Dave Kriebel

The things that made me a good teacher are what make me a good designer: the ability to build rapport and nurture relationships, effectively communicate and practice empathy. When I was teaching design, I did all the same projects the kids did, and I got excited. I talked myself into a design career, and I started applying for positions. I was unemployed and broke. But countless cans of cold beans couldn’t deter me.

In a way, I’m just like my students were, because I’m hungry to learn, hungry to grow (and hope to always be). And I’m still carrying myself by the bootstraps to get better at what I do.

At school, I planned, managed and taught 8 sections of art classes, each with 30 students. Lots of kids, lots to juggle: stuff like curriculum development and execution, budget planning and successful delivery of school goals. My most important role, though, was to mentor and prepare kids for college while helping them build their portfolios.

Please see examples of my students’ artwork – including Ceramics, Sculpture, Drawing and Painting, and Graphic Design – below.