Jennifer Matott teaches visual arts at Liverpool (NY) Central School District. She holds an M.S. in Art Education (1998) from Syracuse University School of Education and a B.F.A. in Sculpture and Painting from State University of New York at Fredonia. “I love teaching art workshops at conferences, locally and in my school district,” she says. “I like to stay busy and love teaching all areas of art making and appreciation.”
Describe your current role and its responsibilities.
I have taught art in Liverpool Central School District for 28 years, in many buildings and in the K-12 grades. My current position is at Liverpool High School, teaching Drawing and Painting 1-3, College Level Traditional Media and Methods, and Art of Craft courses.
I am the National Art Honor Society sponsor and advisor and building representative for the United Liverpool Faculty Association, New York State United Teachers Local #3071. I have been very active in the New York State Art Teachers Association, regionally and statewide. I am also a CNY Scholastics Executive Board member, and I received the 2026 Scholastics Art Teacher Recognition Award.
How did the School of Education prepare you for this role?
SOE prepared me well and has continued to give me opportunities to learn and grow as an art educator and artist. Student teaching and classes during my graduate years gave me skills and knowledge to get a position immediately after graduation. I felt as prepared as I could when I stepped into my own classroom. Both student teaching in the East Syracuse-Minoa and Liverpool school districts and the guidance of my mentors and professors were critical in my success! I can’t thank them enough for all their support.
What current trends do you see in your specialty and how are you addressing them?
Art education is changing quickly right now, and not just in terms of materials or projects—it’s shifting in purpose, pedagogy, and even what we define as “art learning.”
Here are some of the most important current trends and how I’m addressing and integrating them in my classes:
- Use of AI as a starting point, not the final product (idea generation, reference building). I am emphasizing process over product, such as sketching, iteration, and concept development. This aligns with the idea that when “making” gets easier, teaching should focus more on thinking and meaning making.
- I offer structured choice (themes with flexible media options) by using project-based learning where students develop their own ideas that include goal setting and reflection, so their choice doesn’t become aimless.
- Students are taught to be more independent in their expression, documentation, and research of ideas. They use digital portfolios and online critique spaces, incorporate asynchronous resources (videos, tutorials), and are encouraged to do independent exploration outside class with visual journaling prompts.
Which professors stood out for you most as a student at SOE?
The art education department was critical in my development as an art educator. The head of our department was Professor Hope Irvine. She was funny and engaging, and her teaching style was real world application and humor. A lot of her lessons and tips stuck with me even if I did modify them to fit my own classroom.
Professors Nancy Smith and Pam McLaughlin were also fantastic educators and gave me tools to use in my own classroom and teaching. They were a team and invaluable to their students. We were a tight group up in Skytop Art Education!
Make a pitch for SOE—why should a prospective student choose the School of Education?
I am very proud to be an alumna of SOE. I was very prepared and have been grateful for all the lessons and experiences I earned. I also studied inclusive education in Italy for a summer, and it was a chance of a lifetime for me. I remember all of the people I met and the experiences I got through that trip and course with Carol Berrigan! The School of Education is fantastic and gave me the confidence to earn my position!