Karyn Dempsey

Head of Visual Art

“I love my job and am very proud of it. I feel I'm using both my degree and personal skills in teaching."

Karyn is now the Head of Visual Art Department at Epsom Girls Grammar.

Karyn was in her third year at Elam doing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, when she began to think seriously about becoming a teacher. "Juliet Collins, one of the postgraduate students and a mentor of mine, told me I should consider teaching as I communicated easily and liked to help people," remembers Karyn. "Juliet had the most amazing skills including being incredibly organised. She attributed these skills to her many years of teaching," says Karyn.

Karyn names several other people besides Juliet Collins who have influenced her over the years. "I remember in the first ever week of teaching practice when Stuart Middleton from the Auckland College of Education came to observe me. He empowered me and told me I could do it right from that first week," Karyn recalls. "He could see I really enjoyed being in the classroom. I still remember advice he gave me such as 'always keep time aside for yourself and your family', 'ask questions constantly' and 'never stop learning.'

Another mentor from the College of Education is Jill Smith, Karyn's art and art history lecturer. "Jill pointed me in the right direction. She also supports students long after they have graduated," says Karyn. 

Karyn's head of department at her former school, Louise Plummer, has been a great inspiration to her. "She has helped shape my teaching philosophy and encouraged me to look for new challenges," says Karyn.

Part of Karyn's philosophy is the necessity of having an outside life. "It's very important for the students to see that their teachers have an outside life, as they do. It makes you a more realistic person in their eyes," claims Karyn.
"It's also important to remember that as a teacher, you are a role model. I would like to be remembered for some of the things I've said and even for my actions," states Karyn.

"I love my job and am very proud of it. I feel I'm using both my degree and personal skills in teaching," concludes Karyn.