Some of the best teachers allow their students to think for themselves.
Art teacher Mimi Griffis is that way.
She teaches Three-D art at Ironwood Ridge High School, and she is a finalist for the U of A, Circle K Teacher of the Year award.
Mimi asks her students, "Can you imagine life without art? No! I can't either!"
This is the kind of conversation Mimi has in class every day.
Her love for art and creating it rubs off on her students.
Unlike math, art has many answers, and Mimi allows her students to explore all of them.
"Every project has criteria that's given to them and they are invited to take that criteria and determining what's meaningful to them and put their own touch on their project, which makes it exciting and fun."
Mimi makes gentle suggestions to her students, but when the project is done, it is theirs and they know that.
Mimi has taught art to kids as young as age five. She made the move to high school about eight years ago.
Michael Futch had Ms. Griffis in kindergarten, and now again in high school.
"She's one of my best teachers. She makes the class fun and helps you out with anything you need."
Mimi is one of those teachers whose door is always open.
She tells her students even if they don't choose a career in art, it will help them be creative in whatever job they choose.
Her students impress her every day.
Junior Mel Acevedo said, "What I love most is she treats every piece of artwork as precious. She cares so much for the students and what they do."
After 30 years of teaching, Mimi is retiring this year. She will miss the students the most
"If you find a job that you are happier in your last year than when you were in your first year, you've done something right."
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