Kari Latimer has become Redwood High School’s new 3D-Art teacher after Lyssa Yates, the previous 3D-Art teacher, and her family moved out of state.
Latimer feels that she has “really big shoes to fill … People loved her [Yates] here, she was really passionate about art, and she set me up in a really good classroom.”
Latimer is thankful for the previous projects and traditions Yates has set up for her.
Latimer has been working for Redwood in both the English and Science departments for the past three years. She says, “Once a position at Redwood became available for Special Ed I took it, and I was offered the job.”
Latimer found her passion for the arts back in high school.
“My junior year, I got into art over there [Golden West]. I joined the art club, did 3D-Art, and that’s where I made all of my friends,” says Latimer.
She enjoys art because “it fills the soul. It just makes me happy inside,” she says.
After taking some art classes at the College of Sequoias (COS), where her passion for art grew, Latimer started off at Humboldt State where she got her Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art.
Although she got her Bachelor’s in Studio Art, Latimer knew she wanted to get a degree that would help her get a job in teaching.
Photo courtesy of Latimer
A little over ten years ago, “I got credentialed at Long Beach State for Special Education,” Latimer explains.
“I have a heart for students with disabilities. I really like helping students with higher needs,” she says.
By receiving credentials for Special Education, Latimer had the opportunity to not only teach, but to help students with greater needs.
Over the course of the next several years, she taught for school districts in areas such as LA County, Santa Barbara County, and Tulare County.
Although Latimer has been working with kids who have special needs, her love for art has never faded.
“I was thinking ‘man, I want to get back to art,’ and this [3D-Art teacher position] became available, so I interviewed for it and they offered it to me.” Latimer says.
“I have all of the teaching experience in Special Ed, but this is my first year teaching art,” she says.
In addition to this being her first year as a 3D-Art teacher, Latimer has been maintaining a positive attitude during the pandemic and the effects it’s had on the 3D-Art program.
Photo courtesy of Latimer
The effects of the pandemic doesn’t bother Latimer because “the excitement of being with you guys [students and staff] again supersedes any of those awkward or weird things we have to do differently,” she says.
Latimer adds, “I’m just excited. I’m so excited to be in this class doing art with kids, and I’m hoping to inspire them.”
Latimer has a passion for art and a passion for kids.
She’s spent the last 10 years helping students with special needs in several parts of the state.
Her love for the arts stems back to her high school days, and it has continuously grown since then. However, now she’s found herself teaching her first year of 3D-Art to students at Redwood High.
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