About Me: Renee Goularte

Education

I am proudly the product of public schools, from Kindergarten to post-graduate work. I have a BA in Art and English from San Jose State University, where I earned Standard Secondary and Multiple Subject teaching credentials and a master's degree in Elementary Education with a focus in early-childhood mathematics.

I have been a teacher, a writer, and an artist, and have always been a student. I love learning and creating new things and tend to alternate my time between several projects.

Teaching

My teaching career began in a 3rd grade classroom. I soon moved to 2nd/3rd combination classes, which evolved into four years in a 1-2-3 multiage program. After that I spent four years working with GATE, ELL, and at-risk students in all elementary grades, followed by a 4/5 combination class and then a year in Kindergarten. During my teaching years I presented Art, Math, and Language workshops at California Math Council’s yearly Asilomar conference and at California Association of Bilingual Educators’ conferences in San Jose. My last two years of teaching were spent teaching art to Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades at three different schools,. For me, that was coming full circle.

Art Making

My art journey started when I was a child, always gravitating toward drawing and other visual activities. In high school I took every art class offered and majored in art in college. After I retired from teaching, I had more time for personal art-making. I started with a watercolor class at Paradise Art Center in Paradise, California, where I also participated in two drawing classes, an acrylic painting class, and several workshops. I was active at the Art Center for several years until I lost my home in the Camp Fire in November 2018. I moved to Sacramento County where I found the Sacramento Fine Arts Center. I joined a watercolor painting group and eventually became a board member. I enjoy several art media, but I primarily work in watercolor.

Writing

My writing experience has included writing narratives and lessons for education companies, participating in writing groups and workshops, writing poetry and being an active member in poetry workshop groups. I once oself-published a book of art activities, which led to creating art lessons and art-integrated teaching materials to sell in my store at Teachers Pay Teachers. I have always loved writing and am fortunate to have worked with many writing mentors along the way.

And More…

In my free time I can be found out in the garden digging, weeding, or just walking, or doing needlework in a quiet place, and I am always in the process of reading a book.