Please join Faculty members, Melissa Penna, Maureen Hoffman, Megan Lister, Jennifer Miller, and Holly Plant in celebrating the outstanding art and students of the Southern Regional School District.
Maureen Hoffman is co-advisor of the Art Honor Society and advisor of the extra-curricular Art Club. Mrs. Hoffman is a Southern Regional alumna and her art classes and teachers at Southern inspired her to pursue her current career. Mrs. Hoffman teaches all levels of Painting & Drawing in our High School. She also teaches AP Art and Design where she helps students create and submit portfolios for college credit. She participates in Ocean County Teen Arts, and in 2019 one of her students’ pieces was selected for the traveling state exhibit. Mrs. Hoffman has taught many classes at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences and is thrilled to have her students’ work displayed here!
Megan Lister teaches 8th grade Art and Painting and Drawing 1 at the high school level. She enjoys providing her students with opportunities to explore a variety of mediums and styles. Mrs. Lister runs a MS after school Art Club where students can participate in creating additional art projects. She personally enjoys drawing, photography, and jewelry making.
Jennifer Miller has been a member of the Southern Regional Art Department for 21 years, teaching both high school and middle school curriculum. Utilizing her BA in Interior Design from Drexel University, combined with 10 years of corporate design experience, her Design Engineering classes are built on foundational art methodologies fused with design thinking, the integration of technology and additive manufacturing (3d printing). Her collaborative approach finds students working for clients in the HS Sports Medicine program. Her 8th grade Encore Art classes expose students to a variety of fine art media and techniques opening the door to the HS Art programs.
Melissa Penna is the senior member of the department and the co-advisor of the Art Honor Society. She earned her MFA from Washington University in Seattle. She currently teaches all 4 levels of Pottery, as well as Hand Built Pottery and Art Fundamentals. Melissa also directed the STEAM Pilot Project, Peto’s Pals, which was a collaboration between the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios and the John F. Peto Museum in Island Heights, where she served on the board of directors. Each December her advanced students work with the Long Beach Island Rotary to create centerpieces and ornaments for the annual gift auction.
Holly Plant is an honorary member of the Southern Regional Art Department, serving as a reliable and capable substitute teacher. This year she was in for Mrs. Rist for 2 marking periods and guided students in making incredible 2D and 3D pieces. Holly earned her MFA from Ramapo University and worked for ten years doing decorative painting where she specialized in the trompe-l’oeil style and mural making. She enjoys relaxing in her home art studio in her free time.
Joanne Rist teaches Sculpture and Art Fundamentals. She also works closely with our special needs students, helping them thrive as they create art. Prior to coming to Southern Regional she worked in the field of Graphic Design. She has earned her BFA and Master of Art Education from Arcadia University. Joanne is an avid surfer and coached the Southern Regional Surf Team for 17 years. This year her students designed t-shirts and banners for the “Homage to Heroes” Super Storm Sandy 10th Anniversary Event while Joanne created the art and design for the program covers.