A native of Michigan, Robyn Rutzen Gray is a retired elementary teacher/administrator.  She holds a Masters Degree in elementary education from Western Michigan University and has taught for 34 years in public schools in Michigan, Missouri, and Christian schools, camps and churches in Florida.  She was Elementary Principal, Academic Coordinator and Dean of Girls for five years at Hernando Christian Academy as well as a fifth-grade teacher for 12 years.  Art had always been a part of her elementary classroom instruction.  In 1999, Walmart chose her as "Teacher of the Year" for Hernando County.

 

As a child she traced the art work of her parents and spent much of her free time drawing.  One could say she is a self-taught artist, but trained to teach.

 

Robyn has been teaching art for the past 13 years of retirement.  She has introduced to the students the media of acrylic, watercolor, pastels, oils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, oil pastels, copper art,wood burning, mosaics, jewelry and scratchboard.  During most of these media she has incorporated various drawing techniques.  The students' works have periodically been on display at City Hall and at the Hernando County Fair.  The students' works have earned many "superior" blue ribbons and several "Best of Show" and "Best of Class" rosette ribbons at the fair.  Robyn mats and frames much of the students' work.