ABOUT ME

2018-19 marks my sixth year of teaching and fifth district. My first teaching position was in Little Falls, Minnesota. As a young teacher in a rural district without many mentors, I struggled to find my voice. I left teaching to work in retail. Supervising and coaching diverse employees helped me build management and communication skills. While working retail, I was still able to work with students and young adults. I soon missed teaching, and with newfound passion I returned to the classroom. I spent one year as a long-term substitute, another in a traveling position split between two rural districts, and then landed a dream position teaching in Alexandria, Minnesota.​

In today’s world, it is more important than ever to help children build creativity and find comfort amidst ambiguity. It is my goal as an art educator to provide a comfortable space for my students where they can be open and curious, where their ideas will not be stifled, and where they can play and engage with different materials. As a teacher, I want to facilitate meaningful experiences and encourage students to embrace abstract concepts. In an educational climate that has become increasingly black and white, I challenge my students to think in shades of color. I value ideation over the final product because art’s critical value is the idea.

Most of my students will not pursue artistic professions. But the skills they learn through art education will help them find solid footing in any career path.

Image above: Mitch McGuire, The Teacher, 2019, watercolor on paper, 12"x9".

Current Employer:

Alexandria Area School District  |  Alexandria, Minn.
Work Phone: 320-762-3320

Work Fax: 320-762-3321

Email: mmcguire@alexschools.org

Courses I teach:

Lincoln Elementary (Grades 1-5): Elementary Art

Alexandria Area High School (Grades 9-12): Digital Photography, Video Production, Art & Design I

Degrees:

• University of Florida  | Anticipated May, 2020
  M.A. Art Education

• University of Minnesota, Morris  | Completed May, 2010
  B.A. Studio Art and K-12 Visual Arts Education, Minor American Sign Language

Key Professional Appointments:

• Alexandria Area School District #206, Alexandria, MN  | 2016-17 - present
  Art Teacher: Lincoln Elementary & Alexandria Area High School

• Benson School District #777, Benson, MN  | 2015-16
  Part-time Art Teacher: Benson Middle School & Benson Middle School

• Laq qui Parle Valley School District #2853, Madison, MN  | 2015-16
  Part-time Art Teacher: Laq qui Parle Valley High School

• St. Michael Albertville School District #885, St. Michael, MN  | 2014-15
  Long Term Substitute Teacher, Art: Big Woods Elementary School

• Mall of America, Bloomington, MN  | 2012-2014
  Manager: Abercrombie & Fitch

• Little Falls Community School District #482, Little Falls, MN  | 2011-12
  Paraprofessional: Grades K-5 Special Education

• Little Falls Community School District #482, Little Falls, MN  | 2010-11
  Art Teacher: Little Falls High School

• Minnewaska Area School District #2149, Starbuck, MN  | 2010
  Student Teacher, Art: Minnewaska Area High School

Professional Associations:

Early Career Leadership Fellows (ECLF) - 2 years

Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) - 7 years

Education Minnesota - 6 years

Community Engagement:

Great River Arts Association - art gallery in Little Falls, MN

Community Ed Art Teacher - teach art to young students during the summer months

Osakis Head Girls Volleyball Coach - varsity coach

Kandi Elite Volleyball Club - 18s assistant volleyball coach

Other coaching experiences in the last 5 years:

    Alexandria Junior Olympic Volleyball

    Melrose Junior Olympic Volleyball

    Little Falls Junior Olympic Volleyball

    St. Michael-Albertville Junior Olympic Volleyball   

Selected Works:

Clogging performance at Universal Studios, Florida - 2004

Wind Turbine - photo collage of the wind turbine in Morris, MN, sold to the University of Minnesota, Morris - 2008

Senior Art Show at the University of Minnesota, Morris - 2008

Leadership, Grants, and Recognitions:

Teacher Innovation Grant 2017 - 20 digital cameras for Photography course

Teacher Innovation Grant 2018 - rolling display walls for school art show

Teacher Innovation Grant 2019 - student sketchbooks

Minnesota High School 8AAA Volleyball Assistant Coach of the Year Award - 2017

Hobbies & Interests:

Coaching

Volleyball

Traveling

Art

Research Interests:

Flexible Seating

Art Assessment

Artistic critiques

Gallery ready displays and framing