Posted on Dec 29, 2021 in
NEWSWORTHY
Fort Bend ISD’s Elkins High School Art Teacher Ryan Morales is preparing his students to participate in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo school art contest, the same competition he won as a high school senior at FBISD’s Kempner High School.
Fort Bend ISD’s (FBISD) Elkins High School Art Teacher Ryan Morales is preparing his students to participate in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo school art contest, the same competition he won as a high school senior at FBISD’s Kempner High School.
Last year, Morales’ student Jaydan Kisinger was also awarded Grand Champion, the highest award given to students for their rodeo artwork. Her piece earned $155,000 in a live auction that raises money for youth scholarships.
So, what is Morales’ secret? He works every day to instill confidence in his students. “I want my students to leave my class with a confidence and excitement for success, not just in art, but in life in general,” Morales said. “I believe I could have achieved more if I had been more confident. I want them to know if I can do it, you can do it.”
Morales has worked for FBISD for five years. He never considered teaching before graduating from college but now he cannot imagine doing anything else.
He graduated from the University of Houston Art School. Coincidentally, on the day he graduated, he received a phone call from his former high school art teacher Ronda Peterson who told him about an opening for an art teacher in FBISD.
Peterson and Morales had stayed in touch while he was in college and continue to stay in touch now that she is retired. “He was a great kid and an excellent artist,” Peterson said. “He always has a great outlook on things and now he is sharing that with his students.”
Morales teaches advanced-level drawing and painting classes. Many of his courses are sequential, which allows him to teach the same students for multiple years, build relationships, and see firsthand how the young artists improve.
This is the second year that junior Saanvi Gireesh has had Morales as a teacher. She likes that he allows his students to be creative, but also provides guidance on correctly using different art techniques. Gireesh is currently working on her rodeo art contest painting.
“Mr. Morales gives me feedback on how to not only allow my creativity to show but also how to balance it with realism in order to have a winning chance in the competition,” she said. “I think that’s why he is a good teacher. He allows room for personal creativity.”
Morales routinely invites his students to provide constructive criticism on each other’s projects.
“It teaches them how to identify and correct their errors and also how to defend and prove their artwork,” he said.
In keeping with the District’s Profile of a Graduate, Morales stresses critical thinking and problem-solving in his classes. He compares his classroom management style to a family environment where students collaborate and help one another. “Not all students perform at the same level, and I want to avoid them getting frustrated,” he said. “I am not interested in having a handful of good artists. I want classes full of growing artists.”
Elkins High School Principal Cynthia Ward believes Morales is a great champion for his students.
“Mr. Morales connects with students through art and encourages them to take risks,” she said. “He encourages them to produce quality work that exemplifies high standards. He wants his students to shine and he motivates them by instilling the belief that they can achieve awards and recognition for their work.”
