Art teacher Hilary George hopes her students will remember her classroom as a place where they felt comfortable, valued, included, and free to express their ideas and artistic abilities.
George has taught art at Omaha South High School for three years.
She majored in art because of the inspiration she found in high school. “I had a fantastic art teacher and I loved it,” George said. Now, as a teacher herself, she hopes to inspire her students to think creatively, approach challenges with critical insight, and view the world from new and diverse perspectives.
She said one of her favorite things about teaching at South is the strong sense of school pride.
“I feel like everybody is overall pretty happy to be here and proud of South High,” George said. “I enjoy being where everyone has a little bit of pride in their school.”
Not only does she love teaching at South, but she also loves what she teaches—Art Foundations, a beginner-level art class.
“I’ve taught mostly Art Foundations,” she said. “I like that because I teach a little bit of everything and just kind of introduce kids to different styles of art.”
George said she especially enjoys drawing and painting, using acrylic paint and ink.
Her love for art began in fourth grade when she entered an art contest that required students to draw a Nebraska animal. She drew a crane and said the experience boosted her confidence. “That really pumped my self-esteem,” she said. “I thought, ‘Hey, I might actually be good at this.’ Since then, I’ve always liked art.”
Her favorite artwork is “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper.
Outside the classroom, George enjoys quiet time at home without a busy schedule. She likes reading, spending time with family, and connecting with nature—especially in her own backyard. She describes herself as a happy, energetic person who loves supporting others and seeing them succeed.
One piece of advice she gives her students is to never give up on themselves, no matter what they’re going through.
“Don’t give up on yourself,” George said. “We all go through some hard times, and it’s always going to get better at some point. Maybe not immediately—like tomorrow or three hours from now—but things will eventually get better. There are always people who care about you. Even if it’s not one of my students in class, I still care about their well-being.”
George also shared a quote by Michelle Obama that she deeply believes in:
“The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather, paintings and poetry, music and fashion, design and dialogue—they all define who we are as people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.”
