Teaching Certification:
Students with Moderate Disabilities (Grades K-8), MA State Initial Certificate
Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6), NY State Professional Certificate
General Education (Grades 1-6), NY State Professional Certificate
Visual Art (Grades K-12), NY State Initial Certificate
Tenured 2016. Certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI); Member of the New York City Panel for Students with Disabilities Arts Educators 2021; Consulting Educator on Appalachian Trail Conservancy Education Advisory Board 2021- present; Board Member on the Adopt-A-Classroom Teacher Advisory Board 2021- present; certified as Everyday Arts for Special Education (EASE) instructor with the Urban Arts Partnership, NYC 2018; completed Teaching Artist Training Institute (TATI), a 6-session course in arts for special education with Marquis Studios, NYC 2018; completed intensive Autism Training through the Office of Autism at the NYCDOE 2013; New York City Teaching Fellow, New York, NY 2013-2015.
Awarded Adopt-A-Classroom Inclusive Classroom Grant, 2018. Awarded OOLY Art in the Classroom Grant, 2017. Awarded the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, 2015.
Relevant professional development sessions include: “Trauma-Informed Instruction Practices” with NYCDOE; “Art Through an Anti-Racist Lens” with the Brooklyn Museum of Art, NYC; “Bookmaking in the Arts Classroom” with the Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum, NYC; “NYC Natural Wildlife” (using the natural lands of NYC as a resource for students) with NYCDOE.
Education:
Master of Science in Teaching, Students with Disabilities, extension: Autism
Pace University, New York, NY Degree Aug 2015
Master of Art in Individualized Study: Contemporary Art and Exhibition Spaces
New York University, New York, NY Degree Aug 2008
Bachelor of Arts: Art History, Studio Art, and Classics
The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Degree May 2005
Teaching Experience:
Special Education Teacher, Natick Public Schools
J F Kennedy Middle School, Natick MA Aug 2021- present; taught students diagnosed with a wide range of disabilities in a collaborative setting, grade 8.
Special Education Teacher, NYCDOE
PS 94M, Manhattan, NY Aug 2015- 2021; taught students diagnosed on the autism spectrum as the Visual Art teacher, grades K-5.
PS 77K, Brooklyn, NY Aug 2013- Aug 2015; taught students diagnosed on the autism spectrum, grades 7-9.
Lectures and Engagements:
“Civic Engagement and Advocacy through Art-Making” public lecture in collaboration with the Art and Politics program
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Oct 2019
“Art and the Outdoors” lecture as part of “R.E.I. Force of Nature: Women’s Speaker Series”
REI Flagship Store Soho, New York, NY; July 2019
“Illustration Beyond the Book” public lecture during open studio community event
Arrowmont College of Art, Gatlinburg, TN; July 2018
Author/Illustrator Credits:
“Trails Connect” written by Jenny Siegfried
A.T. Journeys Magazine; Fall 2021 issue
https://journeys.appalachiantrail.org/issue/fall-2021/trails-connect/
“Natural Beauty” written and illustrated by Jenny Siegfried
A.T. Journeys Magazine; Spring-Summer 2021 issue
https://journeys.appalachiantrail.org/issue/spring-summer-2021/parting-thought/
Facilitated Art-Making Workshops:
“Nature Journals for All Ages” Virtual presentation; July 2021
Virtual art-making workshop in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, focused on nature journals as a method of documentation and expression for artists of all ages and abilities. YouTube link to workshop: https://youtu.be/9-iBm4AW_o8
“Where Art Meets Math on the Trail” Virtual presentation; Dec 2020
Virtual art-making workshop in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, focused on observational drawing skills for young artists with disabilities and their families. YouTube link to workshop: https://youtu.be/dHH0b3Prs2c
“Bookmaking on the Trail” The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN; July 2018
Interactive art engagement for park visitors; 200+ participants of all ages created individual “Smokies Sketchbooks” to document their park journeys while collaborating with park staff and volunteers
“Portraits in Pencil and Film” Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, Cherokee, NC; July 2018
Hands on art making workshop for high school students; participants created handmade photo journals to hold instant photographs taken during the session
Art Awards and Honors/Commissions:
Artist In Residence, The Rensing Center; August 2021 Pickens, South Carolina
Documented and explored the wildlife and landscape at the Rensing Center in Pickens, South Carolina, focusing on the historical significance of the Center and region.
Residency blog post can be found here: https://pickensrensingcenter.blogspot.com/2021/10/other-stories.html
Visiting Artist, Gould Farm Rehabilitation Center; July 2021 Monterey, MA
Provided ten interactive art-making workshops for the Farm community of staff, volunteers, and guests; participants created 70+ handmade books to explore ideas of self-representation, community, and documentation of the outdoors.
Merrell Outdoor Gear and Footwear; May 2021
Acrylic mural installed at the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference Headquarters, Mahwah, NJ
Commision for large scale mural (“36x80”) depicting a visual journey following the trail up to Mt. Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap, and on the reverse, an illustrated scavenger hunt of regional flora and fauna.
Artist In Residence, The National Park Service; July 2018 The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN
Documenting and exploring the wildlife and landscape in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, specifically focusing on Elkmont, a former settlement inside the park. Led multiple art based visitor engagement sessions for children and families, including a walk-up sketchbook making session for 200+ participants, and a full day photography workshop for a local high school. Final project, a multi-media historical book, currently on display at GSMNP Park Headquarters.
Non-Academic Articles/Interviews:
Goodwin, Melissa, “Girl Gotta Hike: The Podcast” episode 6 “Jenny Siegfried: Artist, Educator, and Outdoor Enthusiast” release date, Spring 2020
Martines, Jamie, “More than just a science lesson: NASA EarthKAM fascinates a special education classroom” The Hechinger Report, July 2016 https://hechingerreport.org/more-than-just-a-science-lesson-nasa-earthkam-fascinates-a-special-education-classroom/
Relevant Volunteer Experience:
Civilian Volunteer/Trail Clean-up, Prospect Park, 2020
Rocky Top Trail Maintenance Crew Member, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2019
Plant Steward, Gowanus Canal Conservancy, 2017
Watershed Clean Up Volunteer, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, 2017
S.W.E.A.T Trail Maintenance Crew Member, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2017
Rocky Top Trail Maintenance Crew Member, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2016