Florida teacher Chanique Davis uses door at to send messages of inclusion to her students. Photo credit: WFTS Tampa Bay

One of the most exciting activities that take place during Black History Month is the door-decorating contests. And one of the most creative teacher to create decorated doors is Chanique Davis, an elementary school teacher from Lake Alfred, Florida. She uses the door art to send messages of inclusion to her students.

Chanique teaches art at Lake Alfred Elementary School in Polk County. She began decorating her classroom door when she first started teaching at the school five years ago. In addition to creating displays for Black History Month, the innovative teacher decorates her door for other cultural events, including Hispanic Heritage Month and Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. “I really wanted to create an image for my students to see that represented them in every different culture,” Chanique explained. “Something that they could be excited about and something that would bring about discussion in my class.”

Her clever displays are more than just decorations, Chanique says. They are an innovative teaching tool. “I want them to be better people. I want them to grow up being great individuals,” she continues. “The doors are ways that I can teach them life and not just art. I put the two of them together with art and life together, and that’s what I use these doors for,” she concludes. She even persuades the students to have input on the design and content of the doors.

“When these kids see these doors, they are so excited,” asserts Chanique. “They think. They’re wowed by it, and a lot of them are involved in the creation of the piece.”