Rita Roberts takes her art career in a new direction

For the last 17 years, Rita Roberts has called the halls of Bradie Shrum Elementary home. At the end of this school year, she will close the chapter and begin her well-earned retirement. 

Roberts said she has been teaching art in the public school system for 24 years, with an additional year as a long term art substitute. 

“I began teaching grades K-8 at Crothersville and continued my teaching responsibilities at Medora, Franklin and currently at Salem for the past 17 years,” she said. “I left teaching for a time to raise my three children. During that time I taught at art camps, private lessons and home-school art groups.”

She said she went into art education because she enjoyed creating things, watching others take simple items to make something new.

“I appreciated the atmosphere that being around children produced,” she said.

Roberts said one of her favorite things about teaching children is when a child owns an idea. 

“I give students instructions and parameters, but some will find a way to enhance, embellish, or creatively ‘own' the assignment to make it uniquely theirs,” she said. “I will miss seeing this creativity that flows from students. I will miss collecting ideas and supplies to plan for future lessons.”

Roberts said in her many years of teaching, one of the biggest changes she has seen is student attitudes toward education.

“I began teaching at a time when most students came to class expecting to behave and expecting to put forth effort,” she said. “When students do not care to be invested in their learning, discipline issues often occur.”

With art being such a big part of her life, Roberts isn’t sure how she feels about this next chapter.

“As I begin a new phase of my life, I find that I feel uneasy about no longer being an art teacher,” she said. “That has been one of my self identifiers for over 40 years. I do have a new plan that will allow me to work with children. I will be working at our public library as a coordinator for children's programming. I also hope to have more time to enjoy my immediate family and grandchildren, which includes a recently born granddaughter.”

Roberts will be missed at Bradie Shrum and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!