Visual artist and former educator emphasizes curiosity, connection, and lifelong learning
BROOKLINE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / December 10, 2025 / Sheila Berenson, a Brookline-based visual artist, writer, and former educator, has spent decades championing curiosity, connection, and critical thinking through her work in classrooms, writing, and the arts.
"Curiosity fuels understanding," says Berenson. "Whether in the classroom, through writing, or in creating art, exploring ideas and connecting with others helps us see the world more clearly."
Berenson began her career in education after earning a BS in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She taught hundreds of K-12 students across Wisconsin, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri in a wide range of subjects, later expanding her work to university students in both the U.S. and abroad. Recognizing early that literacy and critical thinking form the foundation for all learning, she pursued an M.Ed. in Reading Education at the University of Texas-Austin to deepen her expertise. She went on to found and direct a children's museum in Kansas, creating hands-on opportunities for young learners to explore, question, and discover.
After retiring from teaching, Berenson shifted her focus to visual art. She now works primarily in figurative painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Her pieces have appeared in numerous juried exhibitions, reflecting her interest in themes of human connection, curiosity, and shared experience. Through her art, she encourages viewers to imagine, reflect, and consider the perspectives of others.
Berenson is also an accomplished writer whose work has received state and national recognition. She received the Midwest Technology Award from the International Reading Association for a reading assessment she developed that delivered immediate results in phonics and comprehension. Throughout her career, she has shared her expertise at more than two dozen state and national education conferences across Texas, Illinois, Florida, and Kansas and has published a dozen articles in national education and children's journals.
From classrooms to museums to studio spaces, Berenson continues to advocate for learning as an ongoing, lifelong process. Her work across disciplines reflects a belief that curiosity and connection remain vital at every age - shaping not only how we understand the world, but how we participate in it.
About Sheila Berenson
Sheila Berenson is a Brookline-based visual artist, writer, and former educator with a lifelong commitment to fostering creativity, curiosity, and learning. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Texas-Austin, she has taught in K-12 classrooms, at universities, and was the founding director of a children's museum. Her current work focuses on visual art, with exhibitions that emphasize curiosity, connection, and the intersections of knowledge and imagination. Learn more at www.sheilaberenson.com.
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Sheila Berenson
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SOURCE: Sheila Berenson
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