Ms. Shara Shadowspeaker

I love teaching my Kindergarten through 8th Grade students to enjoy, appreciate and most of all create art. I grew up in Castro Valley, and was fortunate enough to have art teachers who inspired me to express myself through being creative. For college, I attended Sonoma State University, and later transferred to CSU East Bay in order to obtain a degree in two of my favorite types of art - graphic design and web design. After college graduation, I worked as a freelance designer, but felt that something was missing. I always had a passion for learning and teaching, and missed being in the school environment. In 2013, I completed my Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art at CSU East Bay. Before teaching for the Diocese of Oakland, I taught art in public schools at the middle school and high school level. In 2014, I began my first year teaching K - 8 art classes at St. Joseph Elementary School, as well as at St. Leander School. I find joy in encouraging my students to discover their creative sides and embrace their differences through art.

Outside of teaching art, I work on painting, drawing, photography and graphic design projects of my own. In my free time, I most of all enjoy spending it with my family and friends, as well as my pets! I have a two-year-old Tibetan Spaniel named Theodore (Teddy for short), two Japanese Chin dogs named Koko and Hoshi, and a cat named Daphne. I also love traveling, going to Warriors and A's games, and snowboarding.