Bio/Overview: Isgreen is a retired art and elementary teacher, with 25 years in the Montrose RE1J Colorado School District. Besides many years of teaching art, she also taught first, third, fourth, and fifth grades. Currently, she is a Regional Coordinator for Teacher Education at Western State College of Colorado. For the past ten years, she has worked with teaching interns, their support teams, and the college to prepare pre-service teachers for the education profession. As an education specialist, Cheri also develops curriculum for Your True Nature and facilitates for the Institute of Integrated Arts.

Educational Values/Philosophy: As a teacher, Isgreen believes she is most effective when she acts as a mentor to stimulate and guide her students to creative discovery. The subject matter is unimportant, be it math or art, literature or history. When a student has his or her flame kindled by that "Ah ha!" moment, learning is most durable and transferable to other areas and situations.

Achievements: Isgreen was honored with the Denver Art Museum's Award for Excellence in Teaching and has received nominations for Teacher of the Year and the Disney Creative Ticket for teaching in the arts.

Leadership Experience: Isgreen has led workshops for gifted students, tutored remedial and expelled students, served as Director for Cottonwood School’s Art Docent Program, and mentored writing teachers for the Colorado Writing Project. In her long teaching career, Isgreen has had many opportunities to serve in leadership roles, including school leadership, technology, and communications teams; curriculum committees; professional learning task forces; and elementary report card revision. She has also facilitated the Montrose RE1J district elementary art curriculum team. As a U.S. Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellow in 2008-2009, Isgreen shared expertise, collaborated with educators and policy makers on national education issues, and authored a paper recommending best practices in visual arts education. Statewide, she coauthored Colorado’s revision for Visual Arts Standards and developed the state’s recommendations for best practices for Visual Arts.

Affiliations: Future Teachers of America, Colorado Writing Project, Teach-Now, Colorado Art
Education Association

Education: Isgreen received a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and art education from Western State College of Colorado, graduating summa cum laude. In 2002, she earned a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado.

Areas of Interest/Expertise:

• Visual Arts Education
• Teacher leadership
• Teacher mentoring