‘This is What I Want to Do’: Florida Teacher Finds Dream Job in Art Classroom 

Coming out of college, Rabiah Gaskin was eager to launch her career as a graphic artist. She’d graduated with honors from Florida A&M University and loved every minute of the program. Her vision was to land her dream job at Disney, where she’d get to work on some of the best creative projects in the world.  

It was 2004, and Gaskin did find a job in graphic design (though it wasn’t with Disney). It was… fine, but it wasn’t anything spectacular. And she definitely wasn’t passionate about the work. 

So, she decided to pivot, and she found a job teaching English to international students. That was quite a bit more fulfilling. Then, after a move to Fort Meyers, Gaskin started connecting the dots even more: She really liked teaching, and she’d always loved art. What if she put the two together?  

She started as a substitute teacher in an elementary school, knowing her long-term goal was to land a job as an art teacher. Her kids ended up going to the same elementary school, which was a huge benefit. And even though she was subbing instead of teaching art, Gaskin loved it.  

“I’ve always loved children, and I just love, love, love the educational environment,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh, man, this is what I want to do. I want to be a teacher.’”  

Gaskin ended up subbing for eight years. Then the art teacher at her school left, and Gaskin applied for the job. This is her first school year as the full-time art teacher for Gateway Charter School in Fort Meyers. 

“I’m really excited about it,” she said. “And with Moreland, with the courses I’m taking, I’m just loving it. I’m loving the knowledge that I’m gaining from the program. I really love everything about it, and I just want more.” 

‘It Just Keeps Getting Better’ 

Gaskin’s goal as a teacher is to inspire her students. She remembers how much joy she got out of art as a kid, and she wants to give her students the same gift. She tries to teach them different artistic principles, then she gives them a project and lets them explore and create. Right now, they’re working with positive and negative space and shapes. 

“I want to inspire their creative minds,” she said. “To me, it just keeps getting better and better. When I think it’s a good lesson, the next lesson — the kids love it even more.”  

Gaskin was teaching on a temporary certification but then applied to Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program to earn her professional Florida teaching certification. 

She likes the flexibility of Moreland’s program, she said. Her weekdays are busy — teaching six classes every single day — so she likes that her Moreland Zoom class is just once a week, and she got to pick the day and time (Saturday mornings work best). 

Gateway Charter is part of the Charter Schools USA network. Moreland has a partnership with CSUSA, which means Gaskin is also getting full tuition coverage for the TEACH-NOW program.  

“It’s really, really helpful, convenient, and the instructors have been amazing,” she said. “Just the information and the knowledge that they have — it inspires me. I can’t wait until the next class period.” 

In particular, Moreland and TEACH-NOW have helped with her classroom management skills, she said.  

“I have really been able to hone and sharpen those skills,” she said. “I may think I’m good with children, but I’m learning through Moreland the practical ways to manage a classroom.”  

‘I Made This for You’ 

Gaskin loves sharing her passion and expertise. She loves seeing and encouraging her students’ creativity. She loves knowing she’s making her mark on the next generation. 

Yes, her initial dream was to work for Disney. But these days, her dreams are different. Now, a perfect day at work is when her students get excited about a project or try something new and creative. Or when a student takes a finished piece of art and hands it to Gaskin. 

“I made this for you,” they say.  

To her, there’s no better gift. She has the best job in the world. 

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