Welcome to Stargate Elementary Art!

    

            Hi!  Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year.  This blog will be a place that I provide updates.  I will send the link out through infinite campus each time I update it.  If you haven't read my profile, here is a little about me: 

About Me

       Hello! I have been teaching art at Stargate since 2015.  I received my Bachelor's degree in the Arts with a major in Studio Art from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon in 2008. After I graduated, I became a certified Recreation Director and directed all the recreation at a nursing home for a few years. In 2012, I went back to school for another two years to pursue my teaching license in art education at Metropolitan State University. I have taken many classes in gifted education, and plan to continue my studies of gifted education.  I am passionate about social and emotional learning and mindfulness in the classroom. 

       I grew up in Washington, Oregon, and Iowa. I love Colorado because it feels like a mix of the culture of the Pacific Northwest, and the down-to-earth people of the Midwest.  I was raised mostly by my mother and grandmother with my three older sisters. I was the kid that always had skinned knees from playing outside, my room was filled with my drawings and creations, and I doodled during all of my classes.  I have always been a curious human being, and have a passion for learning. 

   I have many different interests and hobbies outside of art education. I enjoy reading, thrifting, going to museums, traveling, exploring the outdoors, creating my own art, and spending time with friends and family.

My favorite books to read are about the brain. If there is a book a about the brain, chances are I have either read it, or it's on my list to read. I also read a lot of art therapy books, and that informs many of my approaches to teaching art education.

One of my dreams is to get a van with a pop-top. As a kid we had a Volkswagen pop-top, and I have many happy memories road tripping around the Pacific Northwest in it. I enjoy a very active life-style and am passionate about holistic wellness. 

   My husband’s name is Ben, and I have a six year old daughter named Avlianna who is in Mrs. Bristol’s first grade class this year.  We have an almost 14 year old dachshund named Winnie, and a brand new dachshund puppy named Queenie.  I will post some pictures of Queenie at some point.

What I Love about Teaching

Teaching is such a privilege that I am grateful to have. As a teacher, I have the opportunity to make such a strong impact on so many lives. It is fulfilling to teach a subject that I truly believe is crucial for the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children. I love the energy in the classroom when all my students are engaged and turning their ideas into a tangible reality.

Here are some other things that make teaching art extra fulfilling....

The moments of genuine laughter because kids are natural comedians. 

The feeling after a really successful lesson.

The possibilities of where the mind and imagination can go during the artistic process.

The joy I feel after I've seen a student succeed after struggling with something.

The excitement of experimenting with different media and trying something new.

How to Contact Me

Room - 148

Phone - ext. 148

email - arrilla.beatty@stargateschool.org

About Elementary Art Classes

Visual Art: provides Stargate students opportunities to practice their visual "Habits of Mind" - observing, reflecting, envisioning,expressing, persisting, exploring, developing craft and understanding the art world. We not only learn ways to discern and convey visual meaning, but we also make many connections to other fields of knowledge, including language , history, science, and mathematics.

Grading

My grading is based primarily on the process versus the end product. If students are putting a lot of effort into what they are doing then they are likely to do very well in my class.