Lower School Art Teacher Betsy Hoffman took second graders on a walk to the Vanderbilt University Art Gallery for a special hour with award-winning artist Amie Esslinger.
By Betsy Hoffman, Lower School Art Teacher
Second grade art classes were in for quite the treat when they took a walk to the Vanderbilt University Art Gallery for a special hour with award-winning artist Amie Esslinger.
Esslinger spent time sharing her techniques, enthusiasm, and creativity with the young artists. Known for merging science with her art, students were also able to get an up-close look at Esslinger's atrium installation in the gallery, which uses eight smaller pieces of art to create one large creation. Using multimedia to create cell-like images, she also shared how she makes her art and invited each student to make their own piece which will be assembled to make an installation outside the Lower School Art Room.
The impact of USN’s Art Department is not confined to art studios in the Christine Slayden Tibbott Center. Students often engage with art in ways that transcend traditional classroom learning, such as at the opening reception for artist Yanira Vissepó's “Fantastical Views.”
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named Social Studies Teacher Ayesha Nawaz the 2026 Tennessee History Teacher of the Year for her innovative lessons that bring stories of the past to life for students today.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.