Sonya Everett is an art teacher at Linganore High School (LHS), With 23 years of teaching experience, Everett has expressed her love and passion for art in many ways. She has taught art in both Prince George’s County and Frederick County.
Before teaching, she worked in a museum exhibit for design for nearly 15 years. However, she soon lost interest in her career path. She views her teaching philosophy as to simply “give people a wow moment,” and to “open their eyes to the beauty that’s in the world.”
Everett explained, “It got too political and all about money, so I tried to figure out the next step, and the next step was teaching.”
Her admiration for art has a place in every class she teaches. Art is Everett’s favorite subject. She loves to inspire people to get messy and express themselves with art, as she puts it, “letting people explode.” She loves to teach drawing in particular, as she believes it is essentially the fundamental aspect of any kind of art.
Everett’s view on education was shaped quite unexpectedly. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design in New York, which she described as perhaps “the worst four years of my life.” Although the teaching was great, she described it as a very competitive environment.
She later earned her masters degree in Anthropology/Archaeology at Cornell University, where she found a more supportive environment and was fortunately reassured that it was okay not to be cutthroat in her pursuit of art.
Interestingly, teaching was never a career she thought she would pursue. Despite struggling with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD,) the last thing she imagined was becoming a teacher.
Despite her unlikely path to LHS, she expressed her gratification of the school and the community, particularly her colleagues.
“Outside of the school walls, our community has also left a strong impression,” Everett said, “I really like it. The art department is really connected; they communicate, and there is no backstabbing.”For Everett, the kindness of the community really stands out.
“People say please and thank you and have a good afternoon,” Everett said. “It goes a long way.”
As for her career as a teacher, she strives to be a teacher who can give experience in art. She believes that rather than memorizing the names of famous artists and the titles of their paintings, giving students the opportunity to experience the art and feel it is what matters.
In addition to her art classes, Everett is busy advising students in the Research Club at LHS.
When she is not at school, Everett spends time creating ceramics and stone carvings, taking long walks in the woods with her dog, and enjoying time with her friends.
Everett can be found teaching art in room A211 or digital photography in room A205.
