Educator Gillooly-Cahoon Taking Leave:
'A fairy tale come true for this teacher who must move on'
The EPHS National Honor Society presented high school art department chair, Jennifer Gillooly-Cahoon with the Distinguished Faculty award for 2015. The group presents their award to one faculty member a year. Initially an art teacher with strong drawing skills, Gillooly-Cahoon has also become a noted painter. A 1991 graduate of East Providence High School and later from Rhode Island College, she has taught at her alma mater since 1999 and became department chair in 2007. She has recently focused on Latin Art and the Dia de Los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”). "At RIC, I trained as a sculptor and was lucky enough to study abroad in my early 20s. My first exposure to Dia de Los Muertos occurred oddly enough in Belgium where in 1993 the entire country was hosting an art exhibition featuring the rich tradition of Latin Art. I was intrigued by the concept of 'Day of Dead', and have had it in the back of my mind ever since to do work relating to the theme," Cahoon told the Reporter in a series of prior interviews.
Cahoon did not always focus on painting. "In the Summer of 2011, I began to seriously teach myself how to paint. I had a strong foundational education in drawing and sculpture from RIC, but did not take to professional painting at that time. For the first time in nearly 20 years, I picked up a paintbrush and began fumbling through the process of how to paint. I started with acrylics, but eventually moved on to water miscible oils, which is what I use most of the time now," Gillooly-Cahoon explained. The art department chair began to experience with the Dia de Los Muertos series starting with a generic face of a woman, "who I chose to paint in that style on a whim," she said. "When I got brave enough, I attempted a self portrait and eventually decided to take on more recognizable faces. I work from reference photographs, using them to plot out where the features lie in the piece through gridding or projection," she said. Gillooly-Cahoon found a niche in this art genre. "From there, the real work began as I struggled through modeling the face in paint and adorning my subjects with the markings of the "Day of the Dead." The series began in July of 2012. As she continued to teach drawing and all aspects of art to her EPHS students she has shifted her personal focus to painting.
The teacher/artist has studio and web sites where people can buy originals and prints of her art. In her work, many recognizable celebrities who have passed are depicted as vibrant as they were in life, adorned with the makeup of the Dia de Los Muertos tradition as if they are taking part in the festivities. "I have painted glamorous actresses such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, along with a series of 5 “27 Club” Rock N’ Roll stars who left us far too young," said Gillooly-Cahoon. Late authors, musicians, actors, athletes and scientists abound in her unusual collection of nearly 30 oil paintings. Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley abound in her unusual collection of over 30 oil paintings.
Her rapid success as a professional artist with a developing and active following has challenged her time to remain as a classroom teacher. She has also been very concerned with the direction public education has been heading. All of this has led to a decision for her to take a leave from the EPHS art classroom she has loved since she was a student there and then became its' department chair.
"When you do what you love for a living, it doesn’t feel like work. It equals happiness. Bliss. A fulfilling life. For most of my career, I’ve been able to tell my students that I am an incredibly lucky woman. I would tell them that my job is my passion and my work has not felt like work. I can no longer state that truthfully," said Gillooly-Cahoon. Gillooly-Cahoon is leaving teaching. She was asked to write a blog for an international web site concerned with people leaving the teaching profession. "When I was seventeen, I decided to become a teacher in the high school classroom where I currently practice my craft. I was lucky enough to be a student in the class of one of the most extraordinary educators I’ve ever known," she wrote. "I became a teacher in 1996, and over the past nineteen years have poured my energy into becoming the embodiment of the woman who influenced me long ago. I spent eleven years as a Special Educator, but ultimately transitioned into Art Education and became the Department Chair. I like to think I have been largely successful in pursuit of my goal and that over the years I have wielded positive influence over the hundreds of those in my care.
Gillooly-Cahoon directs a lot of her concerns at the political climate shaping public schools today. "In 2002 the No Child Left Behind act, a product of pressure to introduce nation-wide standardized testing starting in the 80s, was signed by then President Bush and set off a chain of events in what has come to be known as the Reform Movement in education in America. Both teachers and students have been reduced to and measured almost solely by numbers calculated with unsubstantiated, under-development, unreliable standardized tests. Our system of public education has eroded while large corporations like Pearson (education publishing and testing giant) reap large monetary gains. The American public school system has been declared defunct by those behind this movement, as they point to unreliable test results as proof. More and more money slated for public education has been funneled to “non-profit” charter schools (which are actually quite profitable), further eroding the state of our schools," wrote Gillooly-Cahoon.
