Hello.
My name is Mrs. Pabellon. This is my third year teaching in District 97, and I am overjoyed to become one of the art teachers at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School. My journey here started long ago in 2003 when I realized I wanted to pursue a career in Arts Education. I was living in Boulder, Colorado as a recent grad from the University of Colorado where I earned my degrees in Anthropology and the Visual Arts. I was working at Boulder Montessori School as an assistant teacher, and it was during this time that I discovered my love for exploring the arts and the world around us with youth. In 2008, I made my way back home to Chicago and attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Masters in Teaching program where I not only merged my art practice with my teaching, but also researched how the arts can act as a form of empowerment for today's youth.
Before coming to District 97, I worked as a teaching artist for three years across the city of Chicago. I facilitated outreach programs and in-school art residencies for Chicago Public Schools, LillStreet Art Center, Hyde Park Art Center, and Elevarte Community Arts Studio. I also instructed a sculpture course for the Early Collage Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My experience with these programs helped me develop my background in arts integration, community arts, portfolio development, and multicultural arts education. As a teaching artist, I was able to merge my art practice in sculpture and installation with my passion for learning with others, and I loved every minute of it! Deep down, however, I knew I wanted to develop my own art program and become a member of a school community. In 2013, I became the K-8th grade art teacher at O'Keeffe School of Excellence in South Shore and helped a new school develop their own art program.
In 2015, I learned that my family was making the move to my husband's childhood home in Oak Park, Illinois, a move that we all were very excited about! For the past two years, I had the opportunity to work with Longfellow, Lincoln, and Holmes elementary schools as the traveling art teacher. As we now call Oak Park our home, I look forward to teaching and creating with your students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School!
Here's to an exciting school year!
Mrs. Pabellon
Before coming to District 97, I worked as a teaching artist for three years across the city of Chicago. I facilitated outreach programs and in-school art residencies for Chicago Public Schools, LillStreet Art Center, Hyde Park Art Center, and Elevarte Community Arts Studio. I also instructed a sculpture course for the Early Collage Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My experience with these programs helped me develop my background in arts integration, community arts, portfolio development, and multicultural arts education. As a teaching artist, I was able to merge my art practice in sculpture and installation with my passion for learning with others, and I loved every minute of it! Deep down, however, I knew I wanted to develop my own art program and become a member of a school community. In 2013, I became the K-8th grade art teacher at O'Keeffe School of Excellence in South Shore and helped a new school develop their own art program.
In 2015, I learned that my family was making the move to my husband's childhood home in Oak Park, Illinois, a move that we all were very excited about! For the past two years, I had the opportunity to work with Longfellow, Lincoln, and Holmes elementary schools as the traveling art teacher. As we now call Oak Park our home, I look forward to teaching and creating with your students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School!
Here's to an exciting school year!
Mrs. Pabellon