About Mrs. Squires!
My name is Melissa Squires and I am the Visual Art Teacher here at The Birches Academy. My own story in the arts began in late high school when I discovered a love of drafting and architecture. I enrolled in the Fine Arts program at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, my hometown. It was there that I was introduced to the world of drawing, painting, and illustration. I finished my Bachelor of Fine Art at Northern Illinois University just outside of the Chicago area in DeKalb, IL. My portfolio was in children's book illustration. I worked in business for a few years while teaching art lessons on the side. This teaching experience lead me back to school to get my Masters in Education with a focus in Elementary Education. I taught 3rd grade for two years, keeping arts integration at the forefront of my lesson development. I then took my first position as an art educator in Danville, NH at Danville Elementary School teaching grades 1-5. I spend two wonderful years teaching art full time when my first daughter arrived! With this life-change, I chose to stay home as much as possible, teaching middle and high school art part-time at two local private schools. Four years ago I began teaching Kindergarten art one day per week with the Newburyport Public Schools and still teach at the Brown School on Mondays.
I also work as a muralist and have completed many murals in schools, homes, and most recently my hometown library in Hampstead, NH. Feel free to see my work at http://creativeendeavor.wordpress.com.
I feel very fortunate to be working at The Birches Academy. My professional development has been focused in the area of arts integration, and I am now able to put my beliefs into practice. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your children!
I also work as a muralist and have completed many murals in schools, homes, and most recently my hometown library in Hampstead, NH. Feel free to see my work at http://creativeendeavor.wordpress.com.
I feel very fortunate to be working at The Birches Academy. My professional development has been focused in the area of arts integration, and I am now able to put my beliefs into practice. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your children!