Art With Mrs.Wendling

You may know Mrs. Wendling as the art teacher, but did you know she moved across the country to attend art school in San Francisco?

Jeyseel Hernandez, Kalyn Donnell, Michael McCollum are in Mrs. Wendling making personal paint palette.

Finding Art Across the Country

Mrs. Wendling just started her first year here at WMHS, bringing her passion for creativity as an art teacher. In her first semester, she teaches the basics of art in Art Fundamentals and Ceramics, where she teaches the primary hand building techniques. Next semester, she’ll be taking on sculpture, meaning she handles all the 3D art classes.

Stepping into her classroom, it is easy to see how much energy she brings to the space; Instead of a standard lecture format, students are often gathered around tables working hands-on with materials, fully engaged in the creative process.

Before transitioning to education, Mrs. Wendling worked in fashion design at Abercrombie until 2021. However, she always knew she wanted to work with kids and help them see how art connects to the real world. Interestingly, ceramics and sculpture are relatively new to her as well, but she says she loves diving into them right alongside her students, learning and discovering things together with them every single day.

A Safe Space for Every Student

For Mrs. Wendling, teaching goes far beyond art techniques. It is deeply rooted in how she connects with her students every single day. Looking up to her father, who worked as a psychiatrist, she feels she inherited a natural ability to listen to those around her. When shaping her classroom environment, she strives to create a place where every student feels genuinely seen, heard, and valued, ensuring they know they matter even on days when they might not feel like it. 

She is deeply conscious of the people around her, noting that she always wants to look past a tough attitude or a bad day to recognize the person underneath. While she acknowledges that being a new teacher comes with tired days and the knowledge that she cannot fix everything, her personal mission is simple: if she can make someone's day a little brighter or help them feel a little less lonely, she is going to strive to do that.

The Mental Health Benefits of Art

For Mrs. Wendling, making art isn't just about learning how to build or sculpt; it's about building a routine that helps your well-being. Getting lost in a creative project gives students a much-needed mental break from regular academic stress.

"I feel like it has so many underlying benefits, like for mental health, that you don't even realize about until you're doing it and making a daily habit of it," she explains, highlighting how artistic expression acts as a natural outlet.

Looking Ahead to New Classes

Reflecting on her transition to WMHS, Mrs. Wendling says she has been genuinely impressed by the student body and the overall positivity of her first year. Building connections with her classes has been a highlight of the move. Looking to the future, she hopes to expand what she brings to the classroom even further and introduce new opportunities for students to explore their interests.

"I'm enjoying getting to know all the students," she shared. Down the road, she would love to expand her course list and teach an elective class based on other creative classes, noting, "I would love to teach a fashion designing class, like sewing or something!"

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