Ms. Ordoñez completed her practicum at Chelsea High School, under the supervision of artist and educator Maren Olson. During this time she taught two sections of the Crafts and Culture classes and assisted in the AP Studio Art class. Since the high school had such a large number of English Language Learners, Ms. Ordoñez taught her classes in both English and Spanish to accommodate her students needs. Students were often prompted to make self-reflective artworks about their culture, community, and identities. Ms. Ordoñez exhibited the works of her Chelsea High School student and her thesis exhibition, Exit Ticket, at Montserrat College of Art.
Ms. Ordoñez has worked at the S.T.E.A.M. Youth Arts Program at Montserrat College of Art since its revival in the summer of 2017. During her first two years in the program, she worked as a teaching assistant and was also assistant to the program’s supervisor, Eric Moore. This past year, Ms. Ordoñez taught both minor (ages 8-11) and major (ages 12-15) classes at the College. She created her own curriculum for subjects such as printmaking, Mixed-up Media, Sculpture with Purpose, t-shirt design, and jewelry making.
Ms. Ordoñez, or, as her students would call her, Ms. O, completed her pre-practicum at Francis X. Collins Middle School in Salem, MA. Under the supervision of artist and educator Spiridoula Politis, Ms. Ordoñez had the opportunity to assist students in the art classroom and teach a lesson that was inspired by Cape Dorset Inuit printmakers.
During her several months working at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare’s Peabody, MA campus, Ms. Ordoñez learned the importance of art therapy for seniors on the North Shore . She would oftentimes create still life set-ups for residents and those participating in daytime painting activities. She would adjust lessons to meet the needs of students with Alzheimer's and dementia. Upon the completion of her internship, Ms. Ordoñez partnered with her supervisor, Ellen Gordon, and hosted an art show for all of her students with their works framed for the public to enjoy.
