Janelle Karolyn Turk has just commenced her first year teaching art and yearbook classes at CAHS. Born on October 23, making her a sincere Scorpio, Miss Turk was raised alongside her older brother in Warren, Pennsylvania. With that being said, she also attended Warren Area High School where she was a swimmer, as well as a member of the ski club. After graduating high school, she set off on her journey to Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she earned her bachelor’s degree, and then she transferred to Penn West to receive her masters degree.
Turk explains that she chose to become an art teacher because she has a great admiration for all art forms, and she is passionate about sharing art with people in hopes that they will make a connection with it and share it with others, who hopefully, will make a similar connection and continue sharing the power of art for years to come. In addition, she is extremely interested in “Neuroarts,” which is a transdisciplinary study of how the arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the body, brain, and behavior and how this knowledge is translated into specific practices that advance health and well being. Her knowledge on Neuroarts was also a huge influence on her decision to become an art teacher because she is fascinated with the therapeutic aspect of art.
Miss Turk can usually be seen in the art room, greeting students with her affectionate and quirky personality. However, there are many things that many people would not know about her based on a quick exchange they may have had with her in the hall. To start, Turk’s hobbies and interests include art, pottery/ceramics, pysanky egg decorating, going on hikes, training her dog, and reading. Furthermore, a place that Miss Turk would love to visit Machu Picchu with her son because she has never been to Peru, let alone South America, and she is fascinated with ancient art. Upcoming travel plans she has, though, is visiting her son in college.
Other interesting facts about Miss Turk is that her favorite type of movies are documentaries on artists and history, her favorite band is the Talking Heads, her favorite food is Japanese food and Mexican food, and her newfound favorite color is green. Similarly, her biggest pet peeve is when deer run out in front of her car while she is driving. Lastly, if Miss Turk could pick one animal to match her personality to, it would be an elephant because they are her favorite animal and she thinks it is interesting that elephants always remember where their family passed away and will visit the spot until they eventually pass away as well.
Finally, it is evident even only after her third week teaching at CAHS that Miss Turk is an extremely creative and caring teacher. This is especially evident when peering at her favorite quote, which is, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” by Eleanor Roosevelt. Speaking of quotes, Miss Turk would like to leave this article off by saying that her readers should always keep their goals in focus and always work toward achieving them.
