Traditions inside a school often begin with the people who bring steady energy and passion into their classrooms year after year. At Sunrise Elementary, many of those traditions are rooted in the art room, where students step into a space full of color, movement and a teacher who guides them through creative exploration. That teacher is Spencer Barr, who has spent nearly 19 years building a program that reflects both his personality and his love for art. Barr’s connection to art began long before he ever imagined teaching. Drawing was a constant part of his childhood and those early interests shaped the way he viewed creativity as he grew. “I loved to draw and do art since I was really young,” said Barr. “I wanted to be a comic book artist but never went for it.” After college, an unexpected injury forced him to rethink his plans. The shift led him back to the passion he had set aside and opened the door to a new career path. “I missed art so much and it just hit me, ‘I should be…