CENTREVILLE – ArtScene | The Podcast is excited to kick off the 2024-2025 school year with a September 1st episode featuring Jackie Jablecki, an inspiring art teacher at Centreville Middle School. Jackie shares her compelling journey from personal loss to professional triumph, illustrating how her passion for art and education has shaped her career and touched the lives of her students.
Jackie began her teaching career at Kent Island Elementary before transitioning to middle school, and she has always felt a deep connection to art—a passion she inherited from her father, a skilled glass artist. Her path has been anything but straightforward, marked by significant personal challenges, including the loss of her father at a young age and her own battle with a rare genetic mutation, which led to life-altering surgeries. Despite these hurdles, Jackie’s love for adventure and art has driven her to excel in her career and inspire her students.
In this episode, Jackie discusses the transformative power of art education, especially within a TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) classroom. She shares how her student-centered approach empowers young artists to explore their creativity and develop confidence. Jackie recalls a particularly touching success story about a 7th-grade student who, initially struggling with a self-portrait assignment, ultimately produced work that exceeded all expectations—demonstrating the profound impact of perseverance and support in the classroom.
Jackie also speaks about her involvement with the Art of Education University, where she recently completed her Master’s degree and is involved in an exciting project documenting “A Year in the Life of an Art Teacher” as a YouTube Vlog series. This achievement, alongside her dedication to continuous professional development, underscores her commitment to providing the best educational experience for her students. Her enthusiasm for visual journaling and choice-based art education has made her classroom a haven for creativity, where every student is encouraged to trust the process and embrace artistic challenges.
An adventurer at heart, Jackie also shares stories of her travels, including a recent trip through France and Spain. This experience, she says, was not just about seeing new places but about connecting her students with the wider world through the lens of art.
About ArtScene | The Podcast
ArtScene | The Podcast is dedicated to exploring the personal lives of our teachers, providing a glimpse into their world and the stories of who inspires our communities.
Listen to these inspiring stories on “ArtScene | the Podcast” by tuning in to “ArtScene | the Podcast” on Spotify or at: https://anchor.fm/artscene. Also available on iTunes, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.