ICS Teacher Feature Interview: Mrs. Knecht

Mrs. Lisa Knecht has taught art at Immanuel Christian School since 1991. She is an award-winning artist, photographer, and instructor. She began her formal studies at the age of 14 at the Hazleton Art League and later studied Graphic Design and Advertising Design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. She is currently pursuing a certificate in Professional Digital Photography at Cornell University. She has taught at numerous schools and other learning centers in the region, including The Next Picasso, The Hazleton Art League, and Immanuel Christian School. She is celebrating 20 years of operating a private teaching art studio in Shamokin (Welch Art Studios), to a community that is historically underserved in the arts.

She is award-winning in several media, including Acrylic and Watercolor painting, Fiber Arts, Film Photography and Digital Photography, and has had her work featured in several solo exhibitions and group shows over the years. Lisa’s students are also regularly award-winners each year, in a wide variety of media, including several Best in Show awards. Lisa is a founding member of the Northumberland County Council for the Arts annual arts festival. Along with her husband Scott, she is a worship leader at River Mountain Church. Both she and her husband volunteer with the international children’s ministry Angels of East Africa.

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What value do you see in Christian education?

The value in Christian education is that children can be taught their subjects from a Christian worldview. Since God created everything, He has something to say about everything.

What makes ICS different than other schools?

ICS teaches subjects, including art, from a Christian worldview.

Why do you feel called to teach at ICS?

I feel called to teach at ICS because art needs to be understood and practiced from within the framework of biblical teaching.

What's your favorite subject/topic to teach? Why?

My favorite subject to teach is art because I believe God has gifted me in that area for the purpose of helping children to discover and develop their art gifts.

Describe your teaching style.

My teaching style is low-tech and expeditionary. We do a lot of hands-on learning, working with art materials, and creating art for display.

What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is seeing kids "get it" after I've shown or explained something to them.

How do you see God at work in ICS? In your classroom?

I see God at work in everything– from the students' abilities to their willingness to learn and try new things, and from the way the staff, teachers, and parents work together.

How do you motivate students to learn?

I think the best way to motivate students to learn about art is to [lead] them to understand that God is a creator and they are made in His image, [therefore] they are creators as well, in some way or another.