9-25-2023 4:31am

Art Teachers Remember Sandra Wood As Celebration of Life Nears

Lesley Misko Editor

With a Celebration of Life planned for Sunday, October 1, (see final notes), two art teachers who worked closely with Sandy, remember her.

by Linda Rohrbach Austerberry

How does one write about a force of nature. Sandy Wood was a force of nature who influenced the world of not only Boyertown students but the Art Education world as well. Her tireless efforts to promote the arts will not be forgotten.

Debra Spleen, who was the one who taught with and in Sandy’s art room for 18 years, says that Sandy was the single most important influence on her teaching. The art shows that Sandy produced at the end of each year were like Broadway shows with sets, stars, and the art works of the children. Debbie has credited these experiences with her and her group of creative and energetic students’ creation of Arts Expo at the high school.

Debbie also said that the challenge in teaching with Sandy was the ART CLUTTER! You could almost say that Sandy was an art materials hoarder, but she knew where everything was. Even under a three foot pile on her desk she could always locate what she wanted. Debbie said there were closets so full she never opened them for fear of an avalanche! Once when Sandy was scheduled to attend an art conference she begged Deb to not touch the “archeological dig” on her desk. This was a difficult task for Deb who is extremely organized!

Debbi’s other fond memory was when Sandy retired she had a large aquarium put into the entrance lobby of the school. She filled it with tadpoles and the students were encouraged to each take one of Ollie and Clara Jean’s offspring! Ollie and Clara Jean were a huge part of the Boyertown Elementary Art Experience.

Debra Spleen (left) and Sandy enjoy a moment together.

I worked with Sandy for years as the head of the Senior High art department since she was our supervisor. I never realized the difficulty of getting almost 20 very creative individuals to write curriculum and do the paperwork necessary to order materials until I took over as supervisor! She would lead us kicking and screaming through these painful writing sessions and we always accomplished our goals. I never really appreciated all that she did until I found it almost impossible to live up to her efforts.

One of my fondest memories now is that Sandy made the effort to have a luncheon last spring. She invited all the retired art teachers and they all came! She was her wonderful self and such an incredible hostess. We all shared our memories around her dining table while consuming her great cooking! Laughing and emotional at times, this was another event that she choreographed to keep the arts alive.

She has quite a resume that cannot be equaled, but the memories of her dramatic presence wherever she was will be what remains in my mind forever!

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM on October 1, 2023 at The Loft at Sweet Water, 2556 Geryville Pike, Pennsburg, PA 18073.

The doors will open at 1 PM for friends to visit with the family.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in memory of Sandy to the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA). You can send a check made out to PAEA directly to the treasurer with Sandy's name in the memo line and sent to Jess Alesso, 3001 Dutch Road. Fairview, PA 16415.