In one class it became clear to me early on that one girl was truly gifted at drawing. But Brianna had to wait to see if she landed the position since other kids—who are at an age where the word “fairness” is next to sacred—had not all had a chance to draw and show off their talents.
After her own audition, Brianna was withdrawn, hard to read, a very still-waters-run-deep kind of student who actually sulked during class when other students were at the easel auditioning for the job, because she knew it was her job.
When I finally announced that she would be the primary artist for that year with more auditions to then see who her assistant would be, she lit up and became a major force for good in the classroom for the rest of the year.