STEVENSVILLE — (March 1, 2023) — Episode 2 of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools (QACPS) new podcast has dropped, and this 30 minute episode shines a spotlight on Amber Wright—2020 QACPS Teacher of the Year, Dance teacher and Performing Arts Department Chair at Kent Island High. Listen here: https://anchor.fm/artscene
In this episode, Amber Wright shares how stepping outside her comfort zone to inspire change in others has helped shape her approach to teaching Dance, producing All-State champions, and becoming a dedicated mother to her inspiring young son, Andrew.
“It could be the change of how they see the world, how they see dance, or how they see themselves,” says Wright.
Michael Bell, QACPS Supervisor of Fine Arts remarked, “In Amber Wright’s ‘Teacher of the Year’ packet, she wrote about being inspired by an author who wrote, ‘Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely,’ You epitomize this.”
“Happiness is a choice,” replied Wright. “I want my [dance] studio to be a positive space for my students, but also for me, so I can help them create great art.”
Wright also shares personal stories around her relationship with her son, how being a mother has softened her approach with students in her own classes in the most positive ways, and how her classes are all ‘like family’ to her.
“Children need to be seen,” says Wright. “My students know if nobody else sees them in school on any given day, they know I see them. They are valued. They are loved. They are supported.”
In one emotional segment, Wright described how a student whose “heart was hurting” made her way to Wright before class and said to her, “I knew if I could just make it to school…if I could just make it to school to see you, I knew everything would be okay.”
Hear these inspiring stories, and rewind last month’s first episode with 2022 Teacher of the Year Cassie Hosler by tuning in to ArtScene | the Podcast worldwide on Anchor.fm and Spotify, with RSS distribution across multiple other platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.