Meet Our Teachers

DELANEY NAVE

Delaney Nave received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Longwood University. Delaney moved to the Shenandoah Valley from Central Virginia to teach art at Buffalo Gap High School in 2018. During her time at Longwood, Delaney assisted with many family art days sponsored by the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts and enjoys creating with students of all ages. Delaney’s artwork is primarily created from copper enameling techniques, watercolors, and graphite, but she loves to explore different media. The inspiration for her artwork comes from her love of travel and the outdoors.

KAREN HURT

A shy, reserved girl from the Midwestern plains, art teacher Karen Hurt came alive when she studied abroad in Rome during college. She was a romantic, soaking it all in! Her message to her students is Express Yourself! After many years at Stuart Hall and the Greenbrier Academy for Girls, her approach towards teaching emphasizes multiculturalism, inclusion, and healing through the creation of art.

CASSIE IVEY

Cassie Ivey received a Master of Arts from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Radford University. Prior to joining the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau as the Visitor and Community Relations Manager, Cassie served as the Education and Program Manager for the Museums at Washington and Lee where she oversaw K12 programming. As an artist, she loves working with charcoal and oil paints. Cassie often takes her charcoal journal along for backpacking trips and paints alongside her husband is their basement studio.

JORDAN TATE

Jordan Tate, from Richmond, VA is currently working toward her Bachelor's degree in Studio Art from JMU and her Art Teaching License, having received in-classroom training from experienced teachers during her education. She has loved art since she was little and is passionate about sharing the beauty of art with children.

KATE NESMITH

Kate Nesmith is an artist, designer, and educator who has lived and worked in the lush Shenandoah Valley for 20 years. Her art is influenced by a deep love and respect for the natural world, and her appreciation of the little moments of whimsy and beauty found in our daily lives. When away from the studio, she spends her time in the garden and exploring the woods with her musician husband Charlie, three year old son Noah, and rescue pup, Luna.

MARGARET MORRIS

Margaret V H Morris, an experienced art teacher of all grades PK-12, holds a BFA from Longwood University and a Masters of Education from JMU. She has spent 4 years teaching in Southampton Co., VA teaching 6-7th grade TAG Art and 8-12th grade Art I and II, in addition to teaching for 22 years in Waynesboro City at William Perry Elementary School. She is a Christian wife, mother, and friend as well as being an educator and artist.

CAROLINE TERRELL

Caroline Terrell is a JMU graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art and a PK-12 education licensure. She is passionate about art and cannot wait to spend the summer making and sharing her love for it.

JULIETTE SWENSON

Juliette Swenson, BFA University of Colorado, became interested in watercolor while silk painting in the Caribbean. She is attracted to painting expressive animals with large eyes, using bright colors that show the versatility of watercolor. Look out for a streak of whimsy that may show up in purple ears or turquoise eyelashes! Juliette believes that you can always try something new in painting, and that creating art is the art of examining the world – taking the time to really see things.