Chapel Hill High School has welcomed new art teacher Jessica Cecchini, who is teaching both Visual Art and AP Art History, filling a void left by previous teacher David Antle’s retirement.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cechini grew up with her parents and younger brother, while her grandmother nurtured her creativity. Cecchini described her grandmother as “artistic” and someone who “always encouraged me to do art.”
Cecchini’s love for art eventually led her to attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where she studied graphic design and art education.
After graduating and student teaching, Cechini moved to Chapel Hill with her husband to teach full time. She has worked at several schools in the Triangle, including Northwood High School, Durham School of the Arts and Morris Park High School.
Cechini currently teaches both Visual Arts and AP Art History. She describes Visual Arts as a course that “focuses on the facts surrounding [certain piece of] artwork,” while AP Art History focuses on different styles of art like impressionism, expressionism, and her personal favorite, surrealism.
“I love teaching certain aspects of each,” Cecchini said.
Cecchini’s style of teaching has intrigued many, including senior Ella Smith who currently has her for AP Art History. “[The class is] less about creating art and more about analyzing it,” Smith said.
Like Smith, senior Felix Garret praised Cecchini’s teaching methods. “She invites us to ask questions about [art history] and [encourages us] to be interested in it,” he said. “I really like hearing all the things she has to say…and I just like her energy.”