The artist does not pull any punches when giving her opinion on the state of the teaching profession these days. "The soul of what made so many classrooms great has been ripped away bit by bit, causing psychological turmoil for all on the receiving end of the movement. As an educator, I don’t agree with but recognize the motivation of large money-hungry corporations to target public schools as a revenue stream and harvest once private data about students for profit. This drive encourages them to spew their vitriol against us, painting us as lazy, entitled know-nothings to the public because it improves their bottom line. I believe they view us as casualties in a war they have waged to profit from us. What has puzzled me for so long is why so many administrators have bought their ideology hook, line and sinker as they get no corporate cut," she said.
Gillooly-Cahoon believes that some local and state school administrators are groomed to not believe in the professionalism of teachers. "Not all, but so very many of those in charge from the Department of Education through local building principals hold the belief that teachers are not worthy of respect. Nationwide, teacher morale is at an all-time low. Student attendance rates, especially on the elementary level, have suffered as young children are held up against Common Core Standards that are incongruous with their learning capacities and have led to a sense of disenchantment with school at a young age," she adds.
"This year, I made a choice. It’s gotten to the point where I cannot sustain success in both my public teaching and my art career. Something had to give. My art won and I will take a leave of absence from teaching. It’s all still sinking in. I’m leaving public education." Although she may consider returning to the classroom, it appears that this gifted teacher will not return. "Personally, I have found myself growing more and more dissatisfied with my profession as the attack on public education has mounted and lack of respect for what I do has grown. Angst set in and I turned to nurturing my other passion - visual art."
Although she thinks that things may get better someday for those in public education, Gillooly-Cahoon thinks it is time for her to move on. "I did not make this decision lightly or alone. I’m fortunate to have an incredibly supportive spouse and together we are working through the transition... my art business is taking on a life of its own and the momentum with which it’s moving is truly amazing," she said. "I guess I owe the Reform Movement contingent some kind of thanks. If it hadn’t been for their sustained efforts to “improve” public education, I never would have been motivated to follow this path.
The accolades and positive comments have been overwhelming toward Gillooly-Cahoon from colleagues and students. Her web pages and other contact venues are full of well-wishes while saying how sorry people are to see her go. "It won't be the same without you at EP but happy you are doing what you love," said a fellow department chair at the high school. High school colleague Gregg Amore has been a leading opponent against some of the reformers that Gillooly-Cahoon speaks of. Amore just completed his 26th year of teaching history at EPHS. He is the District 65 Representative and RI House Deputy Majority Leader. "Jenn is an extremely talented artist so it is no surprise that she would explore her options in regard to making a living at her craft. She has done very well in that capacity in her spare time. She is also an extremely talented and beloved teacher so it is very difficult to see her go. She has transformed our art program and has been the driving force in expanding curriculum opportunities at a time in public education when the arts have been relegated to afterthought status in our never ending quest to improve math and reading test scores," said Amore.
Amore also takes issue with those who would claim to reform education but have little experience in a direct way. "I think the so called reform movement and the so called reform administrators have been so focused on test scores and test prep that they have lost focus on the joy of learning and the enormous benefits of artistic expression. Many of today's reformers and administrators have spent so little time in the classroom and spend so much time trying to analyze data that they don't know the first thing about engaging students," said Amore. "When we lose a veteran teacher who has had such great success, we need to ask whether or not the current environment had an impact on that decision," Amore added.
"A big part of me still is and always will be a teacher. It will manifest itself in other ways as I move forward into this new chapter of my life," said Gillooly-Cahoon. "Mostly, I will miss the interaction I have with the students and my colleagues. "Despite all kinds of adversity, your hard work, love and commitment to students has not waned. I'm proud to say that I worked alongside of you all. It's been a pleasure. Big Love to you!" the former teacher, now full time artist said in a goodbye to staff. "I do believe that America is waking up and that the pendulum is swinging the other way. Finally, there is push back against the machine to retake our schools. I’m so very happy for that for the sake of my children. For me though? It’s too late. The damage has been done and a choice has been made." As Gillooly-Cahoon drove to work on the last day of school, the David Bowie song, 'Changes' played on the radio. "Wow", she thought.
(Gillooly-Cahoon's art work is available to view and purchase through the following websites: www.facebook.com/jgcahoonartist; Instagram: JGCahoonArtist; Twitter: @JGCahoonArtist; Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/jgcahoon).
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