Welcome
Stephanie Justice Shank is a visual arts educator, photographer, and arts leader who is deeply committed to fostering creativity both in the classroom and through her own studio practice. Working across photography, painting, ceramics, and design, she believes that maintaining an active artistic practice strengthens her teaching and allows her to model lifelong creativity for her students. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Clemson University, her Master of Arts in Teaching from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and later returned to SCAD to complete her Master of Fine Arts in Photography.
Since beginning her career in education in 2008, Shank has taught visual art in a variety of settings, from middle school to high school and college. She currently serves as a Visual Art Educator and Visual Art Department Lead at Fort Dorchester High School, where she teaches Photography I–IV Honors, and she is also an Adjunct Professor at Denmark Technical College. Her previous teaching experience includes positions in Beaufort County, Chapin High School, and Summerville High School, where she taught courses ranging from AP Studio Art and Design Foundations to Digital Art, Photoshop, and ceramics.
A National Board Certified art educator, Shank has built her career around student-centered teaching, strong curriculum, and meaningful opportunities for artistic growth. She has served in numerous leadership roles throughout South Carolina, including Visual Art Content Area Lead Teacher, Dean of Visual Arts, Lower Region Coordinator for the South Carolina Art Education Association, and now President-Elect of SCAEA. She was also selected for the National Art Education Association’s School for Art Leaders program, further expanding her commitment to advocacy and leadership in the field of art education.
Shank is especially passionate about creating opportunities for students and educators to share their work beyond the classroom. Over the years, she has designed and hosted student exhibitions, curated permanent school installations, collaborated on districtwide showcases, and helped lead major community-based arts initiatives such as the Dorchester District Two Dream Festival and The Educator as an Artist exhibition in partnership with Public Works Art Center. Her grant writing work has also helped secure substantial funding for innovative art experiences, cross-curricular learning, and STEAM integration.
In recognition of her impact as an educator, advocate, and practicing artist, Shank was named the 2024 South Carolina Art Educator of the Year. Her students have earned recognition in local, state, and national exhibitions, and her own artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the region. Through every role she holds, Shank remains committed to helping students find their voice, honoring the value of the arts in education, and building vibrant creative communities.
Since beginning her career in education in 2008, Shank has taught visual art in a variety of settings, from middle school to high school and college. She currently serves as a Visual Art Educator and Visual Art Department Lead at Fort Dorchester High School, where she teaches Photography I–IV Honors, and she is also an Adjunct Professor at Denmark Technical College. Her previous teaching experience includes positions in Beaufort County, Chapin High School, and Summerville High School, where she taught courses ranging from AP Studio Art and Design Foundations to Digital Art, Photoshop, and ceramics.
A National Board Certified art educator, Shank has built her career around student-centered teaching, strong curriculum, and meaningful opportunities for artistic growth. She has served in numerous leadership roles throughout South Carolina, including Visual Art Content Area Lead Teacher, Dean of Visual Arts, Lower Region Coordinator for the South Carolina Art Education Association, and now President-Elect of SCAEA. She was also selected for the National Art Education Association’s School for Art Leaders program, further expanding her commitment to advocacy and leadership in the field of art education.
Shank is especially passionate about creating opportunities for students and educators to share their work beyond the classroom. Over the years, she has designed and hosted student exhibitions, curated permanent school installations, collaborated on districtwide showcases, and helped lead major community-based arts initiatives such as the Dorchester District Two Dream Festival and The Educator as an Artist exhibition in partnership with Public Works Art Center. Her grant writing work has also helped secure substantial funding for innovative art experiences, cross-curricular learning, and STEAM integration.
In recognition of her impact as an educator, advocate, and practicing artist, Shank was named the 2024 South Carolina Art Educator of the Year. Her students have earned recognition in local, state, and national exhibitions, and her own artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the region. Through every role she holds, Shank remains committed to helping students find their voice, honoring the value of the arts in education, and building vibrant creative communities.
