Kristin Singer Receives Outstanding Teacher Award
Kristin Singer has a gift. She’s not only a sensational artist, but she is a talented teacher, too. The veteran Huntington High School faculty member has a special way of working with teenagers. Some might call it magical.
Mrs. Singer captured a coveted Outstanding Teacher Award at the recent opening on the ongoing Long Island’s Best exhibit at the Heckscher Museum of Art. The teachers of the top four award winning student-artists were recognized, putting the Huntington faculty member in an exclusive group.
This marks the third time in five years that Mrs. Singer has been honored, establishing her as one of the premier art teachers on Long Island. A graduate of Bethpage High School, she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art & Planning in 2001. She studied at Cornell’s campus in Rome, Italy for a semester during her junior year.
Mrs. Singer earned a Master of Science degree in art education at Hofstra University in 2003. She has interned at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Nassau County Museum Art. The longtime educator has also taught life drawing, painting and sculpture at the Huntington School of Fine Arts.
Hired to join the Huntington High School faculty in 2003, Mrs. Singer has taught a variety of art courses, but her focus has been on drawing and painting classes. She has also taught fashion design for three years, resulting in one of the highlights of her career.
Mrs. Singer’s fashion class, along with the class of her faculty colleague Amy Worth, was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to attend the donation of her inaugural gown to the Smithsonian Museum after the Huntington students sent a class project inspired by Mrs. Obama to the White House.
“I have always felt that art has led me to the greatest experiences in my life,” Mrs. Singer said. “I met my future husband in my ninth grade art class. Throughout my college years art led me to travel to amazing places, including museums, galleries and foreign countries and also led me to my closest friendships. And now, for the past 13 years it has brought me to Huntington High School, where I get to work with the most amazing students, faculty and staff. I am truly working at my dream job.”
The energy that Mrs. Singer brings to her classroom each day inspires her students. She loves what she does and who she does it with. “Every day, I feel so fortunate to work such talented students,” she said. “As a teacher, I try to create a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment for my students to explore their creativity and find their personal voice. Watching students grow as artists and as people is an incredibly rewarding job.”