Continuing our Faculty/Staff Spotlights series, we are excited to highlight Mrs. Jillian Leonard, a K -2 art and technology teacher. Jillian is in her fifth year at The Franciscan School and teaches kindergarten, first, and second grades. She shares, “I started in 2020 and am thankful for beginning my teaching journey during such an unprecedented time; seeing my co-workers’ passion for teaching and dedication to our community was truly inspiring.”

Jillian received her Wig and Makeup Design degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Before her time at TFS, she worked freelance doing theater wigs and makeup in Raleigh with the North Carolina Opera and touring productions that would come to town at venues like DPAC and Memorial Auditorium. Jillian shares, “I love wig making and working in theater; they both are well suited to my particular style of creativity and hyper-focus.” Before moving back to Raleigh, Jillian and her family lived for 8 years in Las Vegas, where she worked opening shows like Phantom of the Opera and the Las Vegas Spectacular. She thoroughly enjoyed that season of life before she began having kids and moved back to North Carolina.

Jillian has always wanted to teach elementary art. Before transferring to UNCSA, she began her college career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to become an elementary art teacher. The wig and makeup program led her away from UNCG, but her passion for teaching never wavered. 

The great pause of 2020 was the perfect time to turn her passion back to teaching art.

With two daughters at TFS, it was a natural transition for Jillian. She shares: “When all live entertainment stopped in 2020, it felt like the right opportunity to teach art in the classroom, in this community I had already grown to love. It felt like I was being led here.”

In the classroom, Jillian embraces creativity. “Creativity crosses over in everything we do, but that part of our brain needs to be flexed like any other muscle,” Jillian says. “The opportunity to introduce new materials or concepts with this age group is exciting and joy-filled.” Every day looks a little different for Jillian. The first part of her day is spent back and forth teaching K-2 Art and K-1 STREAM. In the afternoon, she spends an hour at the Senna desk serving the middle school students who once were students in her elementary classes. She ends her days on Wednesdays and Thursdays, advising the Art and Holiday clubs. 

To Jillian, working at TFS is very personal. With her two daughters as students, she has the unique opportunity to be both a TFS parent and a faculty member. “TFS is a loving and supportive environment for all of my family,” shares Jillian. “The teachers and administrators truly care about their students and partner with the parents to support the needs of their students. I love this community that supports and lifts everyone. We gather daily, and how special that is is never lost on me.”

We are so grateful for the passion and creativity that Jillian shares with the students at TFS. She says, “Teaching our youngest T-wolves is an amazing adventure I love doing dearly!”