Faculty Spotlight: Kim Roenigk

Please give us some background on yourself and your experience.

My educational background is fine arts. I earned my master’s in fine arts from Yale University and my bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), both with a focus on painting. I’ve worked as a freelance artist and as a teacher. I painted murals and decorative finishes for The Ivy Hotel in Baltimore, and I’ve taught as adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University and MICA.

Why teaching?

I enjoy teaching. Kids are fun to be around. I like that most middle school students are game to try new things. I like being part of a community. The camaraderie with the middle school faculty is unusually strong, where freelance work is solitary. Teaching offers a schedule that’s very conducive to parenting. When my children were young, our schedules were in sync with holidays and summers. I liked that. Teaching has been a natural fit since then.

What brought you to GCS?

I came to Glenelg Country School (GCS) through my son and some neighbors. My son taught in the Middle School and my neighbors’ kids attended GCS. I wanted to work close to my home. When I heard that GCS needed an art teacher, I applied.

What is one of the most rewarding moments as a teacher?

There have been many rewarding moments! This past summer, a former student asked if she and her two young sons could spend the day with me. We spent an afternoon talking and playing with her kids. I really enjoy it when former students contact me and want to get together for a visit and chat. 

How has the pandemic changed your approach to teaching? Any advantages?

The pandemic was very difficult because a considerable part of the Middle School art program is the studio experience and exposure to many different materials. A positive from the pandemic is that you really can do a lot with paper and pencil. Limitations and necessity can force you to invent. 

What advice do you have for students learning in a pandemic?

Get away from your devices, take a walk in the woods, and spend some time daydreaming.