Julian Mercer
Senior Visual Arts Educator & Department Head
Maplewood Collegiate Institute
Dear Hiring Committee,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the Art Teacher position at Maplewood Collegiate Institute. With a comprehensive background leading secondary visual arts instruction and curriculum delivery under the Ontario curriculum, I am eager to contribute my studio teaching expertise and student mentorship to your vibrant arts faculty.
Throughout my tenure as Visual Arts Department Head and Lead Teacher at Rideau Valley Collegiate Institute, I have taught Grades 9 through 12 across painting, printmaking, sculpture, and digital media, while actively maintaining studio health and safety compliance for chemical handling and ventilation systems. In addition to regular classroom instruction, I curate our annual spring fine arts retrospective exhibiting over 250 student works and mentor senior Grade 12 students in assembling competitive portfolio submissions for post-secondary fine arts programs.
My instructional approach balances technical foundation with engaging student projects. While teaching at Bytown Academy of the Arts, I introduced a specialized relief printmaking and intaglio unit that increased elective enrolment in Grade 11 visual arts by 35 percent. Beyond classroom coursework, I have also coordinated collaborative learning through initiatives such as the Centretown Intergenerational Community Mural, where 28 high school students partnered with local seniors to design and install exterior heritage panels in Ottawa.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss how my studio background, curriculum experience, and commitment to creative education can support the students and visual arts department at Maplewood Collegiate Institute. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Julian Mercer