Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

Stephanie Walton has nurtured her students' creativity at Wilchester Elementary School (WCE) for more than 20 years.

With 880 students coming through her classroom each week for art class, Walton’s impact extends far beyond paint, chalk and canvas.

Born to teach

Initially, Walton envisioned a career in veterinary medicine. However, when she discovered she needed to master math and science, she promptly altered her trajectory and chose to pursue a different path.

Before entering the classroom, Walton earned a degree in interior design and architecture but knew sitting behind a desk for eight hours a day wouldn’t fulfill her. Influenced by her father, a teacher, and her mother, who also worked in education, Walton decided to follow her heart.

“I was always around teaching — whether it was helping my mom set up at school or watching my dad with his students,” she said. “I didn’t intend to teach, but it felt right, and it was where I was destined to be.”

After completing her student teaching at Hollibrook Elementary (HBE) and Northbrook High School (NHS), and graduating in December, she soon found her way into Northbrook Middle School (NMS) where she taught middle school art until 2014. 

In 2014, a position at Wilchester Elementary School (WCE) opened up and she knew that the elementary level was where her heart really was.  And she was right!  She has inspired hundreds of students since 2014 who walk in and out of her doors each year.  

Touching lives and shaping minds

Beyond teaching her students about different brush strokes and the use of color, Walton helps instill confidence in them — reminding them constantly that “their ideas are worth something.”

“I always tell them that if someone doesn’t immediately like their ideas, they will eventually find someone who will,” she said.

She encourages her students to explore, challenge their perceptions and understand that their creative voices and processes matter. She believes this mindset is essential for students as they move through life, no matter their path.

Finding a place to be

Reflecting on her 20-plus years of teaching, one of Walton’s most memorable experiences came when she created a special art class for students with special needs — kids who, in her words, “needed an outlet to be creative.”

The school approved her request, and soon, this group of students created artwork that, even after 15 years, still proudly hangs at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Katy. Their artwork has also been featured in the SPARK School Park Program, which works with schools and neighborhoods to develop community parks on public school grounds.

“These types of projects help kids find where they belong, giving them a sense of self-worth and pride,” she said. “I love working with these kids, helping them realize their full potential.”

Forging community connections

In addition to inspiring her students daily, Walton invests in the Spring Branch community and always seeks fun and engaging events for them to participate in.

One standout example was the annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) event in Galveston, where students observed and learned directly from professional architects as they designed and built intricate, to-scale sandcastles. For more than a decade, with support from a grant from the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF), art teachers Stephanie and Loren Gardner brought this hands-on opportunity to life—sparking creativity and curiosity as students studied real-world techniques and applied what they learned in their own art.

What began as a class project evolved into the Spring Branch Sandcastle Competition, bringing together students from across SBISD to design and build large-scale, temporary works of art—showcased for the community to enjoy.

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Walton launched the Art and Literacy Walk initiative, which involved creating artwork inspired by children’s books. The event has since become a district-wide scavenger hunt, integrating reading with art.

“When we launched, I wanted families to have something to do during Spring Break — when the world shut down, we made it fun and engaging. It’s been great to see it remain a mainstay in the district,” she said.

She also created Love Bug, a children’s business fair where kids can create, market and sell their artwork.

A colorful life

Walton’s life outside the classroom is as colorful and creative as the inspiration she brings to her students.

“They might be surprised to learn I’ve thrown out the first pitch at an Astros game, performed during the Super Bowl halftime show, and I’m a certified balloon artist,” she said.

Embracing the calling

Despite teaching for more than two decades, Walton’s passion has never diminished. Keeping up with the latest trends, materials and art techniques keeps her engaged — and her students excited about their creative possibilities.

“Teaching is continual learning, both for me and for my students. If I’m not learning, I’m not growing as a teacher,” she said. “It’s a fun and exciting profession that’s never the same, and that keeps me going.”

If she could offer her younger self one key piece of advice, it would be this: “Teaching gets easier.”

Stephanie Walton acknowledges that teaching is not an easy profession. However, she firmly believes that every challenge brings new opportunities — and the chance to learn something new. Her resilience and determination are a testament to the rewarding nature of education.

From a young girl growing up in Spring Branch to becoming a beloved educator at Wilchester Elementary, Walton’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance and the joy of teaching. She’s more than an art teacher — she’s a mentor and a champion for her students, always pushing them to dream big and believe in their worth.

#SBISDProud