Elaine Algarra
About Me
As an art teacher, my goal is to help empower my students’ self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-discovery through creative exploration.
I support students in visual arts and design-making, helping them develop their skills and creativity in diverse mediums and techniques.
My expertise spans diverse media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, design, sculpture, and ceramics. Additionally, I integrate technology, reading, and writing into art instruction through animation, research, digital editing, student artist statements, and blended learning.
My teaching philosophy emphasizes experimentation, critical thinking, and problem-solving in a student-centered classroom. Through arts education, I strive to nurture creativity and engage students in making meaningful connections between art and the world.
Former Students
Former students have gone on to study Art and Design at colleges across the USA and the United Kingdom, leading to successful careers in photography, creative direction, gallery curation, advertising, graphic design, photography, fashion, film and tv, and the fine arts.
College and University Placement
Appalachian State
CALARTS
Cal Poly
Carnegie Mellon
Central Saint Martins
Goldsmiths University
Kingston University
MICA
Newcastle University
Northumbria University
NC State
Parsons
Pratt
Ringling
RISD
SAIC
SCAD
SVA
UNC Asheville
UNC Charlotte
Teaching Licensure
I hold a K-12 Visual Art teaching license in North Carolina.
I also hold a post-threshold status teaching licensure in England for ages 11-18. This means that my teaching and student outcomes were rigorously assessed by the Department for Education. Post threshold teachers act as role models for teaching and learning, they make a distinctive contribution to raising standards across the school and provide regular coaching and mentoring to less experienced teachers.
Professional Experience
Middle School Visual Arts Teacher, (2024- Current) - Orange Middle School, Orange County Schools, North Carolina.
Communications and Content Manager (2020-2024) - LifeOmic, RTP, North Carolina
High School Visual Arts Teacher, District PLC Lead (2007-2020) - East Chapel Hill High School , CHCCS, North Carolina.
Area 2 Instructor, NC Governor’s School (2008) - NCDPI
Elementary Art Teacher at a Title 1 school (2005-2007) - Allen Jay Elementary/Jessie Wharton Elementary, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina.
Paraprofessional to “At-Risk Students”, Arts Integration (2004-2005) Life Skills Center of Hamilton County, Ohio.
Secondary Art and Design Teacher (ages 11-18), Technology Coordinator for Expressive Arts, Teacher Mentor (2002-2004) - Sawyers Hall College, Brentwood, England.
Secondary Art and Design Teacher (ages 11-18), Middle School Art Curriculum Coordinator (1999-2002) - Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, Durham, England
Secondary School (ages 11-16) Art and Design Teacher (1996-1999) - The Dormston School, Sedgley, England
2024 Paint it Orange Youth Competition - 6 student participants
2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Silver Medal Educator Award
2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Silver Medal Educator Award
2019 Congressional Art Competition National Finalist Educator Award
2019 College Board Grant: APSI SCAD Atlanta
2019 Mentor Teacher for VCU MA Art Education
2018 SCAD Educator Forum Scholarship
2018 NC State Fair High School Art Finalist - Jerry’s Artarama Award
2017 Teacher of the Year Nominee
2017 NC State Fair High School Art Finalist - 3rd Place
2016 NC State Fair High School Art Finalist - 4th Place
2011 Saatchi Gallery and Deutsche Bank International Art Prize for Schools - Finalist
2002 Department for Education - Post Threshold Teaching Status, United Kingdom
2001 Teacher Mentor for University of East Anglia Post Graduate Certificate in Education: Art and Design
1996 ERASMUS+ Teacher Exchange Grant Recipient
1994 Miss Emma Jessie Phipps Educational Award
Achievements and Awards
Professional Development
2024 NCDPI Unpacking the New Arts Education Standards (in progress)
2024 NCCAT Digital Organization, Canvas and AI in the Classroom
2020 Digital SCAD Educator Forum
2019 Advanced Placement Summer Institute, SCAD Atlanta
2018 SCAD Educator Forum, SCAD Savannah
2018 Advanced Placement Workshop, Raleigh NC
2018 Restorative Practices
2016 Advanced Placement Summer Institute, SCAD Atlanta
2015 Advanced Placement Workshop, Raleigh NC
2002 OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Society for the Arts) AS and A Level Art and Design Training
1999 OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Society for the Arts) AS and A Level Art and Design Training
1998 OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Society for the Arts) GCSE Art and Design Training
1997 OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Society for the Arts) GCSE Art and Design Training