Tricia Erickson plays a major role in the art department. While being at the high school for 16 years, Erickson has taught a variety of different subjects in art and technology including photoshop, drawing, photography, graphic design, Advanced Placement (AP) art and fashion design.
Erickson developed a love for art at a young age. She built that obsession from her second-grade art teacher, progressing her into the educator she is today.
Erickson can’t choose just one favorite class. To her, all are exciting in their own way.
“[The classes] are all very different. I think my first love is always drawing. I was just a kid who sat with a pencil and would draw all the time,” Erickson said. “The AP classes are a fun challenging class, because you get to work with kids who love art and are talented. Sometimes it’s fun being around kids who are passionate about what they do. But I [also] love photography and fashion design, so I have fun with all the classes.”
Not all of Erickson’s career has been at Northview. After student teaching here in 2005, Erickson gained experience in neighboring districts. Erickson also student-taught here in 2005. After she taught second grade at schools in West Michigan for two years, she came back to the high school.
Erickson developed a love for art at a young age. She built that obsession from her second-grade art teacher, progressing her to teach kids the same age she was when she felt the admiration for art.
“I did two years teaching elementary elsewhere,” Erickson said. “I taught Hudsonville elementary for a year and West Ottawa for a year, and when both the teachers here [at Northview] retired, I came back and got a job here in 2007.”
Erickson’s experience at the elementary level vs. the high school level is very different. A reason she did come back to Northview was because of her students and what she can give to them.
“My experience at the other districts was very different because I only taught elementary levels there vs. High School levels here,” Erickson said. “What I love about Northview is that it is big enough to offer a lot of variety and experiences to our students, but small enough that we get to know our students and can make sure that they don’t fall between the cracks.”
Now, Erickson has a student teacher of her own, Ashley Kelley, who is a student at Kendall College of Art and Design. Kelley learns a lot from the vast experience of Erickson.
“She is very good at classroom management and discipline but in the kindest way,” Kelley said. “If someone is doing something wrong, she has a very kind way of redirecting.”
Senior Kennedy Donalson has been a student of Ericksons’ for three years, two of which were in her AP art class.
“She is really good at helping everyone, giving feedback and pushing me, especially because I want to go into art,” Donalson said.
Many students like Donalson think of Erickson as a delightful educator to be around, especially Kelley. Kelley rallies around Erickson as a teacher, hoping to learn new information at every chance.
“She’s a great teacher, even to me,” Kelley said. “If I ever need support or have questions, she answers them and all the million I have after that. She gives me a ton of feedback on lessons that I’m planning.”
Erickson, aside from teaching art classes, is also the head of the Bullet Journaling Club. Erickson admires this after-school activity, because it not only helps the students, but it helps her.
“I was looking for a way to personally organize myself, and I came across bullet journaling,” Erickson said. “[It’s] a great, reflected, mindful, hour after school where kids come and meet.”
In the classroom, Erickson keeps a soothing relationship with her students. One of Kelley’s favorite things about the classroom is how the students treat Erickson, which comes from the way Erickson teaches them.
“It’s a very calm environment. All the students are so respectful to us because of how she treats everyone with respect, so they give it back,” Kelley said.
It’s evident that the students have a good relationship with Erickson. When teaching at a school for many years, relationships develop, especially for Donalson. The well-being she brings to the classroom is not overlooked.
“She is a very positive person. When one of us has an issue, she is really good about lifting us up and getting out of our comfort zone,” Donalson said. “I formed a connection with her, and she is definitely one of my favorite teachers.”
In the future, Erickson plans to continue inspiring students through art and building strong relationships in the process.
“I never know what every day is going to be like. It is always different, year to year, semester to semester. The kids change, so the contents are the same, but it’s always fun to see and meet new students and talk to them about art,” Erickson said. “But truthfully, teaching is kind of my calling, so I don’t know what I’m going to do next.”
Thanks for the kind words and well-written article Erica!