Rock Nine Art Teachers Awarded Innovative Teaching Grants

The excitement was unmistakable as the district’s prize patrol, led by the RHS drumline, surprised Rock Nine Art teachers, Mr. Carly Rose and Mrs. Brianna Myers, to announce they had each been awarded an innovative teaching grant. These grants will bring unique, hands-on art experiences to students through alternative printmaking and photographic processes.

Gelli Prints Grant
This project introduces students to Gelli Prints, an accessible form of printmaking that allows young artists to create one-of-a-kind images using textured objects such as keys, coins, and pencils. Students will experiment with paint to explore tints, tones, and shades, create reverse image transfers using magazines or printed images, and produce final prints through a process similar to lithography. This grant will provide materials that make professional printmaking techniques achievable in the classroom.

Cyanotypes Grant
Through this project, students will learn the historic photographic technique of cyanotype printing. Using light-sensitive iron salts, students will produce distinctive Prussian Blue images by exposing transparency negatives onto coated paper under UV light or sunlight. The project highlights photography beyond digital methods while still integrating modern tools to support the creation of unique, hand-crafted prints. This grant will allow students to explore nontraditional approaches to image-making and expand their understanding of artistic expression.

Rock Nine is proud of our teachers for pursuing these opportunities and we look forward to seeing the creative work our students produce through these innovative projects!