Bio:
Mandy Sue Springer received her BA in Studio Arts from Morehead State University in 2004 and studied German Art History in Bregenz, Austria through Murray State University. She received her MFA in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2007. Digging For Salamanders, a recent body of work concerning memories of landscape, is part of the Fidelity Corporate Art Collections. It consists of large format color photographs. She has taught at Watkins College of Art and Design, the Sarratt Art Center through Vanderbilt University and the Dougherty Arts School.
Teaching Philosophy:
I have always learned best by doing. By that I mean trying, failing, trying again, and then eventually getting it right. It is important to bring as many tools into a classroom as possible. These may vary from lectures, books, videos, online tools, field trips, and hands on projects. Learning is a process and that process changes depending on the individual, for me it is trial and error. Each student has their own way of learning, and it is a teacher’s job to find out what this way of learning is and then cater to that need. I want to help students reach for themselves and not perfection, standards, or practices.
The Odyssey Difference:
Odyssey gives each student a chance to be an individual rather than just part of a class. I feel that many students today are not being taught or allowed to think for themselves or make their own decisions. I feel that Odyssey provides an environment where students can be comfortable with themselves, which in turn provides the grounds for academic success.
