2024 NAEA SPRING CONFERENCE

During April of 2024, Eighteen UW-Stout preservice students and Alumni had the opportunity to attend the NAEA convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota! By having the opportunity to meet experienced educators, gain valuable resources, and explore the city, participants came back with an abundant amount of information, stories, and insights! 

This year's participants included:  

Preservice Teachers

• Abigail Thompson

• Alexa Mercier

• Amelia Johnson

• Annabelle Dick

• Emma Cassman

• Grace Vincent

• Gwen stein

• Karla Lara

• Kayla Ellefson

• Kiaya Schroeder

• Lin Boland

• Marci Kodl

• Veronica Jacques

Alumni

• Alyssa Walton

• Chloe Halverson

• Haley Parsneau

• Jake Mazourek

• Lauren Dillinger

CHLOE HALVERSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

This conference was genuinely life changing, and I cannot wait to attend more in the future. I am so reinvigorated as a teacher, and in my 3rd year of teaching I feel very passionate about my career but still have so much to learn. Being surrounded by SO like-minded individuals was incredible, and I feel so much a part of this community of artists and educators who are doing incredible things all over the country and further. It was an energy I cannot begin to describe with words. We are doing crazy-awesome things in the world, and I am so inspired to grow as a teacher through what I have learned. 

I went to as many sessions as possible, and was overwhelmed with the amount of content, ideas, inspiration, and connections I made through them. I am very grateful to have learned so much more about inclusion, diversity, and equity in my classroom which is SO important to constantly be educating myself on in the fast-changing world. I have organization, material use, lesson planning, structure, and passion to bring back with me into my room. I feel more confident that I have also been doing a good job as a teacher in my room and I have accomplished so much, which is easy to get down on myself as a new teacher being the only art teacher in my building too. It was a reminder that I am doing great things, AND that I have so much to contribute and add to my curriculum and pedagogy. I adore my students, and I want to give them everything. I am excited by all the fresh ideas and passion I have gained through my sessions, speakers, and camaraderie and networking I was able to do. 

It was also so inexplicably moving to be reunited with my Stout peers and have fun experiences within the conference as well as going out with them and seeing minneapolis and the MIA, and I realized how much I value them and my past experiences with them, as well as how important it is to keep that connection and bond strong. I have plans to stay in touch with people that attended the conference with me, most of whom I had not met and I am so glad that I did. I made great friends, as I also ran into SO many of my cohort who I graduated with and/or took Arted 200-300 with. It was very emotional and beautiful to see them again and see where they are at. I also ran into one of my cooperating teachers who I did my practicum with at Durand High School and her friend and colleague who teaches elementary art in the district. I got very close with them in the past and hadn’t seen them in forever. Additionally, I ran into several of my own colleagues from White Bear Lake who teach with me and in the middle and high school and got to spend some lovely down time with them and unpack a lot of our experiences in the conference and also just get to know each other more. I am very grateful for that time to strengthen my bond with my coworkers which will only make our impact in our district stronger. Overall, this experience was monumental and not only gave me lesson ideas and inspiration, material use ideas, inspiration for my own art practice, reinvigorated my passion as an art educator, grew my competence as a teacher who values equity and inclusion, and strengthened my bonds with fellow art teachers all around me and from my past that will follow me wherever I go. I cannot begin to describe how grateful I am for this opportunity. 

ANNABELLE DICK’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Attending the NAEA National Conference significantly enhanced my art teaching knowledge and abilities. Through various workshops, presentations, and discussions, I gained invaluable insights into innovative teaching techniques, effective classroom management strategies, and new approaches to art education. Interacting with experienced educators and learning from their expertise expanded my pedagogical repertoire, equipping me with new tools and approaches to enrich my teaching practice. 

The conference bolstered my confidence in and passion for teaching. Engaging with passionate educators and witnessing their dedication to art education reignited my enthusiasm for teaching. Learning about successful teaching methodologies and seeing tangible examples of impactful teaching outcomes reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of art education, boosting my confidence in my ability to make a meaningful difference in my students' lives. 

My experience at the NAEA National Conference deepened my desire and commitment to be an art teacher. Being immersed in a community of like-minded individuals who share a profound appreciation for art education reaffirmed my career choice. Witnessing the positive impact that art educators have on their students inspired me to continue pursuing my goal of becoming a dedicated and impactful art teacher, solidifying my commitment to the field. 

Attending the conference had a positive effect on my overall mood, happiness, and well-being. The opportunity to engage with passionate educators, explore innovative teaching practices, and immerse myself in a supportive community of art education professionals brought me immense joy and fulfillment. The sense of belonging and inspiration I derived from the conference contributed to my overall sense of well-being and left me feeling energized and motivated to pursue my teaching goals. 

The conference significantly enriched my relationships with other art education students and facilitated valuable networking opportunities with professionals in the field. Collaborating with fellow students during workshops and discussions fostered meaningful connections and provided a supportive connection between peers with whom I could share ideas, resources, and experiences. Moreover, engaging with established art educators and industry professionals during networking events enabled me to expand my professional network, forge new connections, and gain valuable insights into career opportunities and best practices within the field of art education. 

KIAYA SCHROEDER’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Overall, the NAEA conference was an extremely positive experience where I got the opportunity to make connections with art teachers in the field, my art education peers, learn multiple ways of teaching art, and be supported in my choice to become a lifelong art educator. I had enriching discussions and conversations with a range of art teachers to museum educators, to people that may not teach art but support the education in the visual arts. Teachers, supporters, speakers, and friends shared with me their stories, ideas, creative skills, and professional skills and I tried to absorb every bit of it. I got to reconnect with my pre-service friends after not seeing them while student teaching. I feel as though I made new and grew current friendships with my fellow pre-service teachers. I loved getting to experience this professional development with such a large group of determined and passionate future and current art teachers.  

During the conference I also acquired so much free stuff! Not only was it free but everything that I got can be applied to teaching the visual arts in my current student teaching placement, and soon in my years of being a licensed art educator. I acquired multiple physical and digital lesson plan ideas from sessions and booths from the main market. I got to expand my knowledge of the of art that can be created and how to apply that as a teacher. That being said, I treasure the lesson plans handed out to me during the sessions because I know that they have been used with current students and created by people who have crafted them to suit those students. I look forward to modifying and building upon the ideas and processes formed in those lesson plans to suit my future students and my need as the teacher. I attended many sessions that not only had lesson plans but also curriculum planning. A major take-away I learned is that teaching art is much more than just teaching students about making art. It’s also a more holistic approach that is about teaching students how to be humans that interact with people, take responsibility for themselves and their actions, and embrace their individuality.  

LIN BOLAND’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

I felt that the NAEA Conference had a great impact on my current position in art education as well as my future becoming an art teacher. I gained a lot of knowledge, specifically with guidance on what kinds of lessons I should be choosing for my students. I realized that a lot of lessons I have saved on Pinterest or assignments I had through school didn’t allow for much if any personal meaning or expression. I was told by my teacher exactly what to create and if I strayed from that, I would be punished with a poor grade. I do not want this for my students. I want my students to have fun creating art that is impactful for them, art that has meaning or personal connection. I learned that this is called Authentic Student Art and I need to consider it with every lesson I assign my students.  

I felt very passionate about my future career coming out of the conference. I felt that these sessions gave me a lot of inspiration for my future classroom and empowered me to know the worth of my position as an art teacher. Educators can have such a great impact on their students, whether that be positive or negative and I need to be that positive support for my students. I can use my class to empower students through art. I was also inspired by the session about creating an art club. We were shown how an art club is a great way to build a community in your art classes and show that art should be respected in your school. Members of the club can also be shown other responsibilities like helping around the school and setting up for art shows. Even though you’re giving extra effort that is unpaid, it can be so impactful for building relationships between peers and yourself.  

Attending the NAEA Conference was an incredibly uplifting experience that had a profound impact on my well-being. The energy and enthusiasm of the event left me feeling inspired about my future career as an art teacher. I couldn't help but feel empowered by the camaraderie among fellow art educators. This conference rekindled my passion and made me believe in my potential as a great teacher who can make a real difference in the lives of my students. It provided me with not only practical tools but also a renewed sense of self-confidence that has since fueled my motivation and determination to excel in my chosen path, contributing significantly to my overall happiness and well-being. 

This Conference really helped me to connect with my fellow art education majors. It provided us with quality time to hang out and talk about why we all decided to pursue this major as well as what we learned in our sessions. These conversations really helped us bond and appreciate each other's unique journeys. What made it even better was the chance to chat with experienced art teachers already out there in the field. We got to pick their brains about everything from the grade levels they chose to what to expect in interviews, and even got some fantastic suggestions on job hunting and ideas for our future classrooms. These interactions not only gave us great advice but also strengthened our friendship as a group of budding art educators. 

AMELIA JOHNSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

At this year's NAEA National conference in Minneapolis I engaged in new artistic strategies and mediums but also engaged in meaningful conversations with fellow educators. These interactions have enriched my understanding of classroom management techniques and have given me helpful insights into the specific age groups they prefer to teach. I've gained a more comprehensive understanding of the differences between teaching in larger versus smaller schools. In addition to these experiences, my discussions with other teachers have shed light on the importance of thinking of interviews as a two-way process. It's not just the school evaluating potential candidates, but also candidates evaluating the school. I've learned what questions to ask during interviews to ensure that the school's culture, values, and expectations align with my own goals and teaching philosophy. Overall I continued to further deepen previous understanding as well from past conferences.

I tried new avenues in art-making that have introduced me to new strategies and mediums I hadn't previously tried. Additionally, I've also gained insights into various methods for offering support to students from diverse backgrounds and identities specifically on how to accommodate and provide new tools and techniques for students to help the arts be more accessible. As a result, I now feel better prepared to create an inclusive and accepting environment within my school and classroom, ensuring that all students feel valued.

Over the weekend, my confidence increased while I was with other pre-service and full time teachers who were passionate for the arts. Their presence and shared experiences served as an inspiration, further fueling my dedication to choosing the major and future career of art education. During these interactions, they were important to me as I learned important information from teachers as well as stories. I now have a greater sense of confidence in the classroom methods and techniques that can benefit my students.

I'm committed to becoming a teacher. This was fueled by the people I met at the conference as they have been a big inspiration. It was amazing to see educators of all ages there, and their long-lasting passion for teaching was motivating. I want to follow in their footsteps, staying dedicated and passionate, just like the teachers I connected with at the conference. I was filled with enthusiasm throughout the conference, constantly encountering new discoveries and engaging experiences. It brought me great joy to participate in various sessions that helped me to grow closer to new ways to enhance how I will be as a teacher . I'm very appreciative of the chance to be a part of this conference and the opportunities that came my way during the week and after the conference with life long skills.

