Consultant – Taylor Spreeuwers

Taylor Spreeuwers
ArtsNow Consultant

Taylor Spreeuwers is an art educator with over 15 years of experience in the classroom. She spent half of her career teaching middle school art in the public school system. The other half has been in her private home art studio, where she teaches home-schoolers, after-school art classes, and summer art camps. Since 2018, Taylor has returned to the public school system setting in various forms as an Artist in Residence, art consultant, and occasionally as a substitute at her children's elementary school. Taylor believes visual art is a tool for connection and creativity to open the mind and explore all subject areas, ourselves, and the world around us. Taylor has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art Education from the University of South Carolina and a current teaching certificate from the State of South Carolina. She is also a working freelance artist. Her hand-built clay sculptures and painted murals can be seen in local establishments and private homes in the Columbia area.

Consultant – J’miah Nabawi

J’miah Nabawi
ArtsNow Consultant

J’miah, bilingual in Spanish and English, is a multifaceted performance storyteller and self-publishing author of his World-Beat Books. His storytelling is known for incorporating story-specific vocabulary and songs in the languages of Twi, Spanish, French, Yoruba, Japanese, Gullah, and Ki-Swahili during his performances and reflects the musical folktale drama style. J’miah’s work with children and youth in underserved rural and urban areas has been recognized by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives the Mayor of Boston, MA, and the Miami Dade City Council in Miami, FL. He is also a recipient of the National Storytelling Network's ORACLE Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership in the Southeast Region for his community leadership through storytelling."

Consultant – Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT

Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT
ArtsNOW Visual Arts Consultant

Debi is a long-time teacher and advocate for art education and is currently the fine arts department chair at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee. She is the former President of the Georgia Art Education Association, has served on various boards for the National Art Education Association, and is currently the NAEA Southeastern Vice President. Debi has won numerous awards as a teacher and is an accomplished artist and author, receiving national recognition for her work, “The Art of Making Art.” She has published 10 books and resource guides and is a contributing editor for “Arts and Activities” magazine. Debi has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of South Carolina with a concentration in studio art, an art teaching certificate from the Moore College of Art and Design, an MAEd (art education), and Ed.S (art education) from the University of Georgia. She is also a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Georgia.

Consultant – Shannon Green

Shannon Green
ArtsNOW Visual Arts Consultant

Shannon, a former museum educator at the High Museum of Art, is a practicing visual artist and has created installations for Art on the Belt Line in Atlanta, Dashboard Co-op and Flux Projects. She is the co- founder of the Indie Craft Experience, a local organization featuring hundreds of local, regional, and national artists. Her classroom experience includes working with students and teachers to integrate visual art into curriculum and promote visual literacy. She is currently merging science and art through the process of creating natural pigments and paints from native rocks and plants. Shannon holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and studio art from the University of West Georgia and is also certified from the National Center for Montessori Education. She is passionate about working with students and teachers to create meaningful connections through the arts.

Consultant – Rue S. Lee-Holmes

Rue S. Lee-Holmes
ArtsNOW Music Consultant

Rue teaches music to students in the public schools of North Carolina and works as an adjunct music instructor in the Department of Music at the University of Mount Olive. She is a board-certified music therapist and holds certifications in Orff Schulwerk and World Music Drumming. She is a published author, presents at state conferences, and conducts training for arts educators. Rue holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Meredith College, a Master of Music in Music Education with Music Therapy equivalency from East Carolina University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.