JESSICA BALGOBIN is a proud mom of two little adventurers and loves bringing creativity to everything she does. Originally from the sunny island of Mauritius, she grew up surrounded by colorful culture, tasty food, and lots of music and dance. Jessica has a Fine Arts degree from the University of Mauritius and a graduate certificate in teaching from UNCC, with over nine years of experience teaching art to middle and high school students. She is now an art teacher at North and Morgan Elementary, where she loves helping kids explore their imagination, try new things, and create amazing art—whether it’s painting, drawing, or just making a big, happy mess!

DAVE FOGLIA is a graduate from Georgia Southern University, holding two degrees in teaching. As a lifelong artist, Dave strives to make the same skills he possesses accessible to as many students as possible. With about twenty years of practice, Dave has adopted traditional drawing, digital art, animation, and pottery as his favorite focuses. Beyond art, Dave has always had a passion for teaching—touching lives through his knowledge is something he believes he was born to do. Training artists is where Dave’s heart lies.

BRENDA GARIEPY studied at Alfred University, New York, and has teaching experience in NY, PA, and NC. She currently teaches art in the Rowan-Salisbury Elementary Schools. For the last twelve years, Brenda has specialized in teaching hand-built and wheel-thrown pottery classes at Waterworks. She was a 2017 recipient of the Waterworks’ Lucille P. and Edwin O. Norvell Family Art of Teaching Award for her significant and generous contributions, and outstanding work in art education through Waterworks and its educational studio programs.

SHIRL HULL is an artist and designer. She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA., with a B.A. degree in Studio Art. Shirl advanced her studies by completing Jewelry Design, Lost Wax Casting and Jewelry Fabrication from El Camino College and California State University both in CA. Shirl loves to travel and has taken two cultural trips to the African Continent. Shirl resides in Spencer, N.C.

JAMES KEUL is a fine artist, muralist, and father based in Durham, NC. He is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned a BFA in Painting, with honors. He continued his education at the prestigious Art Students League of New York, studying under artists Frank Mason, Mary Beth McKenzie, Costa Vavagiakis, and Cornelia Foss. While in New York, James spent six years working as the assistant to muralist Richard Haas, which is where he developed an early interest in working on large-scale, grand compositions that engage the viewer to see beyond the confines of a space. As a teaching artist, he is committed to sharing the knowledge he has gained through years of experience and from his own early mentors.

CHRISTY KOONTZ has been an art teacher in the Rowan County Schools for 23 years. She graduated from UNC Charlotte with a degree in art education with a concentration in illustration. She enjoys writing and illustrating, and specializes in pet portraits. She lives on a family farm with her husband, two teenagers and two dogs. She enjoys hiking in the mountains and taking care of the animals on the farm. Jan Brett is one of her favorite children’s author and illustrator and has inspired many of her art lessons.

DENISE PAUGH earned a BA in Dance Education/Theater from UNC-Charlotte. She has taught in the Rowan-Salisbury School (RSS) system since 2006. Denise created, developed and implemented the county’s first honors curriculum for Dance, and she now serves as a K-5 art specialist at Hanford-Dole Elementary School. Denise joined the Waterworks team in 2018. She has taught a number of classes in mixed media, movement and the art of jewelry making. She is owner and designer of her own jewelry design business, Denise Paugh Designs.

BRENT SMITH is a 1993 ECU graduate who works as a full-time potter. He works in his studio and showroom behind his farmhouse in Rowan County, where he continually experiments with forms, clays, glazes, and textures. He sometimes digs his own natural clay. Brent is known for his lidded jars, and large wheel-thrown pots. Brent has been teaching youth and adult hand and wheel classes at Waterworks for over 16 years. He received the Waterworks’ Lucille P. and Edwin O. Norvell Family Art of Teaching Award in 2014 in recognition and appreciation for his contributions to the visual arts in Rowan County.

LISA WOOD has worked for Rowan Salisbury Schools for 22 years, the last six years, she has served as the art teacher at Isenberg Elementary. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art Education at North Carolina Central University. This will be her first summer at Waterworks. Lisa states “I am looking forward to working with students that are eager to explore their own creativity, be innovative, make “beautiful mistakes,” and be spontaneous!

+

**Become a Member* Now and SAVE**

Become a Student Volunteer for this year’s Summer ARTventures

Earn Community Service Credits for school, while adding to your ART resume.

Applications are open to all rising 9th-12th graders.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: MAY 1, 2026

Please note:

New Volunteers must complete entire application.

Returning Volunteers, please complete top portion of the application and circle availability.

Meet Our Artistic Team

Waterworks thanks these art partners for helping to make ART FOR ALL possible.