Most know Mrs. Joanne Harris by the bright red streak in the front of her hair but there is an incredible story behind her artistic decision. “My friend had cancer and all of her hair fell out. So when it grew back we both died our hair purple in the front. I keep doing it because I like it.”

Harris’ fiery style and creativity has been at North Penn since 1987. But many do not know that before her 27 years here Harris taught in six different states including Hawaii and her home state New Mexico. After graduating with her master’s in fine arts from the University of New Mexico it was her husband, then in the Air Force, who took her and her three stepsons all around the country. But Harris did not mind as long as she was teaching. “I have always loved teaching, it is my favorite thing.” While teaching at North Penn, Harris has grown the art program to include Advance Placement classes and has taught every art class available, except animation and sculpture.

“I like teaching Art 1 because there’s a lot of students that think they can’t draw anything. But I can teach them how to and by the end of the class their self-portraits look real. I can teach anyone to draw, but I can’t teach everyone creativity.”

Her desire to educate as many students as possible about art is not the only reason Harris decided to be a teacher. She also contributes her love of art to her dad who was a painter and her inspirational high school art teacher who taught her that she could use her love for kids and art to show others the joys of art. After retiring Harris plans to move somewhere in the South to be near her grandchildren and always continue with art. She promises she will miss everyone here and claims that after traveling around the country she knows North Penn students are “the most wonderful students ever.”