Meet Meera Ramanathan | Art Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meera Ramanathan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meera, how do you think about risk?

Taking risks has played a major role in my life and career!

I left India and moved to the United States in 2004 – it was a huge change moving to a new country and experiencing the life and culture here in San Diego. I took solace in art, learning pottery and stained glass at the UCSD Crafts Ccenter and enrolling in child development courses.

Teaching was a passion for me and I soon started a job at a local preschool in 2007. This allowed me to learn how to communicate with 4-year-old kids and learn about new books, music, and movement to teach my young students.

I then made the decision to quit my job and pursue a single-subject teaching credential in visual art at San Diego State University. It was a big risk considering I had put in 9 years into this job. I studied for the CSET and went to school while having two little kids. I also started making art and submitting works to shows – my works began to get accepted into shows and I had people commission me to create artwork for them!

I currently work as an art educator teaching visual art to students 4 to 11 years old. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by people who consistently motivate me. It has also been a great experience learning to find my own path and seeking what inspires me and how I can bring that into my classroom.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an art educator and teach students 4 to 11 years old. I am most excited about introducing my students to artists from different parts of the world while giving them the opportunity to create, present, respond, and connect with different media and techniques while finding inspiration from their own life experiences. My goal is always to see how I can make my lessons accessible to all my students while keeping them challenged, motivated, and engaged. I have learned to seek inspiration from art teachers around me that create amazing lessons for their students but carve out my own path in knowing what works for my students and what I am most passionate about that I can bring to them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Balboa Park has amazing museums, Liberty Station has artist studios to visit and great places to eat
The beaches in La Jolla
Old Town shops and restaurants
Coronado walks by the beach
Art in Barrio Logan
Live performances at theaters in the city

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Brian Black, Visual art teacher at Crawford High School for being a great mentor.

Don Masse for consistently inspiring and motivating me.
Derek Murchison – my principal, Robert Vera my Associate principal, the staff, students, and community at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy.
Venkat, my husband for always being a willing partner in this journey.

Website: meeraramanathan.com, https://tinyurl.com/MsR-visualart-class

Instagram: @ms.r_art_class

Twitter: @MeeraRamanathan5