I deepened my connection with art education peers, creating lasting memories together. This experience helped me better understand classmates I don't usually engage with and provided insights into their passion for teaching. I also spent time with peers outside of the classroom and gained knowledge about educators' age group preferences and teaching methods for lesson plans and curriculum. Through these conversations and shared experiences, I gained a deeper understanding of the different dynamics in the field of education and within our major. These interactions not only enriched my personal connections but also broadened my professional understanding and capabilities. Thank you for choosing me to continue to attend the NAEA. It has given me the opportunity to grow in my knowledge and confidence as a future art educator.

LAUREN DILLINGER’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

This opportunity allowed me to gain more knowledge about the processes and materials I currently utilize in the classroom. For instance, I had been struggling in an area of ceramic materials/equipment. By attending the National Convention, I was able to connect with other educators, talk with the company during the exhibitor hall, and attend a session that gave me more insight regarding clay practices. I have gained a lot more insight after having this experience! 

The NAEA National Conference impacted my passion for teaching by ‘filling my cup’ with countless resources, positive conversations, and memorable experiences. Since the conference, I have felt much more confident in the teaching methods I have been pursuing and feel better connected with the art of teaching art! 

The impact of this experience in relation to my commitment has left me with the desire to continue building up the current art program at the school I am teaching at. The conference inspired me to make a list of goals for the upcoming year, and I am excited to continue my teaching career as a high school art educator. By meeting other educators that have been in the realm of public education for 20+ years, I am hopeful and committed to continuing to assist students in their artistic journeys. 

Attending the NAEA National Conference made me happy! By having my questions answered, experiences shared, resources gained, and memories made, this opportunity impacted my well-being positively. I feel prepared for the rest of the school year and determined to make changes for the betterment of the program I am building. 

By attending the conference with my UW-Stout colleagues, I have been able to reconnect with many individuals that I haven’t seen since graduation. Yes, social media allows us to connect on a regular basis; however, enjoying each other’s company in a manner such as this one allowed me to re-establish those connections and share experiences with them that will benefit me for many years to come.  

Regarding the networking that occurred while at the conference with art ed professionals from around the country, it had been awesome to witness and communicate with others that might be experiencing the same obstacles in an entirely different place. That connection, although brief, allowed me to recognize all of the supportive individuals that are in this community.  

JAKE MAZOUREK’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Through this NAEA Convention I would generally say, I was able to gather a gathering of information I will be able to take with me into my practice. Most notably, the use and application of AI programs and software capabilities that can be implemented for student use proved alone, to be a substantial reason to attend. Moreover, being able to gather other soft practices that I had not yet considered nor ones that had been yet taught also aided toward further developing my craft as a practicing educator.  

Being able to connect with undergraduate and other practicing educators from my undergraduate university/beyond was a massive joy to be had. Working in a district where I serve as the only person in the visual arts program, I received a significant renewal reconnecting and creating connections with others in this practice.  

The conference helped to ensure that for the time the job will remain available, and was a good idea to enter into. While I do hope to pursue an administrative goal, the conference gave evidence of the impact art education is still making on school systems.  

Much like that mentioned in “confidence and passion for teaching,” the reconnection with others from my undergraduate university was a humongous treat! Due to the area in which I live and work, there is not a significant amount of community activities and youth events taking place. So, the chance to connect with a larger population of people in a similar age range to myself was really enjoyable, and is one thing I took for granted while attending school.   

I was especially fortunate in the opportunity to meet Nicole Herbst from Sturgeon Bay, WI, as well as Elizabeth and Wilbur again from Stout (two art ed students I made a connection with, but graduated prior to myself). I also was able to meet and discuss with a number of graduate level professors and schools such as David Gazdowicz, Scott Northrup, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, MCAD, and etc. for potential opportunities.  

GWEN STEIN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

This conference had a big impact on my future teaching abilities because I attended some sessions about things that I don’t know much about like students setting up their own shows, doing art sales and even the differences between the AP and IB curriculums. I found these all super interesting and informative because I plan to teach high school and these sessions were about things I wouldn't fully get to learn about in classes at stout. 

My confidence for teaching and getting into the profession has definitely improved especially with my Mock Interview session. Getting to hear about other interviews and getting to practice having an interview with school administrators was really rewarding because I got to get more experience and when they talked about what I did well I got a little bit of an ego boost.  

Talking to other art educators and pre-service has made me want to get into the field faster than before. I loved getting to hear more about what I am personally interested in teaching and more about advanced programs like AP and IB.  

I always find it important to spend time with friends and Art Education at stout is always being with friends. It was nice to get to reconnect with lots of different people in the program as well as go to the MIA together and hang out in the city.  

I was able to network with other art ed students and alumni on this trip which was very beneficial. Being able to talk with other Stout students who are now in the field is super beneficial in my opinion and makes stout feel like a family even if we graduate. I found it super useful to talk to stout alumni to talk about working in the Madison area and because we all have this connection coming from Stout I am going to have people helping me look out for jobs!

KAYLA ELLEFSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I felt that the NAEA Conference had a great impact on my current position in art education as well as my future becoming a licensed art teacher. I gained a lot of knowledge, specifically with guidance on what kinds of lessons I should be choosing for my students. I realized that a lot of lessons I have saved on Pinterest or assignments I had through school didn’t allow for much if any personal meaning or expression. I was told by my teacher exactly what to create and if I strayed from that, I would be punished with a poor grade. I do not want this for my students. I want my students to have fun creating art that is impactful for them, art that has meaning or personal connection. I learned that this is called Authentic Student Art and I need to consider it with every lesson I assign my students. 

I felt very passionate about my future career coming out of the conference. I felt that these sessions gave me a lot of inspiration for my future classroom and empowered me to know the worth of my position as an art teacher. Educators can have such a great impact on their students, whether that be positive or negative and I need to be that positive support for my students. I can use my class to empower students through art. I was also inspired by the session about creating an art club. We were shown how an art club is a great way to build a community in your art classes and show that art should be respected in your school. Members of the club can also be shown other responsibilities like helping around the school and setting up for art shows. Even though you’re giving extra effort that is unpaid, it can be so impactful for building relationships between peers and yourself.  

Attending the NAEA was an incredibly uplifting experience that had a profound impact on my well-being. The energy and enthusiasm of the event left me feeling inspired about my future career as an art teacher. I couldn't help but feel empowered by the camaraderie among fellow art educators. This conference rekindled my passion and made me believe in my potential as a great teacher who can make a real difference in the lives of my students. It provided me with not only practical tools but also a renewed sense of self-confidence that has since fueled my motivation and determination to excel in my chosen path, contributing significantly to my overall happiness and well-being. 

The NAEA Conference really helped me to connect with my fellow art education majors. It provided us with quality time to hang out and talk about why we all decided to pursue this major as well as what we learned in our sessions. These conversations really helped us bond and appreciate each other's unique journeys. What made it even better was the chance to chat with experienced art teachers already out there in the field. We got to pick their brains about everything from the grade levels they chose to what to expect in interviews, and even got some fantastic suggestions on job hunting and ideas for our future classrooms. These interactions not only gave us great advice but also strengthened our friendship as a group of budding art educators. 

HALEY PARSNEAU’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I found this conference to be very beneficial to me as an educator to learn more lesson plans, I can use at my new school. I was just recently hired as a new elementary art teacher, and I wanted to learn about more inclusive lessons I could teach with students. I also wanted to learn more about collaboration with my community since that is such a huge goal of mine as a first-year teacher.

EMMA CASSMAN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Overall, I’d say this year's NAEA conference was the most beneficial conference I've been to. While I didn't have time to go to as many sessions as I would at the WAEA ones, I learned so many new things in the ones I did go to. Looking back at my sessions there seems to be a theme with art history and opening the classroom up as a safe space. Honestly I never gave teaching an art history class any thought, but after the sessions I went to I would definitely love to do that, and am now super interested in learning more about that. And of course, it's always beneficial to discover new ways to make your classroom environment safe and inclusive. 

ABIGAIL THOMPSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

By attending the NAEA National Conference my teaching knowledge has broadened by gaining a deeper understanding on what to expect when looking for and getting a job. With the knowledge I’ve learned through attending this conference, I feel more comfortable to start the job hunt next year. I also learned new ways of teaching, and a few new tips and tricks to use within the classroom. Overall, I had a lot of fun at the conference, strengthened my connections with my classmates, and I’m looking forward to the future.

GRACE VINCENT’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Attending the NAEA National Conference helped to further develop myself as an art educator and connect with peers I haven’t seen in a while. I attended a lot of sessions that had to do with either ideas for lesson plans for secondary, or on implementing SEL and controlled student autonomy in the classroom. Since I am at the end of my time at Stout, it was great to connect with peers and teachers from all over on how to interview, what to expect in my first year as a teacher, and how to best be prepared/take care of myself in that first year. I have been student teaching this semester, and every day I am more and more confident in myself as a teacher, and attending this conference has only made me more excited to be an educator. It was relaxing to get to talk with people in similar situations as myself right now and have time to relate to each other and give advice. The Art of Education University was so kind and randomly gave me a preservice care package, which bought my lunch one day during the trip and they talked to me about the resources they have for teachers. I was able to reconnect with my Cooperating Teachers from previous placements. I was also able to pick up information on potentially getting a master’s degree from different colleges which is something I have thought more and more about every day. Attending conferences like these has been so beneficial to my development as an educator and I greatly appreciate AIM providing us with these opportunities to grow while still in college.

VERONICA JACQUES’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

The NAEA 2024 National Conference was an amazing experience. I feel that my knowledge and abilities to support my students has grown exponentially. I have learned how to support many of my students from many different backgrounds. I feel more confident to help my students be successful in art no matter where they started or what challenges they face. I feel more ready than ever to get into the classroom and feel confident that I can support ANY students in the art room. I feel brighter now that I have more tools in my art teacher tool belt. I feel that I am prepared to be a very successful educator. I have not only grown as an individual, but through this experience, I was able to make more connections with other aspiring art educators at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and that we are able to share more experiences and resources with one another. 

2023 WAEA FALL CONFERENCE

During October of 2023, fourteen UW-Stout preservice students had the opportunity to attend the WAEA state convention in the Wisconsin Rapids! By having the opportunity to meet experienced educators, gain valuable resources, and even lead a panel, participants came back with an abundant amount of information, stories, and insights! 

