Art has always been a prominent aspect of Jamin London Tinsel’s life. Both her mother and grandmother were artists, and artistic opportunity is what drove her to move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Portland, Oregon. From backpacking through Southern Mexico to decades of teaching at Grant High School, Tinsel has had her share of artistic experiences. Teaching Ceramics, Product Design and AP Studio Art, in her 23 years at Grant, Tinsel has become a central figure of the school’s arts department.

But her road to becoming a teacher wasn’t smooth: In her youth, Tinsel struggled with minor dyslexia that impeded her ability to succeed in most subjects. Art stood out in this sense: “I felt like I had a lot of freedom in my art classes and just had art teachers that I really connected with,” she says. Art offered Tinsel a way to express her inner thoughts and build her creative identity. In ceramics, the first subject she taught at Grant, Tinsel felt herself drawn toward the craftsmanship of the kiln. In her classes, she emphasises the social aspect of ceramics. “Most people can’t afford a wheel and a kiln and glazes and clay and recycling systems and all of that. So generally, ceramics is seen as a community-driven art form,” Tinsel says.

Her love for ceramics comes from the many winters she has spent backpacking through Southern Mexico, studying the art with a group of Zapotec potters. Her artistic passion runs deep, extending beyond the classroom.

Grant Principal James McGee praises this quality, saying, “She’s passionate about her art and her craft, and she brings that passion to the classroom day in and day out. I think that’s the hallmark of an outstanding teacher.” To him, Tinsel’s nomination as the Oregon Art Educator of the Year is “an acknowledgement of the excellent work that she has done for many years here at Grant High School, the support that she has shown to her students.” Many of Tinsel’s peers have no doubts about the validity of her achievement. However, it’s harder for Tinsel herself; despite all the support from her peers, she was still shocked when she found out she had won the award. “I don’t feel like I deserve it,” Tinsel says. “It took me a while to embrace the congratulatory feeling from people.” Like her coworkers, Tinsel’s achievement was not a surprise to her students. One of her returning students, Grant senior Ellie Turner, is in Tinsel’s AP Studio Art class. Her positive experience in Tinsel’s class has helped drive her artistic journey. “She’s very supportive about her kids, because … she sees potential in all of us,” Turner says. From taking the time to set up one-on-one meetings with students to helping them create art resumes, Tinsel has been a guiding mentor with a tremendous impact on Grant’s artists.

Yet, Tinsel acknowledges that making an environment that promotes the creative process is much more emotionally complex than words of advice. Producing, presenting and critiquing art can be extremely difficult, frustrating and intimidating. This is why Tinsel strives to create a safe community for her students. Centrally, students must “have the courage and feel the trust in the class community to be able to put their work out,” she says. “I’m also going to hold space to make sure it’s a safe space for them, because it’s not easy. Your art is from your heart, whatever you make.”