About Ms. Mo

I graduated from U.C. in 1978 with a B.F.A. in Art Education, summa cum laude. I taught one year at Princeton High School and two years at Mt. Healthy High School while also teaching photography and art appreciation classes at U.C. I also made and sold silver and cloisonne enamel jewelry at craft fairs. Next, I worked for Kenner Toys painting prototypes of Star Wars, Strawberry Shortcake, and Care Bears toys. When my daughters were born, I painted toys freelance from home (for about 15 years) and edited All About Kids newspaper for its first 5 years. The toys I painted were prototypes used for packaging photographs, commercials, toy fair samples, and to show the factory how to paint the toys in production. Most were action figures.

My desktop publishing experience led to 2 years at F&W Publications editing craft books for adults and creating a line of art and craft books for children, including these North Light Books: Paint on Rocks for Kids (by Lin Wellford), Artistic Drawing (by Kat Ferguson), Clay Characters for Kids (by Maureen Carlson), Nature Crafts and Paper Creations (both by Joy Williams). These are all awesome books for 4th graders and my name is really in them as editor! Your local bookstore can order them, or try Amazon.

I am delighted to be teaching art at MI since 2002. I earned my Master's Degree in Art Education from Miami in 2005. As exciting as my other careers sound, teaching 4th graders at MI is the best, most fulfilling, most joyful thing I've ever done. The children keep me young at heart (slightly older in other places, though).

My husband, Mike Schneider, is a professional commercial photographer with Alexander and Associates. If you're wondering about his last name, I kept my own name when we married in 1979, which is why I use "Ms." My youngest daughter Aly is a freelance photographer. My oldest daughter Leigha graduated from U.C.'s Graphic Design program (DAAP) in 2008, and is now a graphic designer. She designed this web site (thanks, honey!) and my husband did all the technical parts. My mother lives with us, and so do three cats, Hendrixx, Demon, and Princess Isabella Sofia (aka "Bits") and two energetic Puggle dogs, Taz and Luna.