This years participants included:  

Preservice Teachers: 

• Haley Parsneau  

• Gwen Stein  

•  Jasmine Sanchez 

• Marci Kodl  

• Veronica Jacques  

• Annabelle Dick  

• Anna Kopplin 

• Grace Vincent 

• Emma Cassman  

• Mikayla Boehm  

• Lin Boland 

• Abigail Thompson  

• Amelia Johnson  

• Kayla Ellefson  

• Lily Schwartz 

• Kiaya Schroeder 

AMELIA JOHNSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

At his year's WAEA conference I engaged in new artistic strategies and mediums but also engaged in meaningful conversations with fellow educators. These interactions have enriched my understanding of classroom management techniques and have given me helpful insights into the specific age groups they prefer to teach. I've gained a more comprehensive understanding of the differences between teaching in larger versus smaller schools. In addition to these experiences, my discussions with other teachers have shed light on the importance of thinking of interviews as a two-way process. It's not just the school evaluating potential candidates, but also candidates evaluating the school. I've learned what questions to ask during interviews to ensure that the school's culture, values, and expectations align with my own goals and teaching philosophy. Overall I continued to further deepen previous understanding as well from past conferences.  

I tried new avenues in art-making that have introduced me to new strategies and mediums I hadn't previously tried. Additionally, I've also gained insights into various methods for offering support to students from diverse backgrounds and identities specifically on how to accommodate and provide new tools and techniques for students to help the arts be more accessible. As a result, I now feel better prepared to create an inclusive and accepting environment within my school and classroom, ensuring that all students feel valued.  

Over the weekend, my confidence increased while I was with other pre-service- full time teachers who were passionate for the arts. Their presence and shared experiences served as an inspiration, further fueling my dedication to choosing the major and future career of art education. During these interactions, they were important to me as I learned important information from teachers as well as stories. I now have a greater sense of confidence in the classroom methods and techniques that can benefit my students.  

I'm committed to becoming a teacher. This was fueled  by the people I met at the conference as they have been a big inspiration. It was amazing to see educators of all ages there, and their long-lasting passion for teaching was motivating. I want to follow in their footsteps, staying dedicated and passionate, just like the teachers I connected with at the conference.  

I was filled with enthusiasm throughout the conference, constantly encountering new discoveries and engaging experiences. It brought me great joy to participate in various sessions that helped me to grow closer to new ways to enhance how I will be as a teacher. . I'm very appreciative of the chance to be a part of this conference and the opportunities that came my way during the weekend and after the conference with life long skills.  

I deepened my connection with art education peers, creating lasting memories together. This experience helped me better understand classmates I don't usually engage with and provided insights into their passion for teaching. I also spent time with peers I usually don't have time to  interact with and gained knowledge about educators' age group preferences and teaching methods for lesson plans and curriculum. Through these conversations and shared experiences, I gained a deeper understanding of the different dynamics in the field of education and within our major.These interactions not only enriched my personal connections but also broadened my professional understanding and capabilities.  

Thank you for choosing me to continue to attend the WAEA conference for a second year. It has given me the opportunity to grow in my knowledge and confidence as a future art educator. 

ANNA KOPPLIN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I knew going into this trip that attending the WAEA State Conference would be helpful for my future career as an art educator—that was why I signed up, after all—but I had no idea that after just two days, I would walk away feeling so much more confident about taking on my upcoming practicums. As we were leaving, I told one of the new friends in Art Education that I made while I was here that “I feel like this conference has been a year!” because I’d learned that much.  

I think the most meaningful part of the conference for me personally, and the part that inspired me the most, was having conversations with current teachers who were attending the conference as well. When I wasn’t with other Stout students, I went out of my way to sit with strangers if there was an open seat nearby, and while we worked or had free time to talk, I told them I was a preservice teacher and asked them questions about teaching. Everyone at the conference was extremely friendly, and when they learned I was a preservice teacher, they were always super encouraging and glad to give me advice or just talk about their own early teaching experiences. One example of this was in my last session on Thursday. I sat next to someone who was only a few years older than me and had been teaching art to middle schoolers in the Madison school district for four years. I got to ask her questions about establishing herself in her district, what she liked about the age group she taught, what rules she had in her classroom that she didn’t expect to make, and what she thinks I should look for in a prospective employer. In Disability Identity Through Art, I had a thoughtful conversation with a more experienced art teacher who was passionate about working with students with disabilities. I signed up for as many workshops that I could surrounding the topic of disability because I’m personally very interested in the intersection between art education and special education, and this teacher had a lot of really great examples of how she’d helped students with disabilities flourish in the art classroom, and how seeing them be successful changed her philosophy as an art teacher. There was also so much advice in every session about classroom management that I found invaluable and took lots of notes on.  

Overall, this conference really reinforced for me that I’m on the right path, and I’m so excited to include some of what I learned in future lesson plans and practicums. I truly think every art education student would benefit from attending one WAEA/NAEA conference, and I’m glad I got to attend this one.  

JASMINE SANCHEZ’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Attending the WAEA State Conference has helped me learn many things as a pre-service art educator. It has taught me the significance of fostering an adaptive classroom environment for students who may struggle with communication and mobility challenges so they can participate at the same level as other students. This not only includes creating and providing the necessary tools and accommodation but also includes creating an environment where every student, regardless of ability, feels safe, empowered, and inspired. It has also taught me the importance of self-awareness as an educator and recognizing the limit of my expertise to provide a quality visual arts education to my students. Teaching things in depth and being able to explain every part of the process is more important than trying to achieve lofty goals.  

Meeting other art educators has also helped to reinspire my confidence in being an art teacher. Seeing that even experienced art educators don’t know everything and are always working to improve their curriculum and themselves has instilled in me that it’s okay that I don’t know everything and that the best educators are those who remain committed to lifelong learning. Creating the projects has also reignited my passion for art and artistic expression and reminded me that art educators are not only teachers of knowledge but also artists who create enthusiasm and inspiration within their students. I know that this will transfer to my students when they are creating their own artwork.  

Going to this conference has just confirmed that I am on the right career path as an art educator. When attending sessions, I was able to imagine how I would teach the lesson or put the tools I learned into practice in the classroom. I have been able to see what I want my future classroom to look like and how I want to run it. I now know the type of relationship I would like to have with my students and how to create that.  

The trip as a whole has lifted my spirits during a tough time in my life. I was able to recharge my creative juices and focus on learning new things. During the maker’s marker, seeing the creations of fellow art educators and fellow artists filled me with a feeling of warmth and made me proud to be an art educator.   

I was able to better connect with my art education peers through this trip and we had fun attending events together and talking during dinner. However, it was also fun to talk with more experienced teachers and learn how they run their classrooms and their tips for me as a pre-service teacher. Overall, I have learned so much during this conference and am excited to learn more. 

KAYLA ELLEFSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I felt that the WAEA State Conference had a great impact on my current position in art education as well as my future becoming an art teacher. I gained a lot of knowledge, specifically with guidance on what kinds of lessons I should be choosing for my students. I realized that a lot of lessons I have saved on Pinterest or assignments I had through school didn’t allow for much if any personal meaning or expression. I was told by my teacher exactly what to create and if I strayed from that, I would be punished with a poor grade. I do not want this for my students. I want my students to have fun creating art that is impactful for them, art that has meaning or personal connection. I learned that this is called Authentic Student Art and I need to consider it with every lesson I assign my students.   

Two of the sessions I attended talked about students with disabilities and helping them get the same access to an art education as everyone else. This means that I should consider my art materials may be affecting my students negatively and find alternative resources for them. I also need to encourage my students with disabilities to delve into their experiences and help them find pride in what they’ve been through. This can happen when I give my students assignments about identity to allow for conversations between peers.   

I felt very passionate about my future career coming out of the conference. I felt that these sessions gave me a lot of inspiration for my future classroom and empowered me to know the worth of my position as an art teacher. Educators can have such a great impact on their students, whether that be positive or negative and I need to be that positive support for my students. I can use my class to empower students through art. I was also inspired by the session about creating an art club. We were showed how an art club is a great way to build a community in your art classes and show that art should be respected in your school. Members of the club can also be shown other responsibilities like helping around the school and setting up for art shows. Even though you’re giving extra effort that is unpaid, it can be so impactful for building relationships between peers and yourself.   

Attending the Wisconsin Art Education Association Conference was an incredibly uplifting experience that had a profound impact on my well-being. The energy and enthusiasm of the event left me feeling inspired about my future career as an art teacher. I couldn't help but feel empowered by the camaraderie among fellow art educators. This conference rekindled my passion and made me believe in my potential as a great teacher who can make a real difference in the lives of my students. It provided me with not only practical tools but also a renewed sense of self-confidence that has since fueled my motivation and determination to excel in my chosen path, contributing significantly to my overall happiness and well-being.  

The WAEA Conference really helped me to connect with my fellow art education majors. It provided us with quality time to hang out and talk about why we all decided to pursue this major as well as what we learned in our sessions. These conversations really helped us bond and appreciate each other's unique journeys. What made it even better was the chance to chat with experienced art teachers already out there in the field. We got to pick their brains about everything from the grade levels they chose to what to expect in interviews, and even got some fantastic suggestions on job hunting and ideas for our future classrooms. These interactions not only gave us great advice but also strengthened our friendship as a group of budding art educators. 

KIAYA SCHROEDER’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Overall, the WAEA conference was an extremely positive experience where I got the opportunity to make connections with art teachers in the field, my art education peers, learn multiple ways of teaching art, and be supported in my choice to become a lifelong art educator. I had enriching discussions and conversations with a range of art teachers from pre-service like me to retired. They shared with me their stories, ideas, creative skills, and professional skills and I tried to absorb every bit of it. I feel as though I made new and grew current friendships with my fellow pre-service teachers. I loved getting to experience professional development with a large group of determined and passionate future teachers.  

During the conference I also acquired so much free stuff! Not only was it free but everything that I got can be applied to teaching the visual arts in my practicum experience, student teaching, and soon in my years of being a licensed art educator. I also acquired multiple lesson plan ideas, physical lesson plans, project samples, and so many helpful tools for when I become a first-year teacher. I got to expand my knowledge of the of art that can be created and how to apply that as a teacher. That being said, I treasure the lesson plans handed out to me during the sessions because I know that they have been used with current students and created by people who have crafted them to suit those students. I look forward to modifying and building upon the ideas and processes formed in those lesson plans to suit my future students and my need as the teacher. A major take-away I learned is that you can do all the online research in the world about what it means and takes to become an art teacher, but nothing beats in person conversations you learn so much just by being in a room buzzing with people that people and love art.   

