Michael R. Gerrish

159 1st Street, Troy, NY 12180

. http://whyart.com . mrg@whyart.com .

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

An innovative educator with expertise in teaching Visual Arts and Technology to individuals with divergent 
learning styles. Five years plus experience as workshop leader and faculty trainer in the areas of technology 
use and incorporating visual arts into core curriculum. Proven ability to mentor: 
     1)students through the process of enhancing oral and written communication skills 
     2)staff through the process of enhancing presentations and materials to effectively communicate curriculum

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Developing multi-modal programs 
• Mentoring students/new staff
• Restructuring curriculum
• Forging synergistic relationships
• Communicating goals and objectives

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Rensselaer Education Center, Troy NY 12180                                                                                        Current
Instructor of Art
Art teacher for a QuestarIII B.O.C.E.S. regional high school serving students in alternate academic and career training programs. 

The Bridge Academy, Lawrenceville NJ 08648                                                                                                2003-2004
Director of Academic Technology and Distance Learning
Program developer for private, regional school serving students with language based learning difficulties and/or attention issues. 
Responsibilities included database design and management, web design, teacher training, curriculum, and developing web-based instruction.

The Newgrange School, Hamilton, New Jersey 08629                                                                                    1989-2003
INSTRUCTOR OF ART AND NEW MEDIA; 
TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

Instructor and program developer for private, regional school serving students with language based learning
difficulties and/or attention issues. Active member of Technology, Curriculum committees, workshop developer in areas of Assistive Technology, Technology Integration, and Using New Media in the Art room.

• Founded Center for Technology, a unique program integrating Art and Computer media for students with
   divergent learning styles
• Broadened Visual Arts Curriculum to include less common media such as papermaking
• Authored articles and led workshops on the Arts, Integrating Technology in Art and Special Education,
   developing Electronic Portfolios, connecting curriculum strands
• Created NGSNET, a school based INTRANET communications system
• Supported curriculum development via NGSNET, training faculty in use of INTRANET for curriculum enhancement
• Created social skills and self-awareness curriculum combining visual arts, poetry, and narrative writing
• Developed WEB based electronic portfolio format connecting students' entire school experience
• Created database integrating Report Card, Interim Report, IEP Report, Teacher Concern Form, in a format that
   was uniform in appearance, yet customized for each curricular area and teacher

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

We all have gifts worth celebrating and it is the educator’s role to help each individual discover, develop and
celebrate those gifts. The media I use to bring this about are art centered. Art is more than an ancillary subject or
enrichment tool; because of the variety of its disciplines Art has the capability to inform everyone’s learning
experience regardless of any one individual’s learning styles. Whether one’s primary learning mode is auditory,
kinesthetic, tactile or visual, Art based instruction engages the learner as a creative agent in action who learns by
doing and participating with others; this process fosters an internalization of learning which is often unmatched by other curricula.

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts, Painting and Drawing    State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts, History of Art    University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
NJ Teaching Certificates: Art K-12 and Elementary Ed

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Art Educators of New Jersey
• Board of Trustees, Habitat for Humanity of Trenton, NJ (1995-2000)
• Technology Support Committee, Habitat for Humanity of Trenton, NJ
• ThinkQuest Judge, The Internet Society, Armonk, NY (1999-present)

EXHIBITION HISTORY

My work is included in corporate and private collections in the US, and the collection of the city of Hartford. 
The Schoolhouse/Somerstown Gallery in Croton Falls, NY, currently represents me. Past representatives include 
the Bess Cutler Gallery in New York City.

PUBLICATIONS

• "Just Desserts" Arts and Activities magazine April 2004

• "Digital Artistry" MultiMedia Schools magazine October 2000

• "Connecting Art History and Current Events Through Art and Computers" Channels journal vol. 13, 1999

• "Revealing the Hopes of Adolescents Through the Art of Tattoos" TheirWorld magazine 1996/1997

• assorted articles posted on the INTERNET < http://whyart.com >

REFERENCES

by request

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