The News-Times/Wendy Carlson Canterbury School art teacher Marsha Doran, right, works with student Michelle Kwon on a watercolor.

NEW MILFORD — Marsha Doran had many different dreams as she worked her way through college.

Growing up, she was always involved in art. As a student at Western Connecticut State University, she hoped to sculpt for Disney.

"I am a Disney freak," she said. "I love everything Disney."

Then, she took a painting class. "I fell in love," the 31-year-old said. While pursuing her master's degree at Boston University, her ambitions grew.

"I just figured I would be a famous artist," she said.

Then came her semester as a teacher's assistant and she fell in love again.

After earning her master's, the Morris woman began substitute teaching. Although she loved the experience, there is one thing she doesn't miss: middle school students.

"I do not miss teaching middle school," she said. "It was hard to handle."

After a year, she went from teaching pre-teens to teaching students closer to her age. She became a part-time professor at Teiko Post University in Waterbury, teaching drawing and design.

"Of course, I continuously sent out resumes then," she said.

That move led to a better gig at Tunxis Community College in Farmington, where she taught painting, illustration, and drawing. She still teaches one class there part time.

Teaching college students isn't as intimidating as some may think.

"Someone once told me, 'You know more than they do,'Ÿ" she said. "And if I ever needed to, I just reminded myself of that."

Then Doran got a tip from a WestConn teacher about an opening at Canterbury School, a private school in New Milford.

"We lived in the same town and developed a relationship over the years," she said. "It was networking."

Doran landed the Canterbury job and began teaching painting, drawing, introduction to art and art history last year.

She enjoys her job, but, "the only weird time was walking into the administration offices and them thinking I was a student," she said.

Doran sets specific guidelines in her classes, but also has the freedom to tailor them her way.

"I know what the kids have to learn and I base my projects on that," she said.

Those projects don't always work. "Sometimes they fail miserably," she said. "But you just learn your lesson and never do it again."

After working at a private school, Doran said she can't see going back to public school.

"It is such an amazing environment here," she said. "It's like a family and a community within the school. I do more here than just teach."

She enjoys the flexible schedule and doing something different every day.

"I never thought I would be a high school teacher," she said. "But at this point, I am extremely happy."

Doran still makes time to paint as often as she can. She sells some paintings, others adorn the walls in her home.

"Probably too many of them are in my place," she said.

Having found what she wants to do, Doran said she is happy.

"As long as I can create art and show it once in a while, I am content," she said. "I don't have much desire anymore to be a famous artist."