Timna Naim, addressed as Mx.T or Mx. Naim by students, is a ceramics teacher at FHS who is also a working artist and professor at San Jose State University. Recently, they completed a study abroad program in Paris. 

Many students appreciate the comfortable and welcoming environment Mx.T creates in the class. Ceramics student Will Boon describes Mx.T’s approach to teaching as “open and free,” and students feel compelled to exercise their creativity without restraints.

“I don’t really believe that this is just about learning ceramics as a skill but it’s also about figuring out what you want to do with your voice and how you want to use that,” Mx.T said. “In this case, through making sculpture. And I think that the importance of that to me translates into how I am as an educator. I also think that I am constantly looking to grow my own skills as an artist and I think that my work as an educator informs that as well. So they feed off each other being an educator me and I’m grateful that I do both.”

Mx. T’s work addresses intersectionality and multiple identities. These perspectives have an influence both on their work and their ability to relate to students.

“My mom’s family is Eastern European, raised Jewish and pretty white.” Mx. T said. “My father’s side is Libyan, Israeli-raised and pretty brown and those life experiences are different the cultures are different, the food is different. I remember being an immigrant when I came here so I have a better perspective for my students.” 

It is clear from the atmosphere that Mx. T creates in the art room that they love teaching and the students feel comfortable and creative in their class. 

“It does feel like my dream job but I also didn’t realize I wanted to do it until five or six years ago,” Mx. T said. “So it’s not like I had always planned to be a ceramics teacher. But I think it worked really well for me. And I do love teaching here.”