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| Hello. My Name is Brenda Zander. I am a studying Art Student through college courses, conferences and personal education as well an Elementary Educator with a Multiple subject credential and supplementary art credential. My site serves as a resume, portfolio, and current journal for work I have done or am doing. I enjoy many forms of art from glass and ceramics, to painting and photography. I have been influenced greatly by the impressionist artists and the abstract expressionists. I enjoy the works of Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol, Andy Goldsworthy, Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, and Henri Matisse. In the current ceramic world I am attracted to the work of Tri Tran, Marc Lancet, Rod guyer, and Kathy Kerns, all of which I have had the opportunity to work with. The art you find on these pages are an eclectic gallery of my works (many but not all works). I hope you enjoy them. If you have an interest in a piece please feel free to email me, please indicate in the subject line my web address so that I don't accidentally mistake you for spam. This page is intended to familiarize yourself with my personal goals, my lifes' endeavors, educational experiences whether professionally trained or through personal initiative, and allow you to see what I have accomplished or intend to accomplish. |
| Educational Training |
| A.A. Liberal Arts/ Highest Honors GPA 3.83 Graduation Date August 2002 - Solano Community College B.A. Liberal Studies/ Summa Cum Laude GPA 3.902 Grad Date May 2007 - Sonoma State University With Distinction from the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies. Teacher Credentialing program GPA 4.0 Graduation Date May 2008 Elementary Education with Supplemental Art credential K-8 Cumulative GPA 3.976 - Sonoma State University |
| 2 semesters Raku ceramics training / kiln 6 semesters ceramics/wheel 1 semester ceramics/hand building Figure drawing Beginning drawing Art History 1 - Development of human cultures from ancient art, medieval, African, North and South American, Indian, South Pacific, and Oriental. Art History 2 - Development of Western art by a study of Renaissance through Modern Western art. Watercolor Sonoma State University - Art Projects - Collection of Art projects to be used in the classroom. Earth Art Stained Glass Children's Art - 5 years of teaching art to children |
| CCACA- California Conference for the Advance of Ceramic Artists 3 Day Lecture series in Davis California put on by the John Natsoulas Gallery on First Street. May 2001 May 2002 May 2004 May 2006 |
| Recognition |
| The College Board Talent Roster of Outstanding Transfer Students From Community Colleges Program 2002-2003. For Academic excellence at a 2 year college. |
| Solano Community College - Jan Eldridge- Women in Art Scholarship. Spring 2002 |
| Fairfield Visual Arts Association Annual Juried Art Show November 2002 - January 2003. Gallery Show and Juried Art show Selected piece : "Dun Foo" Ceramics / Raku |
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| Independent Contract with V.C.U.S.D. 2003-2005 Established new Art Program with a local elementary school. Required to incorporate Language Arts into the program, (Houghton Mifflin). Students learn about artists, art history, styles of art, and techniques in conjunction with specific classroom curriculum. I have also included the California Contents and Standards for Visual Arts into my program. |
| Fall 2003 Art Show - December 17, 2003 Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Grade K-5. I taught the courses and setup the show as well as created custom ribbons, and distributed information to the parents, students, and district staff. 500-600 people attended. |
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| Spring 2004 Art Show - June 10, 2004 Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Grade K-5. I taught the courses and setup the show as well as created custom ribbons, and distributed information to the parents, students, and district staff. 400-500 people attended. The show theme was Multicultural Art. |
| In the Company of Wolves Art Show-. June 5, 2004. 1st art show located in an atmospheric coffee house on the main street of Benicia, California. Work ranged from digital photography, pottery, and paintings, as well as drawings in charcoal, sumi-e, and pastels. |
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| Fall 2004 Art Show - December 16, 2004 Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Grade K-5. This art show was displayed art based on Language arts based lessons. Each class had a story and an art lesson to go with it. Some examples are: "Snowflake Bentley", "The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings", "The Very Lonely Firefly", and much more. |
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| Sonoma State University- Edgar & Beulah Dryden Fund Scholarship - Academic Year 2005-2006 |
| Spring 2005 Art Show - June 16, 2005 Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Grade K-5. This art show was displayed art based on Language arts Houghton Mifflin based lessons. Each class worked on a Houghtno Mifflin theme and created an art lesson to go with it. Lessons included A World of Animals, We Can Do It, Talent Show, Smart Solutions, Nature: Friend and Foe, and Animal Encounters. |
| Long Term Substitute Secretary/Clerk with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)-Responsibilites: occassional attendance data, letters of recommendation, Student entry data in Aeries student database. Categorical Budget, General Fund Budget, Fire Money Budget, requisitions for purchases, producing various forms from school related injury to hiring, student cumulative files, extra service agreements, as well as many other duties and responsibilities. March 2005 - June 2005 |
| Sonoma State University- Jacqueline Strain Scholarship - Academic Year 2006-2007 |
| Sonoma State University- Jeannine Thompson Memorial Scholarship - Academic Year 2006-2007 |
| Art Specific Training |
| Sonoma State University- Zephyr Publication-Hutchins School of Liberal Studies 2006-2007 |
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| Fall 2006 Art Show - January, 2006 Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Grade K-5. This show comprised of art works related to the various core curriculum in the California Content Standards. It also created a multicultural learning environment so that all children could succeed. |
| Spring 2006 Art Show - June, 2006 Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Grade K-5. This show comprised of art works relating to the various cultures around the world, what the students learned about them, their visions of the cultures, and enhancing a greater appreceation for world diveristy. |
| Spring 2007 - Art Show - June 6, 2007 Interdiciplinary Art. Art can be used to teach math, science, english, social studies, and everything in between. This show focused on classroom curriculum in all areas of learning. |
| Sonoma State University- Hutchins School of Liberal Studies Art Show 2006-2007 |
