TEACHER FEATURE: BARBARA HARVEY
by Kinjal Shah
Teacher Feature Barbara Harvey

Lovingly addressed as Starshine, Jellybean, Ladybug, Lovebug, Honeybee, head of high school visual arts Barbara Harvey is a community builder in the true sense of the word. All about creating, building, and maintaining relationships, for Harvey what matters most is her forever family—which is every student that has ever been part of her class anywhere at any time. Here's a peek into her life before and at SAS. 

1. Where are you from and where did you go to grade school and university?

I grew up in a small town in Western New York called Salamanca New York. It’s a rural community located on an Indian Reservation—the only city in the United States that resides on an Indian Reservation. I am not Native American but I had the privilege of growing up on a reservation. I am a third culture kid but had no idea I was one until about a year ago. 

2. How did you become an art teacher? 

I attended vacation Bible school at my church, and when they needed a craft teacher, I stepped in. I remember teaching creativity in its purest form and I vaguely thought I might be on to something. I went to University at Buffalo, State University of New York—the first in my family to go to university. That was a big deal. 

3. Where were you before SAS?

I was teaching art at Colegio Internacional de Caracas in Venezuela on a beautiful campus in the foothills of the Andes. I had to build their art program from scratch and loved doing it! After five years I moved to Singapore. On the plane ride from the US to Singapore, I somehow knew something huge is going to happen… maybe George Clooney would be waiting for me when I get off the plane?!

Well, something bigger happened! In my third year at SAS, I adopted my daughter and Anya and I became a family. Four years later, little Micah was placed in my arms. Anya is in sixth grade and thriving and Micah is in pre-kindergarten. Both display a lot of Eagle pride. 

Teacher Feature Barbara Harvey

4. If your students forget everything you taught them except for one idea or sentence, what would you like that idea to be?

That they matter. That they’re important. I value my students. I don't value their grades. I don’t value their artwork even though it’s amazing and incredible. I value them more. They’re important and they make an impact. 
      
5. What would you like your students to remember five years from now?

Once you’re my student, you’re always my student. Build community first. Great artwork will come. If you’re part of this community, you’re part of this forever family. 

6. What are you teaching this week in class?

During the time of this interview, we were doing timed drawings. Students are expected to complete one drawing in 85 minutes. We’re also doing raku firing—a Japanese firing technique. 

7. What are some challenges that your students face in class?

The school has changed a lot in my 14 years. There were very few environments that were open classrooms, or project-based, or had oodles of choice. Now the pendulum has swung. The greatest challenge for art students is having people understand that everything in life has multiple solutions and that one solution doesn't necessarily look like the other. 

Teacher Feature Barbara Harvey

8. What field trips have you taken students on and what are some interesting things that happened?

It was 11 years ago that we started the AP Art Retreat. The purpose of that trip is community building and making art—outside of the confines of Singapore. Every year, the trips get better. It's all about kids coming back and saying “I made a connection” whether it’s with art or with people.  

9. What are some nicknames that your students call you or that you suspect your students call you?

I have oodles of nicknames. Starshine. Jellybean. Ladybug. Lovebug. Honeybee. They've started to call me the names I call them!

10. What would a perfect day for you be like?

A day with my children. A low key day when we do nothing!  

11. To you, what is teaching?

Relationships. It’s a whole lot of relationships. It’s all about connections. A teacher of mine in high school made this promise and I make the same promise to my students “The day that I don’t love this, or I hit retirement age, I am done.” 

Teacher Feature Barbara Harvey

12. What is the craziest piece of art you’ve seen from a student so far?

What was crazy 19 years ago, is no more crazy now! I have never seen the same thing twice. 

13. What's your favorite place/food/memory/thing about Singapore?

I love that in Singapore there’s always something new. I love that there are playgrounds and water parks everywhere. As a family, we love going to the reserve and monkey spotting while eating ice cream and telling stories! 

14. Did you display work as an artist?

I am currently working on a series of oil paintings telling a story of my daughter and her best friend who has autism. I recently finished my Masters receiving a degree in Teacher Leadership for International Education. 

Teacher Feature Barbara Harvey


 

  • AP Art
  • art
  • high school
  • life at SAS
  • teacher
  • teacher feature
  • teaching
  • visual art

 

 

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