Sheila Berenson is an educator, author, and visual artist living in Brookline, Massachusetts. Her professional career has spanned decades of teaching, writing, and creating art, guided by a unifying principle: Curiosity fosters understanding.
Art has always been a part of Sheila’s life, shaping her approach to learning and inspiring her to connect with the world in meaningful ways.
Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Sheila earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Education in Reading from the University of Texas-Austin. She recognized early on that limited literacy skills could hinder students’ ability to understand broader concepts, particularly in middle school science, her first teaching assignment. This realization led her to focus on developing her students’ critical thinking and literacy skills while incorporating creative methods from her art world into the classroom.
Sheila also founded and directed a children’s museum in Kansas, creating opportunities for hands-on exploration that encouraged children to learn through curiosity and imagination. She later taught at the University of Kansas, Wichita State and Framingham State University, including graduate courses in education in Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala. Throughout her career, she has been deeply committed to helping others engage in learning and creativity. Today, Sheila extends this commitment exclusively to her art, where her paintings, sculptures and mixed media works have been featured in numerous juried exhibitions.
Her art can be further explored at www.sheilaberenson.com.
Q&A with Sheila Berenson
You have lived and worked in many places over the years. How have these steps shaped your approach to creativity and learning?
As a younger adult, I lived in multiple cities – including Nashville, Madison, San Antonio, Austin, Wichita and Lawrence – which taught me adaptability and the ability to see the world from multiple perspectives. I later settled in Kansas City for long-term stability and am now enjoying a retired life in Massachusetts. Art has always been a part of my life, including during my teaching career, and each location brought unique visual and cultural influences that shaped both my creative work and my approach to education. Teaching students of all ages and subjects required observation, flexibility, and creativity – qualities that I continue to bring to my studio practice.
What first drew you to education?
I didn’t get into teaching right away. Like many young people, I wanted to make a meaningful difference in the world. I knew I was good with children, and while studying at the University of Wisconsin, I was inspired by the philosophy of John Dewey, who emphasized personal meaning and the inherent connection between subjects. I started as a middle school science teacher, but quickly noticed that many students had trouble reading their textbooks. That’s why I got a master’s degree in reading education, since teaching students how to read well was the foundation for almost all other learning. Even then, art was present in my classroom as a tool to help students visualize concepts and engage more deeply with the material.
You founded a children’s museum while you were teaching. What inspired this?
I started the museum when children’s museums first appeared in the United States, and I immediately saw it as an opportunity for my two sons – and other children in the community – to explore, play and learn through hands-on experiences, since art and creativity were at the heart of the museum’s vision. Despite the demands of teaching and parenting, I dedicated myself to creating a space that encourages children to think, imagine and experiment. This experience reinforced my belief that creativity is not about perfection, but rather about participation, discovery and expanding one’s understanding.
How did writing become a part of your professional career?
Writing came naturally from my teaching. I began writing articles in professional journals and sharing creative approaches that I had developed in the classroom. Later, after a period of recovery from a long-term injury at home, I focused on writing for children and young adults and then continued writing when I returned to the classroom, receiving a dozen state and national awards for my work.
Her artwork now includes painting, mixed media and sculpture. How did this development come about?
Art has been present in my life since childhood, but became my main focus after retirement. When I moved to the Boston area, enrolled in various art classes, worked for a local artist, and simultaneously joined a local makerspace, I was surrounded by a wealth of creative people. I began experimenting with textures, colors, movement and working with wood and metal, inspired by artists such as Frank Stella, Judy Pfaff, Elizabeth Murray, Lee Bontecou and Daniel Richter. Classes gave me discipline and structure while art allowed me freedom and expression. The two complement each other and guide my ongoing exploration of curiosity and human connection.
What themes guide your work today?
Curiosity and connection are at the heart of my work. I want my art to encourage the viewer to pause, reflect, and reflect on the relationships between ideas, experiences, and emotions. Similar to education, I examine how knowledge and understanding intersect across disciplines. I am also interested in how technology can limit the possibilities of imagination and the liberal arts, so my work encourages reflection and active engagement.
You have received recognition for both teaching and writing. Which successes particularly stand out?
Although receiving awards like the Midwest Technology Award from the International Reading Association was incredibly meaningful, the moments that stay with me are the personal ones. I think of unexpected comments, like the half-dozen mothers who told me their second-graders suddenly couldn’t put books down, or the high school student who admitted he’d never read a book before my class and now proudly celebrates having read several—these are the experiences that matter most to me, because the critical need to get kids excited about reading was the reason I became a teacher.
How do you define success today?
Success means making a contribution that helps the world and the people around me, even in a small way, while maintaining balance and joy in life.
