Nickolas Hurlbut ’17
Secondary Art MAT ’17
(he/they)
Current position: Milwaukie High School
I chose Lewis & Clark for its social justice orientation and the fact that a friend had already been through the program and recommended it.
How prepared did you feel as a first year art teacher?
I felt fairly prepared but do wish I had more understanding of classroom management and different ways to lesson plan.
What is the best part of teaching art to K-12 students?
Seeing students fall in love with the medium.
How do you incorporate social justice into your day to day classroom?
I talk one on one with students. I have open ended projects that allow for student creativity instead of control. I try and work with students to make the class what they want.
Do you keep in touch with your cohort?
I do keep in touch with some of them, though I don’t get to see them as much these days.
What would you tell a prospective student who is considering applying to the MAT program and becoming an art teacher?
Look at all your options and see how much each program costs. Think about how much time you will get in the classroom through your program because that was my most valuable learning experience.
