Deb Bonfiglio, Art Teacher

Deb Bonfiglio teaches art to all grades in the Bradford Central School District from K- 12.  She teaches Studio Art, Graphics, Ceramics, Drawing and Painting, and an ACE course called The Essentials of Arts.  Next year, she hopes to teach an ACE college photography course.  Her personal ambitions as an artist include exhibiting her art more frequently.  In the past,  she has exhibited at Three Birds,  and at Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes in Corning.  As a teacher,  she likes the bantering between the kids and the relationships she forms with the students and "the trust that grows."  Part of the secret to her success as a teacher and in forming a positive rapport with her students is the fact that she works on her own paintings in the classroom.  She provides examples of various styles of artwork and encourages each student to develop his or her own style.   "Students see realistic and abstract and non-objective artwork."  In the photographs above and below,  examples of Deb's artwork can be seen. 

Students also get out for field trips.  They've gone to Corning Museum of Glass,  the Rockwell Museum and to Palettes of Keuka last summer.  Wendy Field,  the superintendent of the school district has much praise for Deb and it is obvious that her students derive a lot of satisfaction from participating in her classes.

    Wendy Field, Superintendent 

The arts allow students to make human and academic connections and discover talents.  The arts can reveal and build self confidence.  

Wendy Field is the Superintendent of the Bradford Central School District.  She loves helping to build each child's capacity and educational experiences to become the best contributing member of society they can be. Bradford Central School District is small - there are only about 320 students in all the schools from K-12.  This year's graduating class will have twenty students!  Wendy says that the size of the school is a challenge, but also an advantage.  "You get to know each student more personally and have the opportunity to directly address their skills and interests."

Wendy grew up in Watkins Glen and her journey to school administration has taken a few surprising twists and turns.  She started a career as a nurse and then began working at BOCES where she taught medical related programs such as Nurse Assisting and Practical Nursing.  She then went for her administrative degree and became principal for the Career and Technology department at BOCES before applying for the superintendent position at Bradford. When she entered the position three years ago, she was joined by Kelly Houck,  the principal,  a year later. "It is a young staff,"  Wendy relates. She describes her relationship with Kelly as "a team"  and praises her devotion and initiative. "Kelly still takes time to support local efforts and seeks experiences that will benefit the staff and students."

Wendy is one superintendent who understands the value of the arts in education.  This is partially derived from her childhood when she was 1st chair clarinet player and recipient of a school award for her musicianship.  Additionally,  she participated in all-state bands and entered drawing contests.  Music was always enjoyed in her home and she was privileged to have familial support for her interests and talents and to have passionate music and art teachers at school. She was an avid musician and drum corps participant through her secondary education. The experiences taught her respect and admiration for those individuals who become masters of the arts, and has art in her office she has purchased from local artists. "When you try to do it yourself...you can appreciate it and support it later in life. Students who are exposed to and develop musical and artistic talents also develop better math and science skills." 

Wendy talked about a man from the Discovery Center who recently presented to Bradford students a program that connected science to the arts (music) by transferring energy into sound.  He brought plumbing pipes and typical house hold items and played music on them.  He transferred the experience into science by teaching about and showing students the electronic version of sound waves,  etc.  "He took a fun activity and made connections to other areas of the curriculum." 

The music teachers at Bradford are Wendy Griffin and Cathy Pavlick who together "do amazing things with very few students.... They have to rewrite scores for small groups.  When they put on a play, students have to take on multiple characters. Marian Milan, English teacher often helps direct these theatre productions." . Miss Bonfiglio, art teacher helps produce the stage props with students.  It is always a team effort. 

Finally, Wendy has a lot of praise for Deb Bonfiglio,  the art teacher,  "Deb's students did palettes,  many of which were actually purchased.  Deb was the only teacher to participate in Keuka Palettes when invited.  The student involvement meant a lot of effort on Deb's part.  "She had to get kids and artwork together on their own time.  She took time out of her own personal work and went the extra mile for her students."  Additionally,  Wendy notes how Deb arranged for her students to present their work to the Board of Education.  "Kids displayed their work to the board and spoke to them about it.  They talked about their inspirations among other things." Kids also show their work in local businesses in Hammondsport."  To read more about Deb,  click here.

Kelly Houck, Principal  

How do we justify having a section of
art for three kids?

  How can you not?   

Kelly Houck is the principal for the whole school district - grades K- 12 and has worked for Bradford for two years. "You don't understand the uniqueness until you've worked here," Kelly relates. Before becoming principal,  she worked in the district for ten years as an elementary school teacher,  then as a special education teacher,  and then as an administrator as "Director of Pupil Services."  She also worked in Watkins Glen for a while and was educated at Mansfield University and SUNY Brockport.  For Kelly,  "the arts are an intricate part of the day at Bradford." She adds, "all students from Pre-K through 12th grade get exposure and learn to enjoy it and love it.  A lot of kids may not be able to express themselves academically,  but can do so through the arts."

Kelly is happy to note the many ways the staff makes connections with each other.  Kindergarten teachers and the art teacher get together to share resources for cross-curricular connections.  Specifically,  Christmas Around the World  incorporates music and good communication between teachers. "It is not an 'us and them' approach to education. We're all in it together.  The whole student body goes to rehearsals and a high percentage of students participates in concerts.  There is great community support for the artists including the Board of Education."

Because of this support, all 7-12th grade students are going to Othello in Binghamton. They use fundraising and the BOCES Arts in Education CoSer to send students to museums and on field trips. 

Some may ask "How can you justify having a section of art for three kids?" To which I answer,  "How can you not?"  But that is the way it is this year for ACE Art and Calculus II.  It's our obligation. Because we are so secluded,  it is up to us to provide it.  Such an experience as Othello would probably not be accessible by most of the student body.  It's an "If you build it, they will come,"  philosophy. 

Kelly remembers proudly how students read their own creative writing for members of the Board of education,  whilst Deb's students made teapots that were reflective of the area and spoke to the board about their inspirations.  Deb gave Kelly the cup she's holding in the picture above because Kelly was an inspiration to Deb. 

Fortunately for Bradford School students,  Wendy, Kelly and Deb inspire and support their students through an academic program enriched by the ARTS!

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