From Caitlin Trueheart:
I am thrilled to start my 13th year of teaching as one of the art teachers at Mills Elementary School! I received my masters in art education at the University of Tennessee in 2011.
I am originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I love spending time with my family, my daughter Riley and my husband Max Trueheart who works for Intel. I have husky mix named Juno and a Maine Coon Mix named Westley. In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors: hiking, running, mountain biking or swimming. I also enjoy reading. I love learning new things, exploring, and having fun.
I am dedicated to nurturing ingenuity in my students. I teach interesting concepts and skills to enhance student creativity and critical thinking. I provide various avenues for students to explore and express their individual point of view. I encourage my students to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. This approach not only fosters learning but also ensures a fun and enjoyable experience for all students.
From Melissa Tipton:
Hello! I am one of the proud art teachers at Mills Elementary. I have been teaching since 2005, and this will be my sixth year teaching visual arts.
While my heart has always been focused on helping others learn new things, teaching came into my life as a second career! While working at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, I was asked to help out with the summer camp program for elementary-aged students. Through that experience, I decided to go back to school to get my Texas state teaching certification. I have taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade General Ed/ESL, but in 2017 I chose to combine my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas State University and my commitment to education and became an elementary art teacher. This is truly a dream job for me!
I believe in student-centered learning where students are allowed to explore and develop their own ideas. I strive to establish a creative and supportive environment where students are encouraged to bring their experiences into the classroom which creates trust, respect, and a meaningful opportunity to learn about others.
When I'm not teaching art to my awesome artists, you can find me spending time with my family, camping at a Texas State Park, tending to my backyard chickens, or digging in my garden. I’m excited to be a part of the Mills ES family and look forward to sharing my passion for art education with my students!
