The School for Advanced Studies is proud to have Samara Camyn as our founding art teacher!
Her unique blend of artistic skill, passion for teaching, and enthusiastic vision inspires our students to express themselves. Find out how Ms. Camyn broadens students’ worldviews and sparks curiosity.
Achieving a lifelong dream of becoming an art teacher
Samara Camyn, known to friends and family as Mara, grew up in Van Buren, Arkansas. From an early age, she knew that she wanted to be an artist. “I have been interested in art education since I was a teenager,” she reflects. “In middle school, we had to take a career orientation class, and they gave us a test to find out what jobs we were best suited for. I was so excited to get my results, and when I opened it, I had just one result—art teacher! It solidified what I already knew.”
At the age of 15, before she even learned to drive, Ms. Camyn completed 366 volunteer hours at Arts on Main in Van Buren. Later on, she was hired to assist and eventually teach her own summer camps at the education center.
Ms. Camyn pursued a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, but her heart remained in the studio. She began taking extra art classes and eventually completed a studio art capstone course, earning the university’s Academic Excellence Award in Studio Art. “Usually those awards go to a studio art major, not a graphic design major, so it was very validating to know the strength of my studio work,” she says.
After graduating, Ms. Camyn began applying at various schools and art education centers. She wanted to combine her love for making art with her love for working with kids. When she discovered the School for Advanced Studies, she thought it would be the perfect match.
Diving deep with art seminars
Ms. Camyn was introduced to the idea of seminar-style classrooms during her summer teaching training at the School for Advanced Studies.
“Originally, I saw art education as focusing primarily on techniques,” she says. “The training at SAS helped me realize I could weave art history into my lessons and expose students to more artwork. That’s half the fun!”
Ms. Camyn says she wishes she could have had seminar-style classes when she was in school. “I recall most of school for me was just sitting quietly, working on my own. It felt so stagnant. Here at SAS, we give the kids the opportunity to share their learning with their peers. Our approach to teaching encourages students to get excited about what they’re reading or what they’re creating.”
According to Ms. Camyn, seminars are a catalyst for diverse viewpoints. “The seminar setting creates a natural excitement and curiosity, because we are all doing it together,” she says. “Even the introverted kids find themselves engaged and interested during our seminars. They realize they aren’t alone in their observations, and that gives them the confidence to speak up.”
Seminar teaching also reignited Mara’s personal interests. “Leading seminars has made me fall back in love with reading—especially poetry and classic literature,” she says. “We read ‘How to Read a Book’ by Mortimer J. Adler, and I thought, ‘Where was this when I was a student?’ It helped me learn how to become a more critical reader.”
How Ms. Camyn makes art class interesting for everyone
In her time teaching at the School for Advanced Studies, Ms. Camyn has been able to introduce her students to a broad range of artistic techniques and styles, while also exploring the historical context behind famous art pieces.
Ms. Camyn says that she does her best to make art fun and engaging for all students. “I always tell my students, ‘Let’s learn about this because it’s interesting, not just for the grade!’”
Ms. Camyn finds joy in sharing artistic techniques with her students, inspiring them to get creative in new ways. Her skills include fiber art, design, painting, illustration, photography, videography, installation art, and mixed media. She’s looking forward to exploring ceramics with her students in the future.
Above all, Ms. Camyn wants her students to create pieces of art that they are proud of. “Often, students will draw something and immediately decide it’s bad,” she says. “I want to help them get past that emotion. I want them to be proud to say, ‘I created that. That’s MY art.’”
Connecting with students during Art Club
Ms. Camyn has also enjoyed leading like-minded students in the SAS Art Club. She says that Art Club is her favorite day of the week!
“During Art Club, students come together in the studio with the freedom to use any material they want. One student might be on the wheel throwing pottery, while another is painting. It is the most fulfilling, harmonious hour of the week because studio time is one of the most important things you can give to an art student.”
Outside of teaching, Ms. Camyn enjoys going to poetry slams, playing with her dog Sunny, and spending too much time on Pinterest.
We’re thankful to have Ms. Camyn as part of our community!
Want to experience a school where students are empowered to pursue their passion in art? Apply today to join our the School for Advanced Studies. All applications are submitted entirely online, and only take about 10 minutes to complete. Secure your child’s seat today!