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Items of Interest about Patricia Rhoden-Bartels

Patty is a teacher in the Brown County school system. She presently teaches art in grades 7 and 8 as well as Gifted and Talented Art. In her 30 year teaching career Patty has worked with every grade level, including college. She brings to her teaching, not only her knowledge of art, but also her enthusiasm for learning. Patty is always searching for new challenges and experiences. A grant from the American Councils for International Education allowed Patty to visit Russia in a teacher exchange program. She was able to learn about Russian ideas and culture as well as share her own thoughts on education. Patty has also traveled to Austria, Japan and Australia. On two different occasions she visited remote villages in the Alaskan bush to teach art to Native American students. She once reached the Embura Indian Village in Panama by traveling in a dug-out canoe.

Patricia Rhoden Bartles letter of introduction by the Indiana House of Representatives

In 2006 Patty visited Australia as part of the Fulbright-Hayes Summer Seminar to Australia. She was able to paint with Aboriginals as well as learn about their connection to the environment and how this connection is represented in their art. In 2005 Patty received the Fulbright Memorial Grant to study in Japan, and the National Endowment of the Humanities to study in Austria. After a trip to Russia, in a teacher exchange program, Patty organized a project for her gifted and talented art class. Her students painted portions of two, nearly identical, canvas and acrylic murals, choosing symbols and icons to represent themselves and their culture. The murals were then sent to a Russia school, where students completed the murals with their own cultural symbols. One mural now hangs in each school. Patty is hoping to do similar mural projects with Japan and Australia.

Patty demonstrating an Australian didgeridoo to her class

Patty and her husband, Gary have two sons, Lance and Christopher. Patty misses the boys, who are grown and on their own, but looks forward to spoiling grandchildren in the near future. A little girl at heart, Patty has a doll house. Having only sons was not a deterrent. Patty decided that she didn't need girls as an excuse. The house is decorated, furnished and has a tiny family in residence.

Patty's doll house

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