Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – Ridgeview Elementary School art teacher Kimberly Sexton’s students have always asked what her son Asher is up to.
So when she found out that student enrollment was down, her job was cut and she was being transferred to another school — it turned her world upside down.
But a higher power was working behind the scenes.
She turned all Asher’s crazy messes into a children’s book, with her students helping her find joy in his disaster.
“You trim back the plant so new growth can come, more vibrant fruit,” Sexton said. “There have been so many new opportunities and doors opening since this.”
In 2023, the artist wrote Asher the Disaster about her son, and says her job cut inspired her to release the book.
“Had the drawings and I’m like, ‘I’ve got to get myself into gear and get this finished,'” said Sexton. “Real stories, I told the students. So if it hadn’t been the students asking about my son’s messes, this book wouldn’t have come to be.”
While the book is about the art teacher’s messy toddler, there is a deeper message.
“Teaches me to find grace in mistakes and forgiveness so that he can grow up to who he’s meant to be,” Sexton said.
In the art teacher’s ‘Friday Funnies’ announcement, she offered her students encouragement: ‘Just because I’m not going to be here next year doesn’t mean it’s the end.’
“Sometimes life’s going to hit you hard. It’s going to knock you down. But you don’t have to let that hard thing you’re going through define who you are,” said Sexton. “You’re going to want to throw in the towel. You can still keep being you. Just don’t give up.”
She cherishes her students.
“I wrote the book to dedicate to them, gratitude for helping me find laughter in his disasters,” Sexton said.
TO LEARN MORE
Book signing event | Studio 304
Crab Orchard
Sat. 6/14, 2-4pm
Craft/storytime | Shady Spring Library
Tues. 6/17, 10am
The book will be available at both events for a discount of $9.
FB: Ashes Into Art
https://www.amazon.com/Asher-Disaster-Kimberly-L-Sexton/dp/B0F9YD56BP
