Erin Hall: Chico’s Educator of the Year

Erin Hall has been honored with the 2021 Chico Rotary Educator of the Year award. Each year Chico Noon Rotary reaches out to administrators from CSU, Chico Butte College, Fairview High School, Pleasant Valley High School, Chico High School, and Inspire School of Arts & Sciences to nominate an outstanding teacher. It was Erin’s dedication to his students and the school that stood out to Inspire’s administrators for this year’s nomination. Says Inspire Principal Becky Brown, “Erin’s students frequently say that he helped them find what they wanted to do with their lives.”

Inspire’s Digital Media Arts Program

Erin is very humble about this honor. “There are many wonderful teachers in our community and absolutely any of the teachers at Inspire are worthy of this award,” he says, “Inspire is why I settled in the area. I think it is an amazing school.” Erin joined the Digital Media Arts Program at Inspire in 2004, teaching classes in video, graphic design, digital photography and animation. He also spends countless hours assisting the Hawks Video Club, providing after hours help to his students and working to create cross-discipline curriculum with other teachers.

Erin credits his passion to create from attending a small art school in Bolinas, CA, an experience which fostered creativity and working with his hands. His father was a cabinet maker and Erin spent lots of time helping in the workshop. All of that encouraged him to explore and find his own path, starting with photography and leading to a BA in Art from Boise University in Idaho.

Learning industry-specific tools and tech, and having fun

“It’s a different world for this generation of students, compared to when I grew up,” Erin says. “They already have a history of using technology, computers, cell phones and social media. We take that curiosity and layer in the industry-specific tools and experience. They get excited to use all the equipment and software in the department. As important it is to produce a high-quality film or final project, the main goal is to always have fun.”

With Erin’s help students in the Digital Media Arts program are two-time Digital Cinema State Champions and brought home a bronze medal in the 2019 SkillsUSA National Championship. “It is such a great experience for our students to be able to compete and experience these competitions,” he says.

Competitions provide real world experience in the industry. Students must provide a resume, go through interviews, dress as professionals, and work with fast deadlines and unpredictable conditions. “At one competition we had to deal with rain and a fallen tree blocking the road. We were on a tight deadline and the students just had to problem solve to make it work,” Erin says.

Students receive real industry skills and experience

“They are receiving real industry skills. Some may want to continue their education, which is great; or students have enough skills to start a career path or even their own business when they leave our program.”

Students coming into Inspire often are already on a path they want to follow while others want to explore their options. Nicole Patton, a 2021 graduate, thought she would be pursuing a path in theatre, until she took her first digital art class. “She was hooked,” Erin says.  “She ended up being a total powerhouse within the program, video club president, a great leader and helper.”  He says that Nicole is now studying digital media at Colombia College in Chicago, and “She still texts me to tell me all the fun things she is working on.”

Teamwork in digital media leads to life skills

Collaboration is a word that Erin uses often to describe the work his students do. “There is a lot of group work in digital media classes. That teamwork teaches them to be leaders, listeners, encourage their teammates, express and present their ideas,” he says. “There is also a lot of problem solving that needs to occur in the student projects. Creativity helps foster an out-of-the-box thinking. These are skills you need for any profession students pursue, but most importantly for life itself.”

Erin says the arts are good for building confidence: “Students start with small goals and that energy and excitement of completing a project extends to them in building long term goals. Inspire is unique in the amount of after school clubs they offer. It is a great way to allow students the opportunity to explore.”

Inspire’s January Gala and May event showcase student projects

Erin’s students are currently working on multiple fun projects, including a conceptual shutter speed project, video game and character design, realistic portraits, and the metamorphosis project. All their work will be on display, along with live performances, during the Inspire Gala on Saturday, January 8 from 2-7pm on campus.

Mark your calendars for May 13, 2022. After last year’s event was virtual only, Erin is excited for the yearly video showcase of student work from the Digital Media Arts program to be live again at the El Rey Theater in Chico.

Find information on all Inspire events at Inspire School of Arts & Science, follow the Hawks Video Club on Instagram @hawk.nest.studios or contact the school at (530) 891-3090.