In the art room at Greenville Middle School, creativity is thriving thanks to the dedication of art teacher Jeff Jaco, who has made it his mission to ensure all students—regardless of ability—have the opportunity to express themselves through art.
One of Jaco’s students, Addy, a seventh grader who has been visually impaired since birth, has recently discovered a love for creating visual art. With guidance and support from Mr. Jaco, she’s learned to engage with projects in unique and tactile ways.
During a recent lesson on shapes, Mr. Jaco helped Addy draw a design, then traced over her lines with hot glue to create raised outlines. This technique allowed her to feel the shapes she had drawn, helping her confidently color within the boundaries. Addy has also created a styrofoam elephant sculpture and designed a three-dimensional mask, learning to explore texture and form through touch.
Mr. Jaco’s efforts have provided more than just lessons in art—they’ve offered empowerment and inclusion. His work demonstrates that accessibility in education can open doors for every student to succeed and express themselves.
Addy’s next dream is to become a famous voice actor in Hollywood. Until then, her art and the work of her peers will be on display at the Hunt County Festival of the Arts this weekend.
More details about the event can be found at: https://www.ci.greenville.tx.us/1333/Event-Hunt-County-Festival-of-the-Arts.
