Teaching confidence through creativity at MG

At Mechanics Grove Elementary School, students don’t just create art; they build confidence, take risks, and discover new ways to express themselves.

For art teacher Tracy Eifert, helping students experience that growth is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

“The students here are excited to learn,” Eifert said. “Any new concept or technique I introduce is met with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to try.”

That energy fills her classroom each day as students explore their creativity and take pride in what they create. It’s especially important for those students who may not always experience success in other parts of their day. But when student artwork is displayed throughout the school, students have an opportunity to see their creativity celebrated publicly.

“I love when they walk down the hall and suddenly point and say, ‘That one is mine,’” Eifert said. “It makes them feel seen.”

Those moments of recognition can have a lasting impact, not only on the students displaying their work but also on classmates who begin to appreciate one another in new ways. It builds not only confidence, but a sense of belonging, Eifert said.

One of the most memorable experiences for students is the school’s ceiling-tile project, in which fifth graders create artwork that becomes a permanent part of the building.

“At first, they don’t think they can do it,” Eifert said. “But then they learn the process, they create something amazing, and they realize what they’re capable of.”

Eifert believes art education goes far beyond the finished product. She realizes her role is also in teaching students important life lessons. She talks to them about integrity and lets them know they have choices and can decide who they want to be.

She also values the everyday conversations that occur as students create. For Eifert, art is ultimately about helping students recognize their own potential.

“I want them to feel proud of who they are and what they can do,” she said.