Ms. Logel is a beloved ceramics teacher at West Seattle High School. Though Ms. Logel has not been working here for an extraordinarily long time, she is known as a favorite among many students. She has an extremely warm personality, and her dedication to teaching has inspired many students with a passion for ceramics. Her classroom gives so many students that necessary break during a long and tough school day, whether it’s during ceramics class, or during lunch. I find that whenever I am able to go to ceramics during the day, I feel a great portion of my stress gets relieved. Like many other students, I can count on Ms. Logel to always be there to help me with new projects and give me great advice. I never would have thought I’d enjoy ceramics as much as I do until I had a great teacher like Ms. Logel. 

Ava Murray, a senior at West Seattle High School, shared her view on the impact Ms. Logel has on students. “At first, I didn’t really think I would like ceramics because I felt like I’d have to be perfect at it to be proud of anything that I’ve made. But Ms. Logel taught me how to do fun projects that did not necessarily need to be perfect”; she commented on the chill nature of the class. Ava added, “Ms. Logel teaches ceramics, but she also teaches you how to be proud of your work.” As a student who usually does not go to class, Ava always tries to go to ceramics because it’s a space that helps her express herself and relieve stress, showing how easy it is to connect with Ms. Logel. It’s an important quality in a teacher for them to make students want to come to class, and Ms. Logel is that teacher. 

Another student Ivan Moore confided, “I was not good at ceramics, but Ms. Logel always praised my pieces, even though she probably knew that they weren’t that good, and that was really nice of her.” Similar in experience to Ava, this demonstrates Ms. Logel’s emphasis that art is art no matter what. Especially at a high school level, ceramics is not meant to discourage students from expressing their creativity, and her class simply offers an opportunity for students to try something new and fun. 

I interviewed Ms. Logel during my class with her, asking what she thinks of her students. She responded, “they’re amazing”. When questioned why she believes ceramics are important at school, she explained how “Kids need an outlet somewhere to express themselves rather than being told what they should know constantly.” I agree with this sentiment, and find it’s something I really appreciate about her class. An article called “The Importance of Art Education in the Classroom”  proves her claim, describing how creative outlets and art classes in school can “lower stress, improve memory, and make them feel more socially connected.”