Seeing so many art teachers in the state of Wisconsin spread their love for teaching the visual arts inspired me and made me excited for when I have my own classroom, district, and arts community. One of the things I valued most about the conference was getting to see and learn all the different perspectives of art teachers. There is no one way to be an art teacher, there is only your way and that is perfect. I was in awe of how many art teachers there are in Wisconsin, and I cannot wait to meet more at the national conference. 

LILY SCHWARTZ’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Attending this conference really made me feel included. Not only that, but I learned so much! Being able to attend sessions and receive lesson planning on so many different project areas was amazing, and it was reassuring to talk to some retired art educators. They had lots of tips and seemed to enjoy talking about their experiences. I really enjoyed being a part of the community, and I felt very welcome, even though I am just beginning my journey on the art education path. Talking to current and past educators truly enforced my belief in art education and pursuing this degree.   
 

GRACE VINCENT’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

The WAEA Conference has greatly impacted my identity as a future teacher and given me many of new tools to use in my future classroom. I am in my last semester of classes before student teaching, and being able to network and talk with teachers in the field teaching in their own classrooms really helps to lessen the stress of being in that right before student teaching phase. One of my biggest fears as a future educator is letting my students down, but hearing how educators inspire their students and are encouraging them in their artmaking helps to inspire me to be like them. I learned how to use paper folding techniques to create sculptures. I learned ways to do a comics unit and the different aspects to think about it, and I learned about using unique tools like erasers to make a print from. I love these conferences because I also get to connect with my peers on a way that is deeper than just a classroom level by going on these sessions and spending out evenings hanging out. One of my classmates is in her student teaching placement right now and getting to talk to her about what it is like and her experiences helped to ease a lot of the anxieties about what I will be diving into soon. Attending conferences like this allow me to reignite my commitment to being an art teacher, they help me connect with educators all over the state of Wisconsin and gave me tools and ideas to use in my future classroom.   

LIN BOLAND’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Overall, I think the WAEA conference was an amazing opportunity for myself and other preservice teachers at UW Stout. I had a wonderful time getting to get to know my peers, make exciting new projects, gather more lesson plans, and to network with other art education professionals! I went into the conference excited to get know my peers, and I left knowing more teachers than I could have ever hoped! I got the opportunity to share ideas, learn new ideas and grow with these teachers at the conference, and I left feeling even more confident and excited for teaching, which I didn’t know was possible! Overall, I would love to come to another conference with NAEA, as I really enjoyed the learning and bonding opportunities I was presented with! 

MARCI KODL’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

A) your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?    

At the conference, I learned many new ways to teach in my classroom. Some of these ways are teaching contemporary art, how to make adaptive tools for students, and creating a positive learning environment for students. During the conference, I reflected on what I have done so far in the teaching experience I have had and though of how I could do it better.  

B) your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?    

By attending the conference, my confidence and passion for teaching art become stronger. The first time I went to a conference I was a bit shy and didn’t really talk as much. This year I had more confidence to talk to art educators at the conference. I even got to talk with a couple educators that I met at my first conference and at the national conference. The community at the conference made my passion to be an art educator grow! Everyone is willing to help you out as an educator. To see how happy everyone, one is and we all share the same passion is inspiring.   

C) your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?    

After listening to both the keynote speakers at the conference, I was inspired. It made me realize why I want to be an art teacher again. Since I was in kindergarten, becoming an art teacher has been my biggest dream. I am almost halfway through my junior year of college and I am so ready to be an art educator. The one that stuck out to me the most in their presentations was the theme of never giving up on yourself or your students. Students notice when you the teacher are putting in the work for them. This inspires students and gives students a safe space to go knowing that they can trust you.  

D) your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?    

Something about these conferences that make me so happy. Although I am missing school and trying to catch up on homework at the same time, the conference relaxes me. Everyone who goes from UW-Stout and the educators at the conference are always so excited to be together to share art/teaching. After the conference, I have all these fun photos of the people I went with or met at the conference which makes me happy. It also makes me feel happy and inspired to create my own art and make future lessons with my future students.  

E) your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?              

  The conference allows me to get to know my peers at UW-Stout that might be ahead of me or behind me in the program. I think these relationships are great to have not only now at Stout but, in the future when we are all educators. I got to attend a session with a teacher that I met last year at the state conference. She led the session called, “Quilling for a growth mindset” where she taught us about paper quilling. We got to talk about our paper quilling experience, and I got to share a new technique about paper beads. She was excited to learn something new! These interactions are my favorite part about the conference. In this session, I also got to learn about how TAB from three other art educators at my table. They were from elementary, middle, and high school art classrooms. We talked about some different ways that we could include paper quilling into a lesson of our own. For this session, I now know three art teachers that I may see next year or reach out to! 

HALEY PARSNEAU’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

A) Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?  

The sessions that I focused on were for elementary and middle school level students. Since I am in student teaching and just finished with the high school level, I noticed that I needed more lessons and ideas for my elementary placement. I found that this was very helpful, and I gained great resources for my next placement and try these new lessons.  

B) Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?  

My confidence for teaching has been built up tremendously in student teaching, however my confidence of talking to educators that are retiring and looking for applicants for their job openings. I found that the session where I spoke gave me even more passion for teaching while listening to other art educators and how they were inspired to become teachers.  

C) Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?  

My desire and commitment to being an art teacher has grown so much over the last four years, however, the conference really pushed my commitment to this career. While presenting and also talking with art educators at the UW – Stout Booth really helped with the desire of teaching. Talking with other educators while I am about to start my own career was really inspiring and I was given great advice for my future.  

D) Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?  

I found that this confrence was very beneficial, however on the second day I was not feeling well so I ended up leaving a little earlier. I wish I had been able to stay for my other sessions, but I did look at the resources for the other sessions that I was going to attend and got information from those presenters.  

E) Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?  

I found that my relationships with the other art education students were great, and we bonded over my experiences in student teaching. I gave advice to other art education students since I am further along in the program. I found that I networked with many other art education professionals giving out my business card and resumes. Since I am looking for a teaching job in the next few months, I found this very important to ask for advice in interviews.    

MIKAYLA BOEHM’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I am very grateful to have been able to go on this trip. This trip taught me a lot of 

pedagogy that I have not been able to learn or explore in art classes and opened up my 

mind to new ideas. It was great to hear from teachers who are in the schools and to 

hear what lesson plans and strategies have been effective for them and how to 

implement these ideas into our future classrooms. 

I am not taking any Art Ed classes this semester, so I have really felt 

disconnected from teaching lately. This conference was a great opportunity for me to 

connect with the program and remind me why I love teaching art. It was great to feel 

inspired and to remember my why. 

I enjoyed hearing from people who really enjoy what they do because it helps me 

feel inspired and passionate about teaching. A lot of the media and people in everyday 

life can make you feel like what we do isn’t important and that it isn’t worth it. This 

conference was great because I got to be around people who have the same passion 

for art education that I do. This environment helped me feel more confident in what I do. 

This conference was also fun. There were a lot of engaging activities, a lot of 

opportunities for social interaction, and the hotel had a pool. It was great to be able to 

leave campus for a couple of days and to have fun while also engaging with 

professional development opportunities. 

My favorite part of this event was the makers night. We are all artists and it feels 

great to support others within this community. It loved asking questions, learning more 

about art mediums, and purchasing a work of art. The maker's night was important and 

it was a great way to network with other artists. 

EMMA CASSMAN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Attending the WAEA State Conference was a great experience that taught me a lot of what to expect in my future classroom, taught me lessons to have in my classroom, and how to manage difficult situations. Attending this conference gave me more confidence in my future, as I learned a lot about classroom management, whether that be not having much space in your classroom, lingering struggles from 2020, or students who may need extra support.   

VERONICA, JACQUES’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I chose sessions to build my art teaching knowledge. I received tons of lesson plans as well as tips and tricks to manage the classroom. These ideas will last me a lifetime and I am so excited to start using them in my classroom. My passion for teaching could not have increased more after this conference. I am fully committed to being an art teacher and couldn’t imagine being anything else. I loved seeing how passionate my fellow art educators are about their job and it inspires me to be the best art teacher possible. I was able to form better relationships with my art education peers during the course of this conference. We were able to reconnect after the long day at dinner and the drive back to school. I was able to get some of my peers to do the run/walk with me in the morning. Not only did I walk with my peers but also fellow art education professionals. We talked about how the conference was going and what they collected from the sessions. I gathered information on how they created a better environment for their students and how they managed misbehavior.   

GWEN STEIN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

This conference was a HUGE confidence boost for me! I thought it was so cool that we were given the opportunity to present and that we had a booth there. With my leadership roles in UW-Stouts NAEA I have been able to do a lot of cool stuff but presenting to other teachers was something new for me. I also enjoyed getting to share that experience with some of my other art education peers. My passion for teaching has also grown. I really enjoyed working at the booth and getting to see lots of art teachers excited to talk to their students about art careers. I want to work in high school, so it just made me even more excited than I already was. I also was inspired by my sessions. The new lesson plan ideas are very exciting, and I look forward to using them in my future classroom. The printmaking with eraser session was probably my favorite from this year and made me feel so passionate about this career. It was seeing everyone's different stamps and then collecting them all on our papers. It felt like we as art teachers were a team even if we weren’t teaching together or even the same grades and I think there is magic to that. Overall, I really enjoyed the conference, and I am excited for the next one.   

ABIGAIL THOMPSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

The impact that attending the WAEA State Conference has had on my art teaching knowledge.  

By attending the WAEA State conference my teaching knowledge has broadened by gaining a deeper understanding on some topics and learning new ways to create art. I have received a new burst of excitement in looking forward to creating a career out of teaching and will continue to work to my goal of eventually teaching out of an art studio. Overall, I had a lot of fun at the conference, strengthened my connections with my classmates, and I’m looking forward to the future. 
 

2023 NATIONAL ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONVENTION - SAN ANTONIO

During April of 2023, fifteen UW-Stout preservice students and alumni had the opportunity to attend the NAEA national convention in San Antonio, Texas and online! By having the opportunity to meet experienced educators, gain valuable resources, and explore the city, participants came back with an abundant amount of information, stories, and insights!

