A New Art Teacher for LYDC

As some of you may know, this is my last year at Loysville. I will be retiring after 24 years. I will miss the boys and I am grateful for the many opportunities that have been given to me both professionally and personally. I will remain active with the Correctional Education Association and am on the board of CEA Region I (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Canada). This will probably be my last contribution to this blog. Thank you for your support and comments. The boys and I both appreciated your feedback.

BJ Berquist


A new Art Teacher is being hired to replace Mrs. Berquist. What are 3 strengths you would you recommend that the new teacher have?

I think the new art teacher should have good art skills, good teacher skills and good people skills. DA

Three strengths the new teacher should have are kindness, patience, and respect. The new teacher should not come here and be bitter to everyone. Kids will not like art class and resort it to the principal and that will start a bad reputation for the new teacher. The new teacher also should be patient with us. Everyone in here isn’t on the same artistic level and need different types of service. Last but not least, the new teacher should have respect for us. We should not be treated as criminals, but as young men and we will give the same respect back. MB

I would make sure that the teacher has humor. I would also like it if she knows an easier way to draw. I would also like her to have assignments that are fun. CM

I would like an art teacher to have tolerance for some kids who don’t have any respect and she needs self-control because kids do get itchy. I would know how you felt if you were my teacher. She also needs to have patience for us and the teachers cause I know kids are not the only ones who have problems. RS

One of the strengths that I would recommend the new art teacher to have is a good state of mind. I would recommend that because if you come in here with a bad state of mind then you will probably go crazy! Also I would recommend the new teacher to have a high self-esteem also because the kids are probably gonna bust on him or her. JB

Personally, another Mrs. Berquist would be perfect. But other people might think that the next art teacher might try and let us multitask! Just kidding ;-) But maybe the next art teacher might do group projects or everybody be on the same project and they would probably get finished quicker. There really isn’t anything else I would change. Happy retirement! DM

I like people that are funny cause that is what I can relate to. I like people who can be creative and make something out of nothing. If someone is nice, it promotes the aura of happiness. JH

Don’t take nothing from nobody; learn from the best, Mrs. Berquist, even if that’s hard for that teacher; and let us do art that we want to do. AG

I would recommend that the new art teacher has excellent art skills and for him/her to have excellent relationship with all students and not treat us as if we are locked up. MR

I think the new art teacher should have set projects that go in order, also I would say that they have to have lots of patience with the kids, and they should always have a good attitude so everyone else can have one. TR

I will tell the new teacher that the three strengths is for you not to let people to run over you, make sure the student is doing his work and make sure that you teat us how you would like to be treated and make sure everybody is given the same thing to do because if you do not they will be doing anything. RM

I would think that he or she has artwork skills, is respectful to the teachers and students, and also is polite to teachers and students. WC

I would tell the new teacher to give residents second chances because everybody that works and makes a mistake is sometimes given a second chance. The new art teacher would realize how other residents get along well every day someone is upset or sad to prevent something from happening the art teacher should talk to him and find out what is wrong and how can he make it better so we won’t be mad the rest of the day. The rules are easy to learn other teachers will help the new art teacher out. LP

Three things I would recommend for the new art teacher are they should be nice, fair, and be here to do their job and help students. RC

I think the new teacher needs to be respectful, pay attention to the kids and help like Miss Berquist used to do. GO

I would say they need to be skilled, good with kids and love their job. It is important for the new person to have good strengths and qualities for the job. If they are not skilled, good with kids, or love their job, then this job is going to be real hard for them. NC

The three strengths I would recommend are to be kind, have a big heart and be talented. These are 3 strengths I would recommend for the new teacher who is replacing Mrs. Berquist. TA