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ALBANY – When Samantha Fields started teaching art classes at Dougherty Comprehensive High School 13 years ago, she had to build the art program from the ground up.

The Albany State University alum interviewed for the position shortly after graduating college. She was hired on the spot. Fields said the school had had a long-term substitute art teacher for two years and no established art students. She quickly got to work, first, learning how to be a teacher and then leaning into the art.

“I gave myself a goal, and I said, ‘I want to win the Teacher of Distinction Award from Kiwanis in five years,’” Fields said. “And I won it in four.”

Thirteen years later, students in the school’s art program are dominating art contests at the local, state and national level with student pieces going all the way to the U.S. Capitol. Fields, who serves as the Dougherty County School System’s lead art teacher, has been recognized twice this year for her teaching – as a STAR Teacher and as a finalist for Teacher of the Year.

She said the high school’s art program operates like a business.

Students are assigned roles – director, officer and organizational positions. Some are even tasked with constructing the student art easels. They perform these roles while also creating art pieces.

“They run the classroom,” Fields said. “I sit back, and I don’t give instructions. I’ve grown the program from not having any students at all to the students having autonomy to run the program themselves.”

In their first year, students are expected to complete 10 pieces. By their final year, they’re producing 30. They follow a schedule that includes almost 40 contests and events.

Fields serves on the Board of Trustees for the Albany Museum of Art. She said she sees students come through the museum who aren’t aware of what goes on behind the scenes of shows and galleries.

“They’re not aware of what happens in actual careers in art,” she said. “They don’t know how much work it takes to get the displays and exhibitions together. So … I said, ‘I gotta teach them how to run the department on their own.’”

Fields said this classroom structure allows students to play to their strengths.

“I’ve learned to back off of students who don’t necessarily enjoy producing and find things they do enjoy,” she said.

The responsibility also builds confidence. Fields said she’s watched students come into class in their first year timid, and by the end of the program, they’re strong leaders, willing to instruct and help other students.

Fields’ students have produced award-winning work for some years now, but Fields said this year reached a peak – both in her career and in student accolades. She’s been recognized as one of the five finalists for DCSS Teacher of the Year – an honor she said rarely goes to fine arts or high school teachers.

Her students have been recognized in a number of contests.

DCHS junior Dantasia Thomas placed first in the Second Congressional District of Georgia 2024 Congressional Art Competition. Her mixed-media drawing, “The Antique Woman,” will be on display for a year in the Cannon Tunnel, which is a major corridor from the U.S. House office buildings to the Capitol.

Fields said the competition garners a lot of excitement from students, especially because winning earns the student and one other guest a trip to D.C. with all expenses paid. She said such a trip is many of the students’ first time out of Georgia. Fields paid for her own ticket to travel with Thomas and her mother to help them navigate their first airport experience.

Madelin Vasquez, an 18-year-old DCHS senior, placed third in the competition and recently won Best of Show at the 43rd annual Kiwanis Student Awards at the AMA.

Vasquez, who has been drawing since middle school, spent three years in Fields’ art classes. What started as following simple colored pencil tutorials online has progressed into hyper-detailed, realistic portraits.

Her piece “The Agony,” placed in the Congressional Awards. It depicts a wrinkled old man in distress. Vasquez said she is drawn to detailed emotional pieces for the fulfillment she feels upon completing them and the different viewer interpretations.

Vasquez was recognized as a STAR student in the DCSS school system. She chose Fields as her STAR teacher.

“She’s a great friend and a great teacher,” she said. “She really pushes me, and I’m thankful for that.”

Vasquez said she loves to make her family proud as well – especially her younger brother.

“My little brother is eight years younger than me, and he really looks up to me,” she said. “He sees that I’m doing well in school and that I put a lot of effort into my art, so he does the same.”

Vasquez said she plans to attend Georgia State University to major in graphic design and minor in art. She said her future will always involve art.

Fields said her program has impacted numerous students. Some have received full college scholarships, some have gone on to teach art in the DCSS and outside of it. One former student is now an art therapist.

“My aim is to improve their skills as well as give them a skillset … they can take into their careers,” she said.

Beyond its success, the art program has also become a safe haven for its students.

Fields plays music and keeps the lights off in the early morning classes because she knows her students prefer it that way. On the Monday morning of exam week, she made breakfast for a student who came to her hungry. She gave a hug to another who she said pops into her class every day.

“Are you coming to get your love for the day?” she asked the student who peeked his head into the classroom.

They exchanged hugs and “love ya’s.” Fields said she’s humble, but she takes pride in knowing her students feel safe with her.

“I’m typically the run-to,” she said. “So if something is happening in school, I have students come to me all day. Sometimes they just want to talk. Sometimes they do work. It’s a bit of therapy for them.”

Rohan Muthyala, a 16-year-old DCHS sophomore, has art with Fields for his last period of the day. It’s his first year in the program, but his talent placed him at the advanced level.

Muthyala said having art as his last class is calming.

“After a long day of classes and school work, it feels nice to relax, to be able to draw and express my emotions through art,” he said.

Muthyala said he’s been drawing since he was 11 years old. He said he likes completing graphite sketches of rappers and pieces that pay homage to his Indian heritage.

“I come from a rich cultural background so I really like doing art with my culture – the history, the architecture,” he said.

Muthyala said Fields is an engaging and compassionate teacher who encourages students to create art that they like, not only based on standards and curriculum.

“She sees your potential,” he said. “She always makes sure to push you to your limits because she knows how far a student can go.”

Simoria Hall, a 15-year-old DCHS freshman, said Fields can assist the “unassistable,” paying careful attention to help students grasp concepts. Hall said Fields leaves room for imperfections.

“There’s no pressure to be perfect,” she said.

Hall is a passionate art student. In her first year, she completed watercolor, acrylic, sketching and pottery projects. She said she hopes to perfect human anatomy and figure drawings. She is in her first year of the art pathway program, meaning she’ll continue taking art classes all throughout high school. She said she’s excited for the challenging years ahead.

“I’ll put my everything into learning,” she said.

Fields said prioritizing the arts in schools is just as important as other fields.

“The school system hones in on educating the whole child,” she said. “You cannot do that if you don’t address the arts.”

Fields said some students don’t function well in core classes but excel in fine arts classes.

“I know we want to focus on the smartest, but what about those talented students who are not the best scholars?” she said. “The arts have to be here because there are some kids … who will end up going to a different type of school that will hone in on their talent.”

Fields said she isn’t sure what’s in store for her future as a DCHS educator. She said she’s gotten the DCHS program to a point that it will be sustainable without her one day.

She said she hopes to grow into a position that allows her to directly impact art students throughout the DCSS.

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan