Leslie Marie Grace

“I make my own art on the side, but I truly consider teaching to be my real art form. Above all, I want my students to see the world beyond their classrooms.”

Leslie Marie Grace is a warm and energetic art teacher at Nebinger Elementary, inspiring K-8 students to share her passion. Not only did she develop her program from scratch, but she goes above and beyond as an advocate and fundraiser. Thanks to her, current student art is always gorgeously showcased in the halls of the building, dramatic productions have spectacular sets, and quirky portraits—upscaled transfers on laminated metal sheets—beautify the outside of the school. Ms. Grace is also a teacher at the University of the Arts, an organizer/leader of the Philadelphia Art Teachers Alliance, President-Elect of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, and has been awarded many local and national honors for her leadership.

Where do Art and your discipline meet?

“As an art educator, my discipline is my art and my art is also my discipline! I am grateful to have had the foresight to have chosen the path I did to form a career that is completely involved in my passion and sharing my passion with others. Of course I make my own art on the side, but I truly consider teaching to be my real art form, one that I have involved my entire identity in.”

Who are your local heroes?

“My local heroes are the women in art education who have inspired me to do more and believed in my potential to be greater. I am blessed to be surrounded by a dynamic arts ed community with strong female leaders. In no particular order Lynne Horoshcak, Lauren Stichter, Robin Brewer, Lisbeth Bucci, Diane Wilkins, Josephine Vivianni, Lisa Kay, and Wendy Osterweil are all a few of the women I consider my local art ed heroes.”

Biography:

Leslie Marie Grace has been teaching since 2004. She began her career in Atlanta teaching art at a Magnet Arts high school. Two years later, her path lead her to Philadelphia, where she spent a number of years teaching middle school art at a local private school, until pursuing her Master's Degree. In 2013, Ms. Grace began teaching art with the School District of Philadelphia and discovered her passion for teaching inner-city youth. Currently, she teaches art at Nebinger Elementary, a K-8 school in South Philadelphia, where she developed an art program from scratch. Ms. Grace takes an active role with the school and community and works hard to display student art, sponsor drama club, advocate, fundraise, and help her students see the world beyond their classrooms.

Additional to her roles within her school and community, Ms. Grace also teaches at UArts, is the organizer/leader of the Philadelphia Art Teachers Alliance, and is President-Elect of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. For her roles in the Philadelphia Education community and in her school, a few of Miss Grace's accolades include being recognized by BillyPenn.com as a leader under 40 in the field of education in 2015, received the PAEA 2016 Outstanding Elementary Art Educator of the Year award, and has been recognized by the NAEA as a graduate of the 2019 School For Art Leaders class.