A CREATIVE CLASSROOM

CSW: Denise Chonski celebrates 40 years teaching art in Catholic schools

Denise Chonski knows the power of art.

For 40 years, Chonski has been a blessing to Catholic schools across the Diocese, teaching art to students and bringing her talents to the classroom and beyond.

“I don’t seek to be honored, but it’s nice to be honored for that number of years of service, and hopefully, it will continue for some more,” she said.

In addition to teaching, Chonski spearheads the Catholic Schools Week Art Exhibit, an annual display of artwork by Catholic school students of all ages at the Empire State Plaza South Concourse lobby. Artwork was displayed this year from Jan. 28-31.

St. Thomas students' art on display at the 2024 Catholic School Week Art Exhibit in the Empire State Plaza. 

 Art and creative thinking were always part of Chonski’s life — even before she was born. While her mother was pregnant, she painted, drew and created children’s stories for Chonski to enjoy. It planted a seed of creativity within her, making art something second nature: “I can’t remember a time I wasn’t doing something art-related or craft-related,” she said. 

She grew up attending St. Catherine of Siena Parish with her family (now Mater Christi Parish, where she still attends) and graduated from the Academy of Holy Names in Albany. She received her bachelor’s in art education and business administration and her master’s in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany. 

She started her teaching journey as a traveling art teacher, working in St. Luke’s, St. Paul’s and St. Helen’s schools (now St. Kateri) in Schenectady. After a handful of years, she transitioned to a full-time position at St. Teresa of Avila School of Albany until they closed, then joined All Saints School in Albany. For the past 12 years, she’s taught at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Delmar. 

Before each class begins, Chonski starts off with a prayer and a few centering breaths to help students let go of anything on their minds and focus on creating: “It’s an environment where you can open up and show a little bit more of your personality,” she said. 

Chonski uses “everything and anything” in her classroom art projects, especially at the elementary school level. It’s “a great time for them to be exposed to a whole bunch of different mediums so when they get into high school, and they’re picking an art class to take, they’re gonna know what to take,” she said. 

Chonski is always looking for ways to bring some excitement to her teaching; it’s what inspired her to start the Catholic Schools Week Art Exhibit: “We always put up art during Catholic Schools Week, but I remember saying we need to do something else for the students to make it special.”

For the first few years, the art exhibit was held in the hallway of the Catholic School Office at the Pastoral Center. It later moved to the Colonie Center Mall for a few years and finally to the Empire State Plaza.

“We have a lot of people at the Empire State Plaza who work for the state or in the downtown area who … stop and say, ‘I’m so glad; we love seeing the kids’ art, and we look forward to this exhibit,’ ” she said. 

“Art in life is a lot more out there than people realize because it’s fostering that creative and divergent thinking in people and in students,” Chonski added. “They’re able to come at challenges from a different perspective, and for a lot of students, it is an outlet. They can have a little bit more of a relaxed but structured environment for the art.”

MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Leading By Faith: https://evangelist.org/news/2025/jan/29/leading-by-faith/ 

Friend and Mentor: https://evangelist.org/news/2025/jan/29/a-friend-and-mentor/ 

A Loved Place: https://evangelist.org/news/2025/jan/29/a-loved-place/

The Grand Endeavor of Catholic Education: https://evangelist.org/news/2025/jan/29/the-grand-endeavor-that-is-catholic-education/ 

CSW Awards, Years of Service: http://evangelist.www.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/2025/jan/29/catholic-schools-week-awards/