By Elianna Novitch

It’s our favorite day of the week, “Where Do You Work?” Wednesday! This week we are excited to introduce alumna Katie Richards (BA’03 Art Education).

Originally from Downers Grove, Illinois, Richards works as an art teacher at S.E. Gross Middle School in Brookfield, Illinois. Richards has been teaching there for 17 years.

Richards says she loves working with middle schoolers.

“They make me laugh every day,” Richards says. “I also love that I get to share my passion for art with them.”

You can see her students’ art work on Instagram @art_class_victories.

Richards is a National Board-Certified teacher and one of the advisors for her school’s ukulele club. She has been training for her school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) curriculum because she will be taking a brief hiatus from teaching art to fill in for her STEAM teacher's maternity leave next year.

Richards says her time at the College of Education helped set the foundation for the teacher she is today.

“The University of Iowa College of Education set the foundation for the compassionate, student-centered teacher that I am today,” Richards says. “I felt truly nurtured by the Art Education program and its amazing instructors.”

Want to be the next “Where Do You Work Wednesday” or nominate someone? Message us on Facebook, tag us with #HawkeyeTeachers, or email us at educationatiowa@uiowa.edu.