Red is a color that describes passion–and passion is exactly what Mrs. Joanne M. Harris has. Her passion for art–and a little bit more–is exactly what brought her to North Penn High School.

You may not know Harris, but she is one of the only teachers you will see sporting vibrant red hair.

Red is a color that defines Harris. A signature in J-Pod, her hair has not always been red.

The color originated in the mid-90s when she and a friend dyed it together–both ending up with a very “eggplant-like” purple color.

“I’ve had my hair purple, blue and various shades of red,” said Harris. “I’ve also had my hair green… but that was an accident. A bright real-red color is my favorite.”

Harris’s exciting story doesn’t start here in Pennsylvania, or with her hair. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri.

Her father, being a painter, introduced art into Harris’s life at an early age.

Harris put herself through college at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. There, she achieved her Bachelors Degree of Fine Arts.

Harris’s first job out of college was at Washington Junior High School. She recalls a revolutionary Albuquerque day in the late 60’s: “the area was of the Chicano ethnicity and the local Mexican farmers where being treated unfair. I, along with the other teachers protested along side with the students. We all had black armbands on,” said Harris. “The kids loved me after that.”

While teaching at Washington Jr. High, she worked on her Masters Degree. Harris then went on to teach in numerous schools across the states.

Harris recalls teaching elementary school in Florida: “I was teaching the kids how to mix colors. The colors were blue and yellow. It made green. And all together the kids shouted ‘awesome.’”

Harris said she had never had such a moment before.

When Harris came to Pennsylvania, It was due to her husband’s retirement from the Air Force.

At first, she worked at a Junior High in Williamsport. Then, when her husband’s new job relocated, Harris came to work for North Penn School District.

Harris taught at multiple North Penn elementary schools in the beginning–mostly at Montgomery Elementary–but has taught at Oak Park, York, Hatfield, and Bridle Path, among others in the district.

Harris then worked at Pennbrook, followed by North Penn Junior High–now Penndale–for two art teachers that were on leave. Harris was then offered a permanent job at North Penn after an art teacher retired the previous year.

“A teacher here in J-Pod retired, I have her very same room still to this day,” said Harris.

In the early 2000’s, Harris became Chair of the Art Department. As Chair, Harris looks over the budget for ordering art supplies and works to create new curriculum along with the rest of the Art Department staff.

“Every year is a wonderful year. Every day is my favorite moment working with the students and faculty here at North Penn. We have the most beautiful artists,” said Harris.

Harris has taught art courses in both Photography and Design, as well as Advanced Placement courses like Studio Art.

Everything Harris does is like a brush stroke.

With these strokes, she has painted a work of art–the painted portrait of her life.