Dawn Thomas
Dawn A. Thomas
707.245.4735
cloudsdriftingby@gmail.com
Objective: To help build a vital Sonoma County Arts community as an experienced artist, and a teacher who provides a competitive and comprehensive Arts/Maker education for my students.
Education and Credentials:
Single Subject Art Credential – Sonoma State University – NCLB 1/2007
CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – Sonoma State University 5/2004
Medialink Web Design/Technology Certificate – Bay Area Video Coalition 6/2000
5th-year Graduate Certificate in Art, U.C. at Santa Cruz 6/1990
Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art, U.C. at Santa Cruz 6/1989
Kinetic Artist Event Awards:
SFMOMA’s soapbox derby, Best Pun trophy, 2022
Best Theme Cart Design, the Cotatitarod, Cotati, 2019
1st Place Engineering for Team Pineapple, Kinetic Grand Championship, Eureka, CA 2018
Grand Champion for Team Pineapple, Obtainium Cup, Vallejo, 2019
1st place speed for the Pineapple Handcar, Willits Kinetic Carnivale, Willits, 2015
Best Engineering for the Whittaker Paddlewheel, Rivertown Revival, Petaluma, 2014
2nd Place for Red Couch Pedal-powered railcar, Wunderkammer Handcar Races, Santa Rosa, CA 2013
Teaching Experience: Santa Rosa City Schools, 2006 – current
Art/Maker/Teen Living/Digital Media, Santa Rosa Middle School, 2007-2022
Students explore the foundations of Art and Making, and develop a personal portfolio. Teen living/culinary involves cooking, career exploration, interior design, sewing, and communication and conflict resolution skills. Digital Media explores digital storytelling and culminates in movies, webpages and other digital fulfillment. From 2007-2015 we produced a weekly cable news broadcast for the school.
Art 1, Montgomery High School, 2014-2015
Our beginning Art curriculum asks students to develop their drawing skills, and to utilize the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Exercises lead to projects which offer student-selected content, but hold students accountable to develop technical skills.
Art / Project Make Teacher, Hilliard Comstock Middle School, 2007-2013
In 2013, we launched our district’s first middle school Project MAKE! elective, which is an award-winning (2014 Jack London Award) interdisciplinary, exploratory STE(A)M class (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.)
Art Teacher, Piner High School, 2007-2008
Art Teacher, Summer School, Montgomery site, 2007
Art Teacher, Elsie Allen High School, 2006-2007
Educational Awards:
Jack London Award for Educational Innovation (Project Make!) 2014
Other Experience: A practicing Artist, I have shown with Art Trails, and at various Sonoma County venues. I have been an exhibitor at Maker Faires for 4 years.