Nikki Jarecki

Nikki Jarecki's journey is a testament to the transformative power of art and education. From a challenging childhood, she found solace and sanctuary in nature and art, where her identity took root and flourished. Later in life, she leveraged these experiences, nurturing others through her graduate studies under Jim Duignan at DePaul University. Collaborating with Duignan's Stockyard Institute, Nikki learned to integrate current issues, natural history, and social-emotional learning into her arts curriculum, shaping her evolution as both an artist and educator. With over thirteen years of experience in the Chicago Public Schools system, she has honed her ability to deliver engaging and inclusive visual arts lessons. As an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University, Nikki empowers future educators to harness creativity in the classroom through arts integration. Her leadership extends to After School Matters, where she serves as a Program Leader, fostering student talent and community engagement. At Chicago Academy High School, Nikki teaches ceramics, spearheads arts programming, and secures significant funding. Alongside her dedication to education, she excels as an illustrator, muralist, and ceramicist, collaborating with entities like Off Color Brewing and esteemed publications such as the University of Chicago Press. With husband Christopher and stepson Nico by her side, she remains committed to enriching lives through the transformative power of arts and education.