Any student from NVOT knows that Celia Gollub’s room is the place to be. In A209, there are colorful tables filled with happy students, artwork on every corner of the room, and one amazing teacher. In a big school like NVOT, there is a lot going on; there are pep-rallies, Golden Knight’s Days, Diversity Days and more. It’s easy to get caught in the chaos of it all, but Mrs. Gollub’s room gives students a place to take a break from the craziness.
Over the course of the year, through art projects, students are able to work together and build connections while embracing their artistic abilities; Gollub creates a place that is both safe and blooms friendships for her students. There are no tests and quizzes in her curriculum, so her classes aren’t stressful for students; instead, they are more laid back and relaxing. Gollub said, “I try to be nurturing as much as I can. I try to get to know each individual student and I try to find out what their likes and interests are, [for art projects I try to do less] things that are just on Facebook [and more that are] maybe based on their interests in other areas of their life.”
Gollub fell in love with art at 12 years old when she went to North Africa on a month-long tour. She had saved enough money prior to her trip that allowed her to purchase one thing. During her stay, a sculpture caught her eye; a piece of art that had inspired her at such a young age. Gollub said, “I took that piece home. I spent all the money I had been given with my allowance and babysitting money on this piece of African art and I put it on the shelf.”
As she grew older, art was a huge part of her life. After high school, she went on to study art history where she completed her bachelor’s degree at University of the Arts. Gollub said, “I learned to appreciate and love art mostly because of my past art history teachers. I think they were the most influential on me.”
Despite her longtime love for art, Gollub did not have any initial intentions of becoming an art teacher. After finishing college, she was ready to get a corporate job. However, she quickly realized that sitting behind a desk in a corporate office was not for her. She wanted to do something more creative and hands-on. Gollub said, “I called my mom and she [asked] why [I wasn’t] excited and I [told her that] this is not what I want[ed] to do. I didn’t want to work behind a cubicle, so I went back. I immediately got my teaching certificate and I combined my love of art and teaching to come to where I am today.” Eventually, she realized that becoming an art teacher could be a successful opportunity for her. After this realization, she got her teaching degree at Ramapo, and her master’s at Jersey City University.
From there, she accepted a position at NVOT as an art teacher and has never looked back. Her contribution to the community has been seen by not only students, but fellow teachers. Her longtime friend, and history teacher at NVOT, Jennifer Fernandez said, “Mrs. Gollub is the embodiment of passion and we are lucky to have her. She brings the color palette to my life and I’m blessed to call her my friend.”
Likewise, for some, the bond with Gollub goes back years. Senior Samantha Mufson said, “Mrs. Gollub and I have a bond like no other. She was my teacher when I was 5 years old, at Demarest Art School, so I have known her for most of my life and she is like a mother to me. She is genuine and always has the best advice for me, and I’m really appreciative of her as my teacher.”
Clearly, art pieces and drawings are not the only thing to focus on when entering the art room; Gollub’s generosity is spread throughout. Junior Cadence Mendoza said, “she is very nice and supportive and she always listens, so it’s really sweet.”
Gollub places a huge emphasis on expression. She feels that all her students should be seen and heard through the art that they produce. Fernandez said, “Her passion for art exceeds admiring what hangs on a gallery wall, because she inspires her students and friends to really have their artwork reflect their personalities and who they are.”
In a fast-paced school environment, Gollub’s room stands out as a welcoming place where creativity and calmness are easily found. Her journey from a young artist to a teacher shows her dedication and reason for fostering a community that values artistic growth and expression. For many students, her classroom is more than a place to learn, but is a place to call home.