Artist returns to seek art education degree
–Courtney Bergey, Communique’
Keeping her love for art in the forefront has always been important to Anne Snitker. After a bit of trial and error in finding her career, she is now on track to becoming an art teacher and sharing her passion with students.
Snitker, 25, graduated from West Delaware High School in her hometown of Manchester, Iowa, in 2002. Kirkwood Community College was her next step and she earned an Associate of Art degree in interior design.
After graduation, Snitker moved to the suburbs of Chicago. “I loved the culture and the diversity of Chicago,” she said. However, she wasn’t satisfied with working in a job that didn’t incorporate her degree and her creative spirit. “I really wanted to do something with art but I wasn’t sure what,” she said.
Upon returning to Iowa, Snitker came back to Kirkwood in pursuit of an art education degree. “The second time around it was nice to know I wasn’t the only person who isn’t 18,” she said. “Kirkwood is very welcoming to non-traditional students.”
She also started working in the school at Tanager Place, a Cedar Rapids facility helping families with psychological challenges and developed an interest in working with children.
After completing her associate of arts degree in education in the fall of 2008, Snitker transferred to the University of Iowa. She began classes in the spring of 2009 and is currently working toward a degree in secondary education with an emphasis in art. Painting has been her favorite medium for a long time but she has gained an interest in ceramics through her classes at University of Iowa this semester.
Snitker said she would like to teach high school art because the kids are more passionate about it, even though she is used to working with younger children at Tanager Place. “I think middle school art would be fine as long as you can get them interested and excited about it,” she said.
“Art is a dying field in education so I’d like to see it incorporated into the classroom more,” said Snitker, displaying her enthusiastic attitude about her future career. “People are looking for creative people in the real world.”
Hoping to graduate in the fall of 2010, Snitker is not afraid to explore her career outside of Iowa. “I own a home in Cedar Rapids but I’ll go wherever job opportunities take me,” she said. Snitker added that she may move out west with her boyfriend, who designs animation for video games and movies and hopes to get a job at a company such as Pixar.
As an outstanding student, Snitker simply never settles for less than her best. “My parents had high expectations so I wanted to prove them right. I take school seriously,” she said.