Krebs fashions her next chapter

Ms. Cynthia Krebs, one of Milton’s district-wide art teachers, plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Ms. Krebs said she graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pa. Following her graduation, she attended Kutztown University, she added.

Ms. Krebs said she has been teaching art for 35 years. She added that her first teaching job was at Midd-West School District. She said she applied for an opening at Milton at the advice of her friend, Former Art Teacher Ms. Reba Rohrer.

Ms. Krebs said she has always loved art. “Instead of doing homework, I would draw or put things together,” she said. “I have always loved young kids. I had an opportunity at my high school to teach an art lesson, and I decided it was something that I really wanted to do.”

Ms. Krebs said one of her most memorable teaching moments happened about 26 years ago when she first came to Milton and started teaching at the elementary school.

“I had a tray of eight to ten bowls of green paint, and I just tripped and it went all over me. It was oozing into my shoes, and it was just everywhere. It was funny because all of the boys jumped up to help me, and the girls just sat there and stared at me,” she said.

According to Ms. Krebs, her favorite thing about her job has been seeing the students grow, develop and discover new things. Third grade was her favorite grade to teach, she said. “They’re still kids and love to have fun, but they’re not too childish. They’re right in the middle,” she explained.

“I’ve never really had a least favorite class. I was terrified when I was asked to teach high school though. I thought that the students wouldn’t enjoy the projects I wanted to run, and I was just nervous,” said Ms. Krebs.

She said her favorite projects were part of her pottery class. “I love working [with] hands-on pottery,” added Ms. Krebs. She said when she wasn’t satisfied with projects that she had assigned, she just adapted and changed them to make them better.

Her favorite personal project is one that she did while she was in high school of a child, she said. Ms. Krebs added that this painting was special because everyone said it looked like her daughter, even though she made it long before Leslie, who is a sophomore in high school, was born.

Ms. Krebs said after her retirement, she plans to purchase Mimi’s Boutique in Lewisburg. She said she plans to sell gently used, upscale women’s clothing and accessories. She added that she plans to change the name to Leslie’s Closet.

Ms. Krebs said she doesn’t think she can keep up with the fast pace at which technology is changing. “Having 35 years of teaching is a lot, and things with technology have been changing so much that I don’t think I’m doing it justice,” said Ms. Krebs. She said she thinks her students are bored with her PowerPoints and other presentations, due to not being “up-to-date” with the latest technology trends. She added she has been here for so long, she thought she should give someone else an opportunity.

High School Art Teacher Ms. Lauren Richie said she has worked with Ms. Krebs for 12 years.

Ms. Richie said that she and Ms. Krebs complement each other well. She added that they keep each other going.

Ms. Richie said her favorite memories with Ms. Krebs were their trips to New York City and their trip to Hershey Park when Ms. Krebs got her group to the front of all the lines for the rides because she had a broken foot.

Ms. Richie added that she and Ms. Krebs plan to take a trip to Europe this summer. “I’m super excited to go with Ms. Krebs,” Ms. Richie added.

“Ms. Krebs has a really great way of getting kids to do the best that they can. She really pulls out their excellence,” Ms. Richie said.

Ms. Richie said that Ms. Krebs never stops trying new things. She added that Ms. Krebs is doing a brand new project with her Life Skills group, making 3D puppets out of old milk cartons.