Her Story
About Courtney
Courtney Cunningham is a high school art teacher with 11 years of experience in education. She teaches three drawing classes, one media class, and an advanced art class, maintaining an open-door policy where students can seek help, guidance, or supplies at any time. Courtney earned her degree in art education from Missouri State University, along with minors in art history and psychology, and previously obtained an associates degree from Ozark Technical Community College. She attributes her success to her father's early emphasis on hard work, dedication, and ambition. Among the career advice she values most is guidance from a professor encouraging persistence through the first five years of teaching. Courtney values creativity, originality, and helping students find their voice through art, while also prioritizing connection to nature and physical movement in her personal life. She advises women entering education to embrace their role as caregivers given the mental demands and responsibilities involved. Current challenges in her field include shifts to Pathways graduation requirements that may reduce emphasis on arts credits and the effects of technology on students' handwriting and drawing abilities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Courtney
01What do you attribute your success to?
My dad really ingrained in me at a young age working hard and being dedicated and having ambition. It wasn't ever in anything specific, just whatever I was interested in, and he supported me through that, but he really helped me maintain that ambition and not lose sight over years.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If I can make it 5 years as a teacher and I am good, I could be a teacher for the rest of my life. If I were to quit, I would have quit in over 5 years. That is the best advice I got from a professor.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's taxing on us mentally. Women are used to caring a lot, duties, a lot of responsibilities, a lot of unseen responsibilities, and education is no different. It adds even more. Probably on top of that, you're kind of like a mother to over 100 students. So if you're gonna get into education, make sure you're a caregiver.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The school district is switching to Pathways for graduation, art is not going to be required as a graduation credit anymore in Oklahoma, so there's a fear of cutting back on the arts. Technology has hindered students' ability to think and process; kids are used to typing not handwriting, affecting their ability to draw lines and shapes.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I really value getting to go outside and be connected to nature, being able to move my body and being grateful for the things that my body allows me to do. I really value creativity and originality and having voice, and that is the biggest thing I try to pass on to my students.
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