Shrack achieves goals through teaching

Art instructor Marsha Shrack has always known her legacy will be one filled with creativity and inspiration, though she wasn’t sure how she would achieve it.

“Through high school I wanted to go to cosmetology school,” said Shrack. “It was a form of art in its own way and allowed me to be creative.”

Shrack said when she was a senior in high school she had a teacher who “harassed” her into enrolling in college. While there, she was leaning towards either art or social work.

“I finally decided if I taught art I could combine the two,” she said.

Shrack has both her bachelors and masters from Wichita State University in art education.

Since getting her degrees, Shrack has taught all ages. She started out at a high school and then went to a private school where she taught kindergarten through seniors in high school. She has been teaching art at PCC since 1986.

“Every grade has its pluses and minuses,” she said. “College is my favorite age though because they are adults.”

At PCC, Shrack teaches ceramics, drawing, elementary school art and art appreciation.

“I really like teaching my studio classes where the students actually get to do art and where I have students who enjoy it, but I also like my art appreciation class because students who think they can’t do art, find out they can,” she said.

Shrack said her favorite part of teaching is seeing the light go on when they have been having issues figuring something out and then get it.

Shrack’s goals for the future are to continue to live creatively and create art.

When Shrack isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her four children and gardening. She is also involved in the Methodist Church in Pratt and raising collies.