It wouldn’t be a new school year without new teachers. Among the several new teachers at Paint Branch High School for the 2015-16 school year is Ms. Brittney Salem, who currently teaches Photography and Digital Art.

Ms. Salem was born in Burlington, Vermont, but would not stay there forever. She went to the University of New Hampshire, where she would receive her undergraduate degree in Fine Art.   Afterwards, she attended the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), which is where Ms. Salem obtained her graduate degree in teaching. Ms. Salem was inspired to become a teacher because of the great art teachers she had in grade school, who showed her support and what her potential could be. After graduating, she was inspired to do the same for her own students.

Art is Ms. Salem’s passion, but she did not originally envision becoming a teacher. Before coming to Paint Branch, Ms. Salem first wanted to open her own studio and sell her own art.  Ms. Salem sold her own art for some time and moved on to her teaching career.  Before coming to Maryland, Ms. Salem spent three years teaching ceramics at a communal studio in New York.  When she arrived in Maryland, Ms. Salem continued teaching while attending MICA.  She also student taught at Sherwood High School, where she taught ceramics and foundations of art.

Ms. Salem decided to become a teacher at Paint Branch because she had heard “great things” about the school.  She also liked the camaraderie of the art department and working in Montgomery County. Ms. Salem likes the sense of community that Paint Branch offers, as well as the diversity of its students and staff. She believes that everyone has “a lot to offer.”

Ms. Salem chose to teach Photography and Digital Art because they are both subjects that interest her.  Ms. Salem also continues to have an interest in ceramics, which she describes as her “passion.” According to Ms. Salem, the most rewarding aspect of her teaching career is the relationships she forms with students and then watching them grow and succeed. Outside of her career at Paint Branch, Ms. Salem likes to camp, hike, ski, and make art. If she wasn’t a teacher, she would be a photojournalist, as it allow her to follow one of her interests, photography, while enabling her to travel around the world.

Chris Nguyen, one of Ms. Salem’s students says “Digital Art is very interesting and teaches you a lot about editing photos and photography.”

The advice Ms. Salem offers prospective teachers is “love what you do, be sure that it is right for you, and have patience.” If you are interested in photography or digital art, then Ms. Salem is more than qualified to teach you.