Mimi Griffis earned her Bachelor's Degree of Science in Art Education from Nazareth College of Rochester and received her Masters of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of Arizona. She is currently in her thirtieth year of teaching art and is teaching Three Dimensional Studio Art at Ironwood Ridge High School.

As an artist, she believes it's important to create meaningful art. When students incorporate subject matter that's relevant to their lives, they value their work. All of her students are "above average" and she encourages them to agree. Mimi prides herself in fostering a positive learning environment. She calls this Positive Mental Thinking! Students in her classroom learn to persevere through all obstacles.

Mimi's passion for teaching public art installations began when her students were selected to work with a professional artist. They've now created a mural on the front of Ironwood Ridge and a famous masterpieces mural that defines the Fine Arts Building. She's a member of the School Improvement Committee, sponsored the School Art Club the last seven years and her students have participated in the Tucson Museum of Art's Holiday Market. Mimi's goal is to provide her students with new experiences and life lessons.