Dorothy Bonica says, "I hope to someday be as cool as my mom!” Dorothy is a full-time art educator at Fort Belvoir Primary. Her mother is an art teacher, too, and “always has awesome ideas!” Dorothy teaches students how to plan, engineer, problem solve, collaborate, build, refine, reflect, communicate, and express themselves though art. She explains, “We don’t just make pretty stuff in the art room, we make connections to our community, our cultures, our world, and each other. We also make messes, but we always get it cleaned up by the end of class!”

Dorothy adds, “One thing that I say in my classroom again and again is, 'How can you solve that problem?' There are so many solutions to art problems, and young minds are so creative! It’s always amazing to see how students can use the provided tools and their imagination to find solutions. I’m excited to see what the world will look like in the future when it is led by our students.” 

Alicia Ogrodny, Fort Belvoir Primary's school-based technology specialist, submitted an FCPS Cares on Dorothy's behalf. She mentions, “Ms. Bonica is an amazing art teacher that truly cares about the students, school, and military community." Principal Margo Pareja adds, "Ms. Bonica has an amazing ability to build relationships with students and staff and has created a learning environment in which all students are engaged and feel successful. She worked this summer to paint kid-friendly soldiers outside to emphasize our pride in serving a military-connected community and worked collaboratively with our new art teacher, Symone Simmons, to paint a mural at school welcoming military kids."

Dorothy is grateful to her mentors and co-workers, saying, “Shout out to all of my mentor and partner teachers who have worked with me to help me to get where I am!”  

When Dorothy isn't teaching, she enjoys making her own artwork and spending time with her mother. 

We appreciate the many ways in which you inspire creativity in young minds, Dorothy!