ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County A+ Teacher Stacey Strickland found a way to give her students instruction in a subject that she didn’t even like when she was their age.

Strickland is passionate about making a big impact on young artists at Little River Elementary School in Orlando. 

When Spectrum News 13 stopped by her classroom recently, students were creating pop-up cards.

“We’re taking inspiration from Peter Reynolds’ book Say Something! and we’re using our words, our art and our actions to say something and students are going to give these cards to someone who is special to them in their life,” she said.

Strickland’s life has come full circle. When she was her students’ age, she had no interest in being in the very class she now teaches.

“Growing up, especially at the elementary level, I did not like art at all. It was not my thing,” she said.

But she took an art class later on that changed everything and she says it’s all thanks to one person.

“I had a really awesome art teacher in middle school and ever since then I’ve been taking art classes and I have teachers in the family and I put two and two together and I thought this is what I want to do,” she said.

Strickland feels strongly about her students being able to express themselves.

“I really just want them to be their creative selves, whatever that may be, and just enjoy the experience that art offers.”