The sun has not yet risen, but art and ceramics teacher Hannah Bjork has just arrived to her ceramics class at the University of California, Berkeley. She turns on the lights, washes her hands, and gets an old yogurt container from the shelf in preparation to get on the wheel. It is six a.m., three hours before her class will begin. But for Bjork, there is never enough time in a day, so she has to get a head start.
In her first year at PHS, Bjork is teaching two sections of Ceramics I and one combined level class with Ceramics II, III, and AP. She is also taking on two sections of Art I, which focuses on two-dimensional visual arts.
“[I love being] immersed in the pursuit of art, which I so enjoy, and I like sharing that with kids and seeing what they are able to do with their creativity,” Bjork said.
Though Bjork is new to PHS, she taught at PMS from 1994 to 1998 as a sixth grade core teacher, art teacher, and Spanish teacher, she said. In 2005, she returned to PMS to teach Spanish and art, and in 2016 took on a ceramics class.
“I think I bring that preparation here and it helps me to do my job better because kids are all that much more serious about their artwork,” Bjork said.
“She’s very calm, she gives really good advice when it comes to art, and she’s really thoughtful,” freshman Shay Jessee said.
Jessee is currently enrolled in Bjork’s Art 1 class, along with freshman Lindsay Kottle.
“She’s very helpful and patient with our class,” Kottle said.
Sophomore Amir Singh is taking Bjork’s combined level ceramics class as a Ceramics II student.
“I really love the environment in Mrs. Bjork’s classroom,” Singh said. “She really likes the creativity in all her students.”
As a student who has a lot of prior experience in ceramics, senior Soren Call said that Bjork’s teaching style is more hands-off.
“We get a lot of freedom,” he said, “We just get to work, and are able to figure out what we want to do.”
As a child, Bjork grew up with a similar mindset towards her own art as the one she is teaching now, she said.
“I was encouraged a lot by my mom. It was something that we would do together,” Bjork said, “It was sort of just my way of playing.”
As Bjork grew up, she tried out many different careers before discovering her love for teaching art. She said that she worked at a bakery, ran multiple-day bicycle tours, worked at a graphic design firm, and interned at Sunset magazine.
“I loved working at the bakery because of how hands-on it all was,” she said. “I was able to do the cake frosting, which was similar to working with clay.”
Outside of the classroom, her passion for art continues, she said.
“I’m constantly making things,” Bjork said. “I’ve been working in porcelain, which is new for me. It’s been really fun to work on my wheel at home and try to perfect my forms.”
Now, after almost 20 years of teaching, she has developed a teaching philosophy that always puts the child first, she said.
“Every child is different, and the way for you to get through to them is not one-size-fits-all,” she said. “[I’m] trying to unlock what a student has in his or her own potential and talents, and trying to get those to come to the forefront.”
And students said this approach is working.
“Mrs. Bjork is extremely friendly,” Call said, “She’s also very nice and loving to everyone in the class.”
“She is an angel,” Singh said.
The sun is going down and the classroom is empty again. The wheels and tables are wiped clean, with the yogurt containers back on the shelf. It is five p.m. and the day has ended for Bjork. She packs up her bag, turns off the lights, and smiles. At last, she is ready to head home.