This years participants included:

Preservice Teachers:

• Lauren Dillinger

• Gwen Stein

• Bailey Iwen

• Grace Vincent

• Lin Boland

• Marci Kodl

• Annabelle Dick

• Amelia Johnson

• Shawn Platt

Alumni:

• Nicole Seidler

• Amy Lawrence

• Mekenzie Bisel

• Nicole Burt

• Emma Kokko

BAILEY IWEN CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

Attending this NAEA National Conference in Texas , I felt very connected and passionate about the profession of being an Art Teacher. I believe the idea of finding true pride in your professional aligns with the mission of our Arts Integration. We lead with our hearts and what we know, and when we truly love what we speak about, and find passion, the students will see this reflected in our instruction and serving them. An aspect I noticed specific to this conference was the PRIDE we all shared in being the art teacher and instructing our students for their sake. This is definitely what I take away most memorably from the conference, giving me the inspiration to pursue what I truly love, and to continuously feel the pride for my profession. 

EMMA KOKKO’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

Attending the NAEA Convention allowed me to get to know my colleagues, participate in a community of like-minded individuals, and inspire me to be a better teacher and make time for my own art practice. My favorite aspect of the convention was knowing that there is an entire community of art teachers that choose to come together to learn from each other. The sessions, especially the keynotes, gave me hope for the future and for teaching. On social media, the future of teaching seems so bleak. With low wages, poor legislation, gun violence, and other factors contributing to teacher shortages, I sometimes question my choice to become an art  teacher. However, being a part of this group of people made me feel hope for the profession, and made me realize despite the negativity, I can make changes and help others. Wisconsin is so rural and it is easy to lose sight of the larger picture sometimes, and it is essential that teachers have opportunities like this to connect with others. The convention inspired me to lose my fear of the people in charge who try to silence us, filter our history, to tell us what to teach and what not to teach. The solidarity of the NAEA community encouraged me to teach art with a lens that allows students to express their identities, speak their truth, and learn their own histories. When we work with people who are different from us, and our students work with people who are different than them, change can happen. All of us are out here, in this field, just trying our best for the sake of our youth, who are our future.

Another big thing I took away from this convention was the inspiration to create my own art and to continue to be a practicing artist. I find that it is much more helpful to students when they know you really love it, and that you make things apart from demos. I was so inspired to go home and start a visual journal, to weave, paint, etc. I think that when we get inspired as teachers, it can help us to inspire our students and make us feel more connected to our work. As teachers, we need to do these things for ourselves! We constantly give, and we need to make sure that we are giving ourselves time to do the thing that made us want to become art teachers in the first place. Good art teachers make art. 

Overall, this convention gave me a much-needed boost. I’ve been subbing recently, and it has made me excited to have my own art room and to incorporate lessons where students feel free to express themselves, have uncomfortable conversations, and make changes. America can be a scary place, and teachers and students are on the front lines. This convention made me feel, instead of fear, hope for the future and solidarity with like-minded people.  

AMY LAWRENCE’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

I had an insightful experience attending this convention. Having a chance to attend a plethora of sessions left me feeling more well-rounded than when I came in. I was able to learn from artists, researchers, and educators with such different backgrounds. I made a conscious effort to attend sessions that addressed a wide range of topics to give myself a comprehensive experience. Sessions I attended included topics such as cultural responsiveness, supporting LGBTQIA+ students, technology integration, and increasing student engagement through incorporating popular culture. I feel this all enhanced my knowledge and abilities.

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

Attending these conventions always leaves me feeling fired up and ready to return to the classroom. After hearing like-minded people speak on a variety of important topics, I was instilled with a stronger sense of confidence in my abilities. As well as a deep excitement to lesson plan for the end of this year and next school year as I left with so many new, fun, ideas. 

Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

The National Convention gave me an opportunity to reflect on just how awesome my job is! Being surrounded by people in my field in a learning environment provided reminders of what makes being an art teacher so enjoyable. Our job is leaving impact on young minds daily. Students deserve a safe, encouraging space to explore and express themselves. We get to offer that space and facilitate multifaceted growth in subjects we are passionate about. 

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

My overall happiness has vastly improved from attending this convention. I feel grateful for Arts Integration Menomonie providing me with an opportunity to attend. I feel grateful for TAEA for inviting fellow art educators to their state, and such a beautiful cultural city of San Antonio. Lastly, I feel grateful for the presenters and all who worked behind the scenes to help art educators expand our knowledge and skillset. It is so amazing that this many people can come together advocating for art education!

Your relationships with other art education students or networking with other art education professionals?

One thing that stands out to me at any NAEA or WAEA event is the sense of comradery and willingness to help that emanates from fellow art educators. I felt so comfortable striking up conversations at this event and always had plenty to talk about. I found other art educators to follow on social media, had some meaningful conversations, and made it a point to just compliment others for the sake of spreading positivity. Even outside of the convention center, I was able to network with other art educators if I spotted any lanyards, bags, or artsy clothing. Even if the conversation was simply about what our teaching positions looked like, I found it very insightful to see what teaching art looks like for others.

AMELIA JOHNSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

Is your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities? 

I had many opportunities, especially during the sessions to engage actively in discussions that I previously did not have much insight on. I learned new lesson ideas, ways to accommodate students, and how to better the learning of my students overall. I feel more equipped with ideas of how I would someday like to run my own classroom once I have graduated. I also gained knowledge on materials and tools that can be implemented into my classroom during the venue while visiting different art companies. I learned about new mediums that I am excited to research and investigate more.

your confidence in and/or passion for teaching? 

Throughout the school year, so much can be going on that it is easy to lose sight of why I am doing what I am. I want to become a teacher! This conference sparked the love and excitement that I have towards what I am doing. It was so nice to be around those who felt the same way. It. Also served as providing me with role models that I will strive to look up to as I want to continue to see myself at this conference years from now, as passionate as they are.

your desire and commitment to be an art teacher? 

I feel that my previous answer encompasses’ this question

your overall mood, happiness, or well-being? 

The previous week leading up to this trip I had been very stressed out and overwhelmed due to academics and my job. I was feeling frustrated which was resulting in me being very critical and negative towards myself. This conference allowed me to stay away from what was going wrong and overwhelming me. It gave me the opportunity to refocus on what is truly important to me in the big picture of things (becoming an art educator). I felt so positive and happy during this trip. I returned from this trip to reenergize and am excited to continue working. I saw things in a new light after I returned.

E) your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?     

It was so good to be a part of a community. I enjoyed talking to current or retired educators about their experiences as well as asking what their main words of advice would be. I was able to bond with my peers as well as my professors. I also had the opportunity to meet Stout Alumni that I had previously heard of, but never met. It was nice being able to build those connections and learn more from my colleagues.

MEKENZIE BISEL’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities? 

Attending the convention increased my knowledge in teaching art and all it includes. The ability to gather new ideas and information and begin to brainstorm how to bring it all into my classroom for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. It is great to know there are always new things to learn and try while teaching, and that it is important to remember to constantly reflect on my teaching practices.

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching? 

After each convention I’ve attended my confidence and passion grow! The amount of information I am able to take in at these conventions in such a short period of time is so useful, and a great tool to assist me and grow my confidence going into my first year of teaching. 

Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher? 

My overall desire and commitment to being an art teacher is present and has been leveled up a notch due to attending the convention. Simply being around other Art Educators ignites that purpose and desire to be an art teacher. The environment and community at the convention was wonderful and a great reminder that Art does matter to others and can impact student’s educational experience significantly. 

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being? 

Reflecting on the impact attending the convention had on my overall mood, happiness, and well-being I can say all is well. It is hard to not feel well and be filled with happiness after attending informative art education sessions and having a great experience with other art educators. 

Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?           

Attending the convention with other Stout alumni and preservice teachers provided the opportunity to catch up and create memories with others. My convention experience would not have been the same without the other alumni and preservice teachers! 

LAUREN DILLINGER’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

A) Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities? 

Pertaining to my knowledge and capabilities as a preservice art educator, attending the NAEA National Convention helped immensely. Since I have an idea of where I might be teaching soon, I picked and chose which sessions would assist me the most. Therefore, I gained an abundant amount of resources and information to bring with me as I move forward. Additionally, since there had been a couple of session that I had been interested in that happened at the same time as each other, it is great to have access to the virtual component of the convention since I can conveniently download the materials from each of the sessions if there had been one that I missed. Therefore, it is safe to say that I gained a lot of tools while attending the convention, and I am excited to add them to my toolbelt! 

B) Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching? 

After attending the NAEA convention, my passion and/or confidence in teaching art has expanded. By engaging with art educators from all over the nation, it reminded me of how supportive the community that I am a part of is. By going into the convention with half of the students teaching under my belt, I had some concerns and recognized that I needed some reassurance as I made my way towards graduation. That said, any doubts or concerns about my confidence in the decision to teach had dissipated through this welcoming and engaging experience.  

C) Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher? 

Overall, I am SO ready to be an art educator soon. To be frank I am just waiting and waiting to finally be in my own classroom! (In a good way) 😊. That said, as mentioned above, this experience has provided me with a lot of resources, activities, and lessons to take into the classroom; therefore, I am eager, now more than ever, to start implementing them and testing them out for myself! Because of this, my desire to teach continues to grow, and I am excited to continue the path that I am on.  

D) Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being? 

Regarding my overall mood and well-being, the location of the convention had a lot of influence this year. While in San Antonio, TX, it was a beautiful spot to be. Full of life, gorgeous scenery, and historic landmarks/artwork, it provided the NAEA National Convention attendees with an artistic experience both inside and outside of the convention center location. Because of this, I very much enjoyed my time and came back to UW-Stout feeling refreshed, excited, and eager to be back in the classroom student teaching. 

E) Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?      

With a variety of art education students and alumni attending the convention this spring, it provided everyone with a space to be with both unfamiliar and familiar faces. By sharing this experience with my peers, I am certain that I will remember it for many years to come, and I am happy to have such a fun, supportive group of individuals around me while traveling across the country. Apart from my peers, it was exciting to network with other art education professionals throughout the three-day convention, and it was always a feel-good moment when I would recognize presenters or teachers from Wisconsin as we immediately had something to talk about! 

NICOLE SEIDLER’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

The impact that the NAEA conference had on my art teaching knowledge and abilities was great. I always enjoy going to these conferences because it really shows me how much I know and how much I can grow to learn more about. These conferences put me in a good reflection mindset where I can relate my current knowledge as an art educator to many new learning opportunities for myself and my students. I can say that I walk away from this conference with many new thoughts and resources I will use to better myself as an educator and my students. 

