​Suzanne Mitolo: What a Year!

Suzanne began 2021 as the new Fellows Chair and as well as the Ohio Art Education Foundation Co-President, sharing that role with Dennis Cannon.  She is also winding down her teaching career at with Centerville City Schools where she has worked since 2001.  She recalls the year she started at the Kindergarten Village watching the devastating events unfold on 9/11.   Fast forward to 2020 she has experienced another life altering experience working through the COVID pandemic. She thought she could just ease through her final year, but it was certainly more challenging than expected with her school having seven different Integrated Arts schedules this school year!

Through all the challenges there have also been plenty of positive experiences.  She has been able to spend lots more time with her family and even had her Columbus daughter living with her last spring.  Suzanne was able to continue her work at the beading torch with her “bead buddies” Sue Ayers and Alice Tavani.
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She’s learned tons of new technology and is especially happy about having a stronger connection with families as everyone struggles to stay connected through Zoom and the Google Classroom.  Even though she had to make lots of adjustments to her classroom and even her teaching style the best part was when students were finally able to back in person.