As the 8:15 bell rings, Pamela Dietrich begins the day she’s been waiting for. Her first art class acts quiet compared to the middle school students she taught the year before, but she once again teaches with a familiar staff.
Ms. Dietrich started drawing when she was eight years old and took art classes after she was encouraged to by her friends and family. She always loved to paint and draw, but now design appeals to her. She attended UNT for four years to become an art teacher and continue following her passion.
“There are only so many things you can do with an art degree,” Ms. Dietrich said. “I choose to teach.”
Pamela Dietrich accepted the position of Art 1 teacher for the 2014 school year, taking the place of Jessica Louviere. Since she had worked as an art teacher at the school before, the fine arts director saw her as a good fit for the job.
“It felt weird to take her place,” Ms. Dietrich said. “I wanted to come back [to Legacy], just not for that reason.”
Ms. Louviere, art teacher Dave Mason, and Ms. Dietrich met at Summit in 2001, during Ms. Dietrich’s first year of teaching. They remained good friends with each other ever since then. Dietrich changed schools occasionally but was back teaching with Ms. Louviere and Mr. Mason at Legacy in 2008, the year it opened.
“[The fine arts director and I] thought she would be a good choice since she knew the faculty and campus,” Mr. Mason said. “We knew Louviere would [want her to work here] and for her students to be in good hands.”
She teaches six art 1 classes a day. Ms. Dietrich does not want to teach ceramics or pottery, but would like to eventually teach a drawing or painting class.
“Teaching here is so much better than middle school,” Ms. Dietrich said. “There’s such a big difference. It’s been so much fun, and I’ve had very respectful kids.”