The conference has had a positive impact on my confidence and passion for teaching. These conferences show me that I am not alone. Teaching is an art in itself so continuing to be lifelong learner through these experiences with other educators across the US has definitely impacted my confidence towards teaching. NAEA conventions have really showed me the impact I have on the lives of others, and what I can do to help students succeed in school. Attending these conferences always ignites my passion for teaching all over again. The sessions bring so many ideas and new possibilities which get me excited to teach.

The conference has shown me that my desire and commitment to being a teacher is very strong. After the conference, I know that I am completely committed to being an art educator because it combines my love for art, and teaching others. NAEA conferences also remind me that not only am I an art educator, but I am also an artist. I think that it is especially important for art educators to understand. Networking throughout my time at the conference is another great aspect of growing as an educator. We can learn so much from each other which is why I feel like these conferences are so important. 

Overall, I had an amazing time at the conference, and it has reminded me of how much I wanted to be an art educator to shape the minds of students. I had an amazing experience on this trip, and I would do it all over again if I got the chance because of the resources and experiences.

MARCI KODL’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

My knowledge as a future art teacher has grown from attending this conference. By listening to other teachers talk about their experience with teaching art to students and by having a conversation with these teachers. I have a better understanding of where I want to learn more and where I could expand my abilities. 

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

My confidence and passion for teaching have also grown with attending this conference. Having many art educators in one room seemed scary but, after attending I really felt like I was one of them and that any one is willing to expand another’s education on teaching art. As a pre-service teacher this meant the world to me because I felt supported by the choice I made when deciding to become an art teacher. 

Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

My desire and commitment to becoming an art teacher has become stronger than before attending the conference. The conference showed me the community I will be a part of as an art teacher and the opportunities that I receive to be a better art teacher. Everyone seems connected in some way although we are all from different states and cities. I am committed to learning new ways of teaching/new ideas for my future students.

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

Overall, my mood was excited to learn new things by listening to teachers/speakers at the conference. I was excited to share what I learned at the conference, with my peers back at UW-Stout that didn’t get to attend. I was excited to also share my view as a pre-service teacher attending a national conference.

Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

My relationships between my peers and alumni teachers grew so much during this trip. I learned so many things about my peers that I didn’t know before this trip. I felt like we all had a better understanding of each other and how we connect to art. Talking to teachers that are alumni and have been teaching was a cool experience also. I didn’t know most of them but now I do, and I am grateful. They shared with me how their class is set up and how they like to teach within their school. It was interesting to hear a different perspective of an art teacher that has only been teaching for a couple years. 

GRACE VINCENT’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

The NAEA National Convention greatly impacted me, and has better prepared me to be a future art educator. When it comes to my knowledge and abilities the session on inclusion of all students provided a ton of insight on working with students who are from cultures different from mine, and students who have disabilities and how to make sure my lessons properly represent and can be done by those students. I was able to really learn about what to considering when planning the lessons I am teaching, and how to adapt lessons so all students can participate in the art making. Hearing stories from other art educators at the conference really got me feeling passionate about becoming an art teacher. Before my Friday sessions, I sat and drank coffee with a lady from Texas and her and I talked for about an hour. She was talking to me about her journey, how she became and art teacher, and what it is like teaching at a Catholic Private School. It makes me so excited to be a teacher when I get to talk to other art teachers and hear their stories, it makes me hopeful that someday I too will get to have those experiences and that impact on my own students. My desire to be an art teacher had been wavering this semester with hearing everything happening in the news, as well as hearing from a lot of people not to go into education and that it isn’t worth it. These stories and hearing from speakers at these sessions helped to remind me why I wanted to pursue this major, and why I will continue to finish it out and become the best art teacher I can. While a lot of the sessions I attended were very emotionally draining, I was able to find time to relax and reflect on what I was hearing at the sessions while on this trip. I was able to grow closer to my arted peers and make memories with them in another state at a conference that helped to better prepare us as future art educators. I didn’t live on campus ever and started as a transfer student, so I initially found it hard to find time to really get to know my fellow ARTED peers. This conference, the NAEA meetings, and things like that have really helped me to have chances to really connect with my peers. Overall, this conference has better prepared me to be an art educator, reignited my passion for becoming one, and helped to make and deepen connections with arted professionals and peers. 

SHAWNA PLATT’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

A)  My knowledge has greatly been expanded even just from being at the conference virtually! Even through the screen I could feel the passion and community through all of the presenters and other art educators.

B) My confidence and passion have never been higher. Seeing that so many of other art educators are so willing to help the other out and build a supporting community even for new art educators is very boosting! I won’t just be diving into it on my own because I have everyone else in my field behind me and ready to help me when I need it. 

C) My commitment to this career has greatly increased after this conference after seeing how dedicated and accepting every other art educator is! It gives me great comfort in knowing that even if I feel a little lost my fellow peers will have my back. 

D) I am excited and eager to keep pursuing and learning all that I can from my peers and more experienced professionals. I want to keep going and learn to prepare myself for my own classroom. I want to continue to learn more about my future professional and the people I will be working with and the community that surrounds it.

            E) I find that I am very hyperactive person once my peers have engaged with me in some way and this has aided me in socializing. It’s also lead to me talking to more experienced art educators at other conferences and just making those connections throughout the state. This conference has reminded me that I will never be alone no matter where I decide to go when I graduate, because the art educators are a community. 

GWEN STEIN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE

This conference has affected my overall knowledge and teaching because I have new lesson ideas and I learned a lot of ableism and how to interact with differences in education specifically with autism. I think my confidence and passion has been increased because the sessions I went to that meant the most to me were about mental illness and mental health and it made me happy to see that other teachers care about that, and I think it has helped my confidence because I am better equipped to help all students in my classroom. My desire to be a teacher has improved from this trip because seeing so many current teachers and talking to so many current teachers makes me want to get in there and start teaching and making a difference. My mood has been increased because I got to get closer to my art education peers and through this trip I have made friends who I know are there for me and want to help me in my education journey. 

2022 WAEA Fall Conference Collaborate

2022 ART EDUCATORS OF MINNESTOA/ WISCONSIN ART EDUCATION CONVENTION -RED WING MN 

During October of 2022, sixteen UW-Stout preservice students had the opportunity to attend the AME/WAEA convention in Red Wing, Minnesota! By having the opportunity to meet experienced educators, gain valuable resources, learn about the importance of collaboration, and explore the area, participants came back with an abundant amount of information, stories, and insights!  

This years participants included: 

• Alissa Ruppel 

• Haley Parsneau 

• Bailey Iwen 

• Mekenzie Bisel 

• Grace Vincent 

• Marci Kodl 

• Lin Boland 

• Emma Cassman 

• Abigail Tompson 

• Gwen Stein 

• Veronica Jacques 

• Amelia Johnson 

• Shawna Platt 

• Lauren Dillinger 

• Scott Cable 

• Anabelle Dick 

ALISSA RUPPEL’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

A) your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?  

This conference positively impacted my knowledge and abilities as an art educator. I was given new lesson plans, ideas, and materials. I learned to practice good habits in front of my students like experimenting with new materials, and taking some time to be mindful and take care of your mental health. I think combining everything that I learned at this conference and the knowledge that I have gained in college so far will heavily contribute to the success of my future classroom, and the level of my ability as an art educator.  

B) your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?  

This experience not only boosted my confidence as an art teacher, but it also enhanced my passion for teaching. I gained confidence when I found experienced art teachers that were going through the same obstacles I am as a preservice teacher. It is nice to know that I will always have a community of people to ask questions, bounce ideas off of, and empathize with. The community of people I was able to engage with at this conference gave me confidence that there are folks who are as passionate as me about teaching the younger generations about art and how important it is.  

C) your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?  

Attending this conference contributed to my desire to become an art educator. The knowledge I gathered at this conference solidified my commitment toward becoming a future art educator. I want to live my life informing others about the beauty of our world, and help students grow as individuals.  

D) your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?  

The key speakers at the conference gave me time to self-reflect and consider new possibilities. This positively impacted my overall mood and well-being. I have been practicing choosing joy and creating opportunities to be mindful for not only myself, but for my future students. I hope that along with my curriculum, I am able to teach them to take time to attend to their mental health and well-being and to do things that bring them joy.  

E) your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?  

I met so many art teachers at this conference. I was even reunited with my high school art teacher who had left a very positive impact on my life during my teen years. She was one of the reasons I had decided to become an art teacher. Seeing her boosted my confidence. Meeting other art educators was very beneficial as well. There were moments I would find myself in deep conversation with other teachers without even trying. It was so easy to communicate with others about experience, relatable issues, and their students. I was given so much advice and was encouraged by so many to keep pursuing this amazing and rewarding career.  

HALEY PARSNEAU’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I found that overall, this conference was very impactful for my future career in Art Education. I was able to gain knowledge on aspects of teaching that are not taught in college courses like the maintenance of kilns. I would highly suggest for any preservice teacher to attend conferences like this one because it gives us the chance to talk to many different teachers, administrators, vendors, and artists. This gave me more confidence into what I will be teaching in my own classroom and even gave me more confidence in my pre-student teaching experiences. 

BAILEY IWEN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

This WAEA State Conference has enhanced the confidence I feel within myself for my students in my future classroom because I was comfortable enough with the content that I almost knew what they were going to say.   

My knowledge was tickled a bit with a couple tips and tricks for the classroom I acquired, like laying a paintbrush flat on a countertop to dry, and saving watercolor pencil tips as well as making art with your shoes-especially if students are missing certain limbs.   

My confidence is soaring as I am about to enter my student teaching experience in the spring, and had many people get excited with me on my journeys into the Art Education world.   

Just by talking with people about my excitement, I felt my passion swell and share with everyone how ready I feel for my future. The sessions were lead by teachers who were all very student-first oriented, and I appreciated their commitment and work into becoming the best version of their self for the sake of their students. I desire nothing more in life than to be the most passionate Art Educator I can possibly be.  

This conference came at a wonderful time to contribute to my overall well-being of having the opportunity to get away and back to where my thoughts and feelings all started, surrounded by positive influential people who strive for similar practices. I felt overwhelmingly happy and grateful to be able to attend the conference, and with it being close to home, I believe I made connections with a real possibility for maintaining those relationships. Luckily the smalltown feel provided a very natural Segway into natural conversations with all of the folks I interacted with, allowing the opportunity for transparent conversations centered around the encouragement for my new upcoming experience.   