| Fairfield Visual Arts Association Annual Juried Art Show January 2007 - February 2007.. Gallery Show and Juried Art show Selected piece : "Hamlet's Fortune" Ceramics |
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| CKA - California Kindergarten Association Confernce- 2004 * Promotes the value of early childhood education * Assists in development and implementation of appropriate environment and curricula to meet diverse needs of young children in our pluralistic society. CKA Art Show - Orangized Steffan Manor Elementary School Kindergarten and 1st grade classes to participate in the annual conference art show in 2004 and 2005. |
| Challenging Inequities: Traveling a Path of Social Justice in Global Education Conference. A Conference designed by pre-service and in-service teachers to explore and challenge inequities in global education and envision new possibilities for the future. March 17, 2007. |
| Sonoma State University- Jacqueline Strain Scholarship - Academic Year 2007-2008 |
| Fall 2008 -A show about diverse artists, from women to men, Latina/o artists, Asian artists, African American Artists, artists who are physically/ mentally handicapped , European artists, so that the Students at Steffan Manor will be able to identify and derive inspiration from someone just like them. This will enable us to procure a more socially just atmostphere among our students. |
| Sonoma State University- "Top 25" Scholar for Academic Year 2007-2008 |
| Long Term Teacher Substitute with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)- 60% long term substitute teacher for 3rd grade at Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Major responsibility: Harcourt Math, Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Social Studies, and Second Step as well as classroom management, procedures and routines. August- September 2007 Long term Substitute position at Steffan Manor Elementary for 2nd grade. 40% Major responsibility: Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Harcourt Math, California Social Studies units, classroom management, procedures and routines. October - November 2007 |
| Fairfield Visual Arts Association Annual Juried Art Show February 2008 - March 2008. Gallery Show and Juried Art show Selected piece : "Anette's Chocolates" Ceramics |
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| Teacher with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)- 40% teacher for 2nd grade at Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Major responsibility: Harcourt Math, Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Social Studies, and Second Step as well as classroom management, procedures and routines. October 2007- June 2008 |
| Teacher with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)- 100% teacher for 4th grade at Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Major responsibility: McMillian McGraw-Hill Math, Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Second Step as well as classroom management, procedures and routines. August 2008- June 2009 |
| Experience |
| Conferences/ Work Shops |
| Advanced Houghton Mifflin Trainging- Professional Development through VCUSD. Training for use of Houghton Mifflin Materials through California Approved Curriculum. Specific skills: Interdisciplinary links, diverse learning styles, accessible materials for all students. August 2008, 2010 AB46. |
| Datawise Training- Trainging specific to the use of the software, capabilities, accessing student ahievement data, and analysis of data to help me modify instructional strategies. February 2009. |
| Second Step Violence Prevention Program- This program is designed to incorproate social and emotional skills in the classroom beside academics to help build success for life. The training provided me with an overview and practice lesson to help me incorporate this program into my classroom on a weekly lesson basis as well as an everyday attitude about social and emotional skills . |
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| Teacher with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)- 100% teacher for 5th grade at Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Major responsibility: McMillian McGraw-Hill Math, Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Second Step as well as classroom management, procedures and routines. August 2009- June 2010 |
| Teacher with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)- 60% teacher for 4th/5th grade at Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Major responsibility: McMillian McGraw-Hill Math, Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Second Step as well as classroom management, procedures and routines. August 2010- June 2011 Teacher Support - 40% with Vallejo City Unified School District - Steffan manor Elementary School. Major Responsibility: Support K-5 classrooms with small group phonics and reading instruction, data analysis, English language learner instruction, and administrative support. Design and update monthly school Newsletter: Steffan Connection. |
| Spring 2010 -A show focusing on Women in History month. Teachers chose historical figures of the female persuasion and designed an art project based on the life, experiences, or ideas of famous women from Marie Curie, to Danica Patrick (Nascar driver). |
| Spring 2011 - "Illuminating Illustrators" Teachers chose an illustrator to teach their students about, or had their students become illustrators though comics and stories. Some classes became super heroes, while others illustrated the letters of the alphabet, a famous book, or created their own stories. Students also became illustrators through sharing of ideas. One idea was the human footprint on the planet. They illustrated their ideas through art using recycled CD's. |
| Project GLAD- Two day work shop - 4 day Demonstration and follow up dates. Curricular model that balances language approach to language acquisition focusing on effective strategies, differentiation, language functional environment (reading, writing, speaking, listening), and curriculum integration. August 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 2011. District GLAD Lead training- 2011-2012 once a month meetings to support GLAD certified teachers. |
| Teacher with V.C.U.S.D. (Vallejo City Unified School District)- teacher, 5th grade at Steffan Manor Elemerntary school. Major responsibility: McMillian McGraw-Hill Math, Houghton Mifflin Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Second Step as well as classroom management, procedures and routines. August 2011- June 2012 Teacher Support - 60% with Vallejo City Unified School District - Steffan Manor Elementary School. Major Responsibility: Support K-5 classrooms with small group phonics and reading instruction, data analysis, English language learner instruction, and administrative support. |
| Spring 2012 - "The Art of School" Students participated in an artistic experience based upon their grade level curriculum from science to math. Geometrical art, centrifugal art, forms of energy, cartography, literature, agriculture and more! |