kyle loves to travel and work outside.
Resources:
coming soon
Caroline Stopiak is the Content Specialist for K-6 Physical Education. She currently serves as the PE teacher at Monger ELementary. In Caroline’s PE class, learning looks different! Caroline states, “We learn as we play - student led learning mixed with play.” Caroline uses modeling to teach movement, rules and games. Once students get started in a lesson, the students get to experiment, re-evaluate, identify failures and successes and try again. “Giving up is never an option in our gym at Monger.” Caroline loves to teach hockey. Her gym can be described as high energy! This year, Caroline would like to give professional development opportunities to PE teachers that pertain to physical education, health, mental health and nutrition. Caroline likes to play tag with the students and relay races, especially around the holidays! Students will engage in “Do you want to build a snowman relay race.” Caroline and her husband, Mike, have two children, Hank and Lydiia. They also have three cats! There is never a dull moment at her house. Caroline also loves photographing all things Disney!
Resources:
Coming soon