With the allowance for many of my fellow future educators to attend the trip, I was able to interact with everyone on a personal level, which was extremely beneficial for me to get a better understanding of their experiences. Lots of people I see in class but hadn’t made outside efforts to engage in conversation beyond the surface level for class purposes. It felt nice to be more than just a classmate with everyone, and to level understandings and share advice with each other.   

I felt well-practiced in articulating my thoughts and experiences when providing answers to the many questions I received throughout the trip. This was an experience I will not forget and hope to build from in the future.   

MEKENZIE BISEL’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

The WAEA/AEM Fall Conference was extremely informative and left me with an abundance of information. Throughout the past three years of my undergrad at Stout I have attended several conferences and they never disappoint; I always seems to learn new information. Not only was attending sessions beneficial, but it was nice to be surrounded by other Stout Art Education students and Minnesota/Wisconsin Art educators.  

I enjoyed having a variety of sessions where I was either creating, learning, or participating in activities. It was great to learn new information that will help me during the rest of my student teaching experience and during my first year of teaching.  All the past conferences I’ve attended I left feeling excited and ready to student teacher, this conference I can take what I learned and bring it straight to the classroom Monday and talk with my cooperating teacher about what I learned and how I can start to implement it into my teaching.   

It was nice to be surrounded by other art educators who have years of experience and to see them just as excited to be at the conference as myself. As well as attending the conference with other Stout Art Education students. I felt comfort in being around others with the same passion for teaching art. I found myself thinking about I will be able to use everything I have learned at the conference so soon when I get my first job after graduation! I am excited to be able to practice what I have learned!   

Yet again, I am leaving the conference excited to get into the art room with students, to build a positive and safe community while creating art with the students.   

I am grateful that AIM has provided myself and others to have this wonderful experience of attending the WAEA Conference.  

GRACE VINCENT’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

 
This was my first WAEA conference, or even just conference in general. I was not expecting to gain so much knowledge, get so many lesson plans and ideas, and to connect with as many people as I did. I feel more confident when it comes to adaptive learning and how to interact with paras. I also feel like my passion for wanting to be a teacher has been reignited. I was starting to feel really burnt out this semester and the conference was exactly what I needed to reignite the reasoning I wanted to be a teacher. I have a passion for this, even if I am struggling with sticking with it and doubting, I am going to be a good teacher at times. It made me feel better hearing from other educators and knowing that I am still going to struggle with certain things after, I won’t be prepared for everything, but all those other educators who are struggling and have questions still have a passion for their students and for art. It was a good reminder as to why I am in this program in the first place – to create art, teach art, and be there for my students. This trip is the first time I really got to connect with my peers in ArtEd and really get to know some of them due to how busy and crazy my schedule usually is. I really look forward to going to more events like this, deepening relationships, creating more art, and strengthening my passion for this career. Thank you AIM and UW-Stout for providing us with this opportunity as the things I learned and the people I met because of it are going to be there even when I have graduated.    

MARCI KODL’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

A) your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?   

By attending this conference, my knowledge and abilities have expanded greatly. I have a better idea of how art teachers manage their art supplies. Managing art supplies includes how students handle art supplies, organizing art supplies, and using all of the art supplies to their full compacity. I learned tips and tricks of creating lessons and how to set up students supplies to work the best. This causes less accidents with art supplies and efficient work time for students.  

B) your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?   

Attending this conference boosted my confidence and passion for teaching. It gave me new insights and understandings of the art education world.  Talking to art teachers that are out in the field about their own classroom, made me feel excited to have that bond with my future students. Teachers described lessons that were their favorite so far this school year and shared photos of the artwork. Hearing other art educators talk about their passion for making the art education programs better, gave me confidence and understanding when describing what I am learning as a student. With their response it also helped me understand where I stand in my path as an art educator. It also gave me a different perspective of things I could do and shouldn’t do as a future teacher.  

C) your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?   

This conference showed my desire to be an art teacher even more than I already knew when deciding to be an art teacher. Everyone I met or learned from at the conference inspired me and made me excited to explore my abilities of teaching students about art. I have wanted to be an art teacher since kindergarten. Not only am I living out my dreams, but this conference drove my commitment to being an art teacher to another level.  

D) your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?   

Leading up to, during, and after the conference, my overall mood has been better. The opportunity to learn new things with my peers made me so happy. Especially since this is an absolute dream for me. Having three art filled days was a wonderful, exciting experience.   

E) your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?  

By attending the conference, not only did I make connections to teachers at the conference, but I also made connections with my fellow classmates. I got to speak to Olivia Bondlander, a first-year art teacher, I worked with in the 4H AIM internship. I was cool to connect with a new teacher after knowing them as a student last year. I learned so much about my art education peers and why they wanted to become teachers. They also explained what they hope to add to their classroom someday.     

LIN BOLAND’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Overall this state conference was very impactful for me and my peers, with learning how to create different project samples for class as well as different philosophies/ideation we can explore throughout our teaching. When it comes to knowledge for teaching or how to teach something, the short, hands-on classes were amazing, and helped me understand more how I can help students understand how to explore different materials and get creative with the tools they are given. Learning these different skills, ideations and techniques helped me become more confident in how communicate with students in a more constructive and productive manner. Learning how to integrate LGBTQ+ artists as well as LGBTQ+ artists of color will help students in my classroom be able to find artists they can relate to as well as people who look different/ are different from the ‘norm’ to look up to in general. To add to this, attending the conference this fall has helped me have a more positive outlook on teaching general, which surprised me as I am already looking forward to everything that there is in the future! Having these resources and connections within the art education community will be incredibly helpful not only for me as a student, but also for myself in the future as I start teaching and writing more lesson plans. I am so excited to use the information that I have collected over the course of the fall 2022 conference and I cannot wait apply my knowledge in the future!  

EMMA CASSMAN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities? 

I think this conference definitely improved my knowledge about teaching. I learned so many different things, like taking something students would normally hate like a research project, and turning it into something fun and creative. Or how to teach my students about diversity and normalizing certain things that aren't seen as much in the classroom. 

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching? 

I met a lot of amazing people at this conference, and I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone more than once. This conference gave me the opportunity to test myself and find what I'm comfortable with, and what I think is important when teaching in the classroom. 

 Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher? 

This experience has for sure increased my commitment, and it makes me even more excited to get out there and teach art. Art is my passion, and I can't wait to share it with my future students and teach them things that I wish I was taught when I was a student. 

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being? 

I had so much fun at this conference. I learned so many things and met so many amazing people, and together we all had a great time. 

Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?     

I met so many new people in the same major as me, and with the same passion to be an art teacher. I’ve never been around someone with the same passions as me, so being at an event surrounding this passion was unbelievable. 

ABIGAIL TOMPSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

A) Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?  

Throughout the WAEA conference I learned several ideas for lesson plans and materials I can use in my future classroom as well as about future careers for students wanting a career in something art related.  

B) Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?  

My confidence definitely grew after attending due to having more ideas and a look into how many other art teachers go about their careers in their classroom and learning how to better conduct myself surrounded by others in the field I’m going into. 

C) Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?  

After attending the conference, I grew more aware of the impact teachers can have on students lives and the impact that creating art can have, because of this my passion only grew in wanting to share the joy of making art to others. 

D) Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?  

Throughout the whole event I had a great time learning and exploring new topics and projects. However, despite making sure I was ahead with homework before going, I felt it was hard to catch up with it after. I think for me this problem would be solved by not going the whole weekend. 

E) Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals? 

I didn’t connect with many other are educators outside of the sessions but when I did, I learned a few new insights into the career field from them. Through this group event I strengthened my relationships with my fellow classmates and even gained a roommate for next year from it. 

GWEN STEIN’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

The overall impact this year's WAEA conference had on me has mainly been with my relationship with my peers in the Art Education program. I got to know the people in my year a lot better and got to bond with them. It was nice to get to know more about what they wanted to do in their future and their previous art experiences. I got to learn how many of my peers have relatives that are art teachers. I also got to see a graduated Art Education student, Olivia Bonlander. This was a cool experience because she got to show us what her district wants her to do for lesson plans and teaching. We also got to see some of the projects her students are working on currently. The conference has also aided in my overall teaching knowledge because I know a lot more about clay and firing than I did before coming to the conference. I got to learn a little bit about how to fix a kiln and how to keep your kiln lasting for a longer time. Overall, this was an invaluable experience and I think that anyone who is able should try their best to go to opportunities like this.   

VERONICA JACQUES’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

At the conference I learned many techniques to uplift and assist my students with their mental health and well-being. I learned ways to include all students and how to create a safe space for them to grow their skills, develop as individuals, and make art. Every project leaves an opportunity for students to develop, collaborate, and connect with each other, teachers, and their community.  I learned so much at the conference and all of it has increased my confidence in my ability to support students as a future art teacher. I have gained so much knowledge of tactics and tools for my future classroom. Ways to assist my student by adapting my own teachings, using different school resources, and collaborating with other general and art educators. I have always been incredibly passionate about becoming an art teacher, but this conference has sparked a fire within me, making me want to work hard to become the best art teacher I possibly can. I cannot wait to be in my classroom and teaching my students about art and how they can make an impact on this world. This conference has made me feel very positive about the future and my ability to create a positive and encouraging mood in my own classroom. Through this conference I have been able to get to know the other art education students at my school as well as those outside of my school and working in the field. I was able to make connections and bond with others who hold the same passion as myself. I am hopeful and excited to go into my role as an art educator.   

AMELIA JOHNSON’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I learned new art  making strategies and mediums that I had never attempted before. This opened my mind to wanting to try these new mediums so that I can use them eventually for lessons in the future. I also learned new ways in which I can support students of all different backgrounds and identities. I feel more equipped with ways to help my students feel included and accepted within my school and classroom.  

My confidence and passion increased this weekend as I was surrounded by educators that I can relate to and they inspired me to continue pursuing my major and become even more passionate for it. I found a support system within my peers as we all learned and shared in our experiences together. Teachers shared their teaching experiences that were very influential. I am more confident in methods that can be used in the classroom to help my students.  

I am continuing to stay committed to becoming a teacher. I am inspired to become like the peers that I met at the conference as many of them are of all ages which shows their long lasting passion for what they are doing. I hope to devote myself and continue the passion just like the teachers who attended the conference.  

My mode was very energetic as there were always new things to discover and engage in while at the conference. I was happy to be able to attend different sessions that lit a fire within me of different ideas that I can teach. I am very grateful for the experience to participate in the conference and enjoyed the opportunities that I was offered while I attended this weekend.  

