“Creativity is equal to intellect,” is how Kula School art teacher Denise Dion-Scoyni described the administration’s philosophy on teaching. The Kilauea school received confirmation of that fact last year when they were chosen among a handful of schools state-wide as
“Creativity is equal to intellect,” is how Kula School art teacher Denise Dion-Scoyni described the administration’s philosophy on teaching. The Kilauea school received confirmation of that fact last year when they were chosen among a handful of schools state-wide as an Arts in Excellence school by Hawai‘i Arts Alliance.
Eight schools across Hawai‘i will exhibit seven pieces of art from each school in a show titled, “Underage Thinking VII” at The Arts at Mark’s Garage in Honolulu Oct. 9 to Oct. 20. School principal Lisa Mireles and Dion-Scoyni will go to Honolulu to receive the award Oct. 20.
“Every morning I wake up blessed,” said Dion-Scoyni. “My passions are art and mentoring youth.”
The creativity doesn’t stop at the threshold of the art teacher’s class though. Part of the criteria for receiving this award had to do with cross-curriculum training.
The Hawai‘i Arts Alliance award looks not only for exceptional arts programs in the schools, but also how the teachers are working together across the entire curriculum. Dion-Scoyni applied on behalf of Kula School. “Then they sent a committee for a site visit,” she said.
When the visiting committee came they saw 3-D mapping in marine biology and well-designed charts in the math class. Art overlaps into practically every core class. “All the teachers work together with students,” said Dion-Scoyni.
Every year the award circulates through the three different levels of schooling in Hawai‘i — elementary, middle and high schools. Last year the committee only accepted applications from the state’s high schools.
The integration of the arts into all aspects of learning is practically a school doctrine at Kula School. “This is part of our school-wide learning. The board and administration are so supportive.”
“We have fantastic art teachers,” she said. “And a lot of our parents teach at the school.” Some of the artist-parents who rotate through the arts program at Kula are landscape painter Don Lazo, watercolorist Sheree Latif and glass artist Kathy Cowan, to name a few.
“We really have a creative school community,” she said. “The board and administration want expressive learners. People who can articulate their expressions.”
In her five years teaching art to kindergarten through 12th-graders, Dion-Scoyni appreciates watching her students develop over the long run. “I don’t teach creativity,” she said. “Creativity is innate. I teach them perspective and how to use the different mediums. I help unlock that creativity that’s already there.”
An important part of making art is making it visible to the public. “I feel it’s my responsibility to get my student art out there,” she said. “Music is to be heard as art is to be seen. That’s why we always participate in the KIUC calendar,” she said, referring to the annual student artwork calendar put out by the utility.
But as a teacher, she knows she has to also walk the talk. “When I was studying for my advanced placement certification, my AP teacher told me that to be a good teacher you need to show your students that you are an artist.”
Dion-Scoyni took that advice to heart over a school break when she submitted her art to a contest sponsored by the House of Representatives in recognition of Hawai‘i’s inaugural Peace Day, Sept. 21. She sent off her painting just before school began. “I sent it off, got so busy I completely forgot about it,” she said.
“The week before Peace Day, I get a call from the House of Representatives. My entry won the graphic arts category.”
Dion-Scoyni integrated the House of Representative’s Bill 345 into her art, as well as Linda Lingle’s assigned law number 23. She flew to Honolulu for the celebration on Sept. 21 and received recorded proclamations from the House and the Senate. Her work will hang in the office of Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, who was instrumental in dedicating Peace Day in Hawai‘i.
“We also did a peace mural at school,” said Dion- Scoyni.
Then at a school celebration of the day, all the parents, students and teachers signed it.
“In my previous life as an art director in advertising I didn’t get anything back. With teaching, something sparks in a student and I go home knowing I really made a difference,” she said. “That’s my gift.”
“And,” she added, “at the elementary school, I get more hugs from them than from my own family.”
