Idaho Arts Charter School
Colleen Fox - Elementary/MS Orchestra Teacher

I graduated from Albertson College of Idaho with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Viola Performance and Secondary Instrumental Music Education and minors in Education and German. I recently finished the Masters of Arts in Teaching at ACI.

I began playing violin in the school orchestra when I was twelve, and two years later I picked up the viola. I continued playing both instruments in the school orchestra through high school as well as play with the Magic Philharmonic Orchestra in Burley, Idaho. One of my best musical summers was in 2003 when I lived in Seattle, WA and played in five different orchestras, including the Mahler Festival Orchestra. My best memory from that summer, and most musically inspiring experience, was when I performed with the Kilmany Fiddle Band at the Scottish Highland Games at the King County Fairgrounds.
           
While in Seattle, I earned a small summer living as a stable hand. While mucking out stalls, I dreamed about my future teaching job as a K-12 orchestra/music teacher. While dreaming away, as I had lots of time to do in this job, I began to think about how I might be able to take music and integrate it into all academic subjects to make education more meaningful. That fall I returned to Albertson College and enrolled in the education program. When I heard about the mission of the Idaho Arts Charter School, I jumped for joy. I never imagined I would have my dream job beginning in my first year of teaching! I am sooo pleased to be teaching here, and I consider myself blessed with friends and co-teachers with whom I can work with and achieve my dream of integrating arts and academic subjects together.

Outside of teaching school I enjoy performing as violist, in various small ensembles, and working with animals. I currently ride my black horse, Cubi, in the Idaho Gems Equestrian Drill Team where we compete at drill team events and ride in rodeos. I also have a young colt, Hot Spice, who is a joy to be training. He really lives up to his name! I also have a cat, C.C., who rules the house, and a dog, Kendra.