Valerie Anglen is a second-generation professional artist, art teacher, and commercial designer with over 40 years of experience. She is the daughter of Robert Buckingham, an artist whose extensive career spanned over four decades. Valerie’s artistic roots were deeply influenced by her father, whose work inspired her to pursue a career in both the fine arts.​

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As an art educator, Valerie’s teaching philosophy centers on exploration and nurturing a genuine love for the creative process. She believes the foundation of art lies in the joy of discovery and encourages students to develop their own unique artistic voice.​​​​​​

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All About Art is a program created by Valerie and her granddaughter, Adoniah, that combines art education with social-emotional learning (SEL). Funded by a state grant, the program was implemented in an underserved school district and reached over 6,000 students across nine schools. All necessary art supplies, including paints, brushes, and paper, were provided to ensure students had the resources to explore their creativity. The program emphasized creating art using accessible materials, demonstrating that students don’t need expensive supplies to begin their artistic journey. Additionally, the program featured live art exhibitions showcasing 30 pieces Adoniah’s artwork, inspiring students to believe they, too, could be artists.