Title: IB Visual Arts Educator

Company: Riverview High School

Location: Sarasota, Fla.

As Jackie Henson-Dacey was involved with the arts, her husband was an educator, and became the influencing factor for her to teach the young minds in public school. Now, she serves Riverview High School as IB visual arts educator. She prepared for this career by furthering her education to the level of achieving her doctorate and the opportunity to share her own creative art projects at various venues. The biggest challenge Ms. Henson-Dacey has overcome is finding the work and life balance, which is a personal reward.

Ms. Henson-Dacey’s greatest strength is developing a deeper internal structure where she needs to lead her students in a caring environment. However, her greatest accomplishment is raising her own child and being a parent. It has helped her be a more effective educator. One aspect of her profession she would most like to change is creating a stronger higher education instruction for emerging young art educators. Currently, Ms. Henson-Dacey’s professional goals include working on a book, creativity for the high school teacher, as well as, working on her paintings.

Ms. Henson-Dacey’s father has been a great inspiration to her. Her dad instilled strong morals and always reminded her that, “The job does not make who you are: you make the job better because of hard work and effort.” Ms. Henson-Dacey also received numerous grants to advance art education practices through Selby Building Blocks, Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Weller Community Foundation Grants, and Florida League of International Baccalaureate.