Ms. Bridget Dwyer has been teaching since 2008. She started her career in Washington, D.C., where she taught for seven years before coming to West Potomac in 2015.
When she was younger, she was inspired to be a teacher by the women in her family who worked in education. As she grew older and discovered art, she realized she wanted to combine both of her interests, which led her to teaching art and Photography.
“I always wanted to be a teacher first, and then I found the love of art,” said Dwyer.
One challenge Ms. Dwyer often faces is when students don’t feel excited about making art or were placed in the class without choosing it.
“I usually try to connect with students through their interests and show them that the process of making art is actually fun,” she said.
She believes that students don’t need to be afraid of taking photos or drawing because, like anything else, it gets easier with practice. Her goal is to help students see that art can be enjoyable, not stressful.
Ms. Dwyer also has many favorite memories from her years of teaching. When she taught in D.C., she loved taking students out of the classroom and into the real world.
“I took kids to an artsy movie theater downtown, and the kids loved it,” she said.
She has also taken students to New York City, and she says those trips were amazing because she enjoyed seeing the city through her students’ eyes.
Even though Ms. Dwyer might seem strict at first, she wants her students to know there’s more to her.
“I may come across as a stern teacher, but I’m actually a kind, warm teacher,” she said.
Over time, she feels that students understand her better and feel that she genuinely cares about them.
Her favorite subject to teach is photography because she has taught it for many years and continues to learn new things from what her students find interest in.
This year, Ms. Dwyer had a clear goal for her classes and the school in general. She said, “I just want them to know that the teachers actually care about them.” She hopes to help and improve school culture and make students feel more positive about West Po, since many students have a negative view of school in general.
