Utah Valley Educator of the Week: David Jones

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Original Story found on Daily Herald.

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Mr. David Jones, a ceramics teacher at Maple Mountain High School, is this week’s educator of the week.

Jones grew up in Provo Utah where he attended and graduated from Timpview High.

He is married to Marci and has six children.

 

Mr. Jones worked outside of education for years before realizing that his passion and desire was to teach students the art of pottery making. He went back to school and graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelors in fine arts.

Jones is currently at Maple Mountain High School and in the spring 2017, was nominated and selected by his peers to receive the Crystal Apple Award.

He has been teaching beginning, intermediate and advanced Ceramics for seven years.

He works (inspires) students to help them learn how to create things with clay and understand how their mind and body can work together. They focus on understanding steps, techniques and ideas to push their limits and create projects that they previously didn’t know how to do.

Mr. Jones had designed his classes and curriculum to introduce the beginning structure and techniques to his students while encouraging individual thought and creative insights for more personalized projects. Through the process of learning, working and repetition, students can create projects that they are proud of.

 

What makes Jones most happy and satisfied in his work is seeing students who are so unsure of themselves gain confidence and create something, then to be proud of it.

DeAnn Nielsen, Maple Mountain High School’s principal, said, “Mr. Jones is an integral part of Maple Mountain High School. He is an excellent teacher and students know his classroom is a safe place for them to try something new, supporting their ideas and talents. He is truly a skilled potter, passionate about his instruction and ensuring his students find success. Mr. Jones has a gentle kindness, coupled with a fun personality, and is always willing to get involved in the crazy activities at our school. It is not unusual finding Mr. Jones crawling across the mat on the gym floor trying to pull the socks off students as he competes in the class wars assembly; dressed as Santa Claus in our Christmas assembly; or joining the staff dance in the Homecoming assembly. Maple Mountain High School is definitely a better place because Dave Jones is here!”

Mr. Jones’ dedication and passion goes beyond the doors of Maple Mountain High School. He contributes to the community by coaching youth sport, teaching ceramics at the Springville Senior Center, has gone into elementary schools and helped them do different projects such as masks, helping with stories and coil pots. Mr. Jones and students have also, entered bowls they made into the Bowls for Humanity fundraiser for Food and Care Coalition in Provo.

Spending time with his children is Mr. Jones’ greatest joy. He is currently teaching his 10- and 12-year-old children how to teach others how to make pottery, draw and paint. The goal is to help his children find joy in something he loves, is passionate about and to also help them earn a little money during the summer by creating and teaching a children’s art class.

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Story found on Daily Herald.