Leslie Young used a student art project as an object lesson in teamwork for the 390 students in Ooltewah Elementary School.
Students in each of the school's K-5 classrooms created a portrait of their teacher by combining 80 squares they colored individually, only guided by a color code of warm or cool hues.
After obtaining school photos of the principal and each of the 20 teachers on the OES faculty, Ms. Young projected each picture onto a large piece of white paper, on which she traced the teacher's likeness and shaded facial features and hairstsyles.
Next, she divided each picture into an 8-by-10 grid to create 80 squares. She numbered the squares on their backs and coded each square with either a C or W, which instructed students whether they should be colored in warm or cool tones.
She distributed the tiny squares in each classroom. She said students could color their squares in any manner they chose - solid, stripes, florals, geometrics - they only had to remain within the three shades allowed for either warm or cool hues.
"I stressed the importance of community, working together, in this lesson," said Ms. Young. "If they didn't listen and follow instructions, it could mess up the project for everyone. Only four (out of 390) came back incorrect."
Not realizing the significance of the numbered backs, students had no idea what their finished collaboration would depict.
"I was trying to figure out what it was going to be," said Helena Hernandez, 7, a second-grader in Susan Rogers' classroom. "I was surprised when I saw it was Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. Rogers was surprised, too."
The finished mosaics depict each teacher in hues of yellow, orange and red against backgrounds of violet, blue and green that remind viewers of stained glass.
Although each square bears the distinct style of its young artist, together they form a striking picture of their teacher. And there is consistency among all 20 faculty portraits.
Ms. Young said this project wouldn't have been possible without the support of Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga.
OES is one of 16 Hamilton County schools receiving funding this academic year from Allied Arts, according to Rodney Van Valkenburg, Allied Arts' communications director and director of arts education.
Ms. Young's salary is funded by a $6,000 grant from Allied Arts, which paid for 12 weeks of instruction at the school. Her last day at the school was Feb. 25 because that funding has run out.
"Allied Arts has supported our school for many years. It gives us money to buy supplies and to pay my salary. We wouldn't be able to have art in this school if Allied Arts wasn't supporting us," Ms. Young said.
Allied Arts kicked off its annual campaign Thursday with a day of artistic performances to demonstrate its theme, "The Arts Are For All."
For more information about Allied Arts or to donate to the campaign, call 756-2787 or log onto allied artschattanooga.org.