My relationship with my art ed peers continued to deepen as I was able to share and create new memories with them that are life lasting. I grew closer and learned more about my fellow peers outside of the classroom and why they are passionate about becoming educators. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with other educators to talk about why they chose the age group that they teach and why they like working with that age, to help me determine what age of students I would like to work with. I also learned about what other educators do for their lesson plans and their curriculums.  

I am very grateful I was chosen for this experience to attend the WAEA conference. I have grown as a future educator and improved on my connection to the arts. Thank you!  

SHAWNA PLATT’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

As my first WAEA conference, I was challenged to think about my teaching knowledge and how to improve for the future. There are things I will implement into my teaching and classroom environment. This experience has boosted my confidence and passion for art education. Seeing so many different educators come together and express their unique views on how they run their classrooms was truly inspirational. Seeing how everyone had their own way made me more confident and committed to pursuing my degree and going out into a classroom of my own. It is a field, I feel, that is very passionate about their work and is open to helping their peers. It is something that I feel excited to experience as an official art teacher. I was able to meet so many art educators who were very friendly and open to answering any questions I had. The conference was awesome and a definite must-do for all future art educators because it is great to establish that you are not alone on this journey even past graduation.   

LAUREN DILLINGER’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

A) Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?   

In terms of the knowledge that I had gained while attending the 2022 WAEA Conference, I felt connected with both keynote speakers as well as many of the different sessions I attended. However, ultimately, the teaching knowledge that I had attained included various new ways of thinking. Whether it be thinking about the language that one uses, the various ways that research can be pursued, or the hidden curriculum that is unintentionally promoted, I learned how to navigate these different routes of thinking to be mindful and recognize issues and/or obstacles early on.   

B) Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?   

Regarding my confidence and/or passion for teaching, the conference allowed me to recognize that I am ready to student teach. Throughout the conference, I felt as though I already had been familiar with much of the content that had been presented. After reflecting on the conference, I recognized that this feeling of familiarity had indeed correlated with my overall confidence in myself as well as my knowledge. Because of this experience and/or realization, I believe that my passion for teaching overall increased as well since I overall believe in myself. That said, I believe one requires confidence in order to be passionate; therefore, this experience allowed me to become more mindful regarding where I am at within my preservice path to art education.  

C) Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?   

Relating to my desire and commitment to becoming an art educator, I believe that this experience allowed me to observe a large amount of art teachers from both Wisconsin and Minnesota in new ways. While meeting other art educators, I was able to connect with them, follow them on Instagram, and overall aspire to be them soon. Due to these connections, my commitment to teaching remains highly prioritized and I am ultimately ready to step into the career; therefore, my desire is through the roof!  

D) Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?   

In terms of my overall well-being, the conference allowed me to take a break from the busy schedule of being an art student and simply enjoy the company of others that have many of the same values and beliefs as myself. Apart from this characteristic, by visiting the Anderson Center Sculpture Garden as well as the pottery museum allowed me to reconnect with fine art. Looking at art is a huge part of being both an artist and educator; therefore, by observing artwork from various artists, it allowed me to enjoy the environment and community of the art world; therefore, my overall mood became relaxed and joyful to be living in the moment.   

E) Your relationships with ArtEd students or networking with other professionals?           

Overall, this year had been the largest group of UW-Stout Preservice teachers that had ever attended. With sixteen of us participating, I had not known most of the attendees. Unlike other years, I was not familiar with who the underclassman were; therefore, it had been valuable to me to have such a large group – we were able to get to know one another! By recognizing that we were all coming from different areas of the program, we connected and discussed our overall experiences much more. Moving forward to the other professionals that I had networked with while attending the sessions, I was happy to see people that I recognized, had talked to in the past, and that I was able to catch up with! By having and making these connections, it overall made me feel more welcomed and essentially at home while attending.   

ANNABELLE DICK’S CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 

I feel very well educated when it comes to my art teaching knowledge and abilities after this conference. I have learned a lot whether that is different lessons or maintaining a classroom or even how to preserve materials and equipment. I feel more passionate about teaching after this conference. I learned different techniques that I’m excited to use in my future. I learned how to form connections with my students to make them feel more comfortable in the classroom. I am very committed to becoming an art teacher and have been since second grade. After going to the conference, I learned more about myself as an art teacher and what I want in my classroom. The biggest impact the WAEA conference had on me was the friends I made. I got to know my art education peers a lot better. We formed connections through this experience. It is incredibly helpful to have friends in the program for help on assignments or for job opportunities. I was also able to communicate with other art teachers. I got to hear what it’s actually like teaching an art classroom. I am so grateful that I had this opportunity to go to the conference and am glad that I chose to go.   

2022 National Art Education Association National Convention - New York City

During March of 2022, twelve UW-Stout preservice students and alumni had the opportunity to attend the NAEA national convention in New York City, New York! By having the opportunity to meet experienced educators, gain valuable resources, and explore the city, participants came back with an abundant amount of information, stories, and insights!

This years participants included:

Preservice Teachers:

• Lauren Dillinger

• Mekenzie Bisel

• Nicole Burt

• Gwen Stein

• Bailey Iwen

• Jake Mazourek

• Haley Parsneau

Alumni:

• Nicole Seidler

• Amy Lawrence

• Marko Pechnik

• Abigail Henderson

• Samantha Plasch

Lauren Dillinger’s Convention Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on:

• Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

By attending the National Convention in New York City, the experience impacted my art teaching knowledge and/or abilities by engaging with other art teachers, materials, and resources. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to hear art teachers discuss what works and what doesn’t work within their classrooms; therefore, I learned a lot simply through networking. Additionally, by participating in a ticketed session as well as attending the exhibit hall, I gained more knowledge about varying art mediums, lesson plans, and techniques; therefore, my abilities grew as well. Lastly, through the inclusion of tons of resources throughout the convention, I gained an abundant amount of knowledge through the presentations/sessions held.

• Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

Regarding my confidence and/or passion for teaching, the convention had impacted me immensely. By becoming involved in the nation’s art teacher community, I am already more confident in the career path that I have chosen since the convention provided me with the experience to see hundreds of others thriving as art educators. In addition to feeling involved in the community, I remain passionate about teaching since I continue to have access to a large amount of resources to share with students. That said, I grow more and more excited to finally teach!

• Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

In terms of my commitment to be an art teacher, as incorporated above, I grow more excited every day. Furthermore, by attending the convention, it enhanced my overall desire to become an educator. Through various discussions with other experienced educators while attending the convention, I remain eager to soon have my own experiences to share as well; therefore, I remain committed to becoming the best educator I can be.

• Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

By attending the convention, my overall mood, happiness, and well-being had all been addressed positively. By being in an environment that provided me with the opportunity to meet others that share my same passions, I felt heard, seen, and understood. Because of this, I left the convention feeling motivated, determined, and happy.

• Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

After attending the convention with five other preservice teachers as well as six UW-Stout alumni, I feel that there is a stronger sense of community between us. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to connect with my peers and alumni. Essentially, we are all going through the same challenges, obstacles, and experiences; therefore, it was great to have the opportunity to build our relationships, discuss our shared experiences, and feel supported by one another.

Mekenzie Bisel’s Convention Experience

The overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on my art teaching knowledge and/or abilities: Attending the NAEA National Convention greatly impacted my teaching knowledge! The convention provided me with an immense amount of useful information. I can confidently say that my teaching knowledge was questioned and expanded with each session I attended!

The overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on my confidence in and/or passion for teaching: Attending the NAEA National Convention increased my confidence and passion for teaching. There is something about being surrounded with hundreds of other art teachers who are sharing and inspiring each other to be better art educators that left me feeling ready for student teaching!

The overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on my desire and commitment to be an art teacher: I can confidently say that attending the NAEA National Convention enhances my desire and commitment to being and art teacher each time I attend, and every session solidifies this as well. The environment, information, and conversation from the convention reassured me in my career path, and left me eager to get into student teaching.

The overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on my overall mood, happiness, or well-being: After attending the NAEA National Convention, I feel that my overall mood regarding students teaching was lifted. I was processing tons of new and useful information on how to be a better art educator, and that feeling of wanting to make an impact on students and help them produce work they are proud of and learned from.

The overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on my relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals: Attending the NAEA National Convention provided me with an experience where my relationships with the other Art Education students grew! It is impossible not to have a positive relationship and enjoy the time together with other Art Education students when we are all interested and inspired in the subject matter of the convention! I highly recommend all Art Education students to consider attending conventions or at the very least talking to students who have!

Nicole Burt’s Convention Experience

After the NAEA convention, I am extremely motivated to learn about decolonizing and decentering whiteness in art education. Heaps of resources such as PowerPoints, lesson plans, and book recommendations were provided to help educate myself now that the convention is over. I am especially looking forward to reading Paolo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I now have a list of book recommendations for students. I was also really happy to be able to practice my gelli printing skills because I would like to print in my future classroom.

I am feeling more confident after meeting so many art teachers and spending time with alumni. I feel l have picked the right major and I am really looking forward to my career and many NAEA conventions to come. The sessions were interesting and inspiring. 

The convention made me feel like I can make a difference. Art has the power to educate people about social and political justice. I am happy to be in the education field.

The NAEA convention lifted my spirits during a hard semester and I am very grateful for the opportunity to go! It was simply amazing to learn so much I can bring to the classroom. It helped my well-being to be around so many likeminded people. The memories I made in NYC will last a lifetime.

Networking with other people in the same career field was valuable. I was able to learn about other unique perspectives from art teachers and artists. I think some connections I made will last throughout my career. These are important professional relationships as a pre service teacher because I may need help my first year teaching and beyond! I would like to be a resource for others throughout their careers as well.

Gwen Stein’s Convention Experience

Overall, this conference was an amazing opportunity, not only did I get to meet lots of new people, but I also got to get closer to some of the people at Stout in art Education. This conference has improved my knowledge of so many things included but not limited to new lesson ideas, a basic guide of ceramics and how to interact with disability in the classroom. I think with my ticketed session I am also growing my art skills because I got to practice my needle felting skills, something I don’t get to do often. I think my passion for teaching has also grown because at the conference I had the chance to speak with lots of educators and their passion was just contagious. Also getting to interact with my fellow attendees from stout makes me so excited for the future of art education because it is going to be a bright one. I think I am even more committed to becoming an art teacher because I know so much more, and I feel like after hearing about the difference I can make in students' lives I want to be that positive presence in their lives so much more. Although it is stressful to catch up on all the work, I missed I think the conference made sure to make me think mindfully. It was also rewarding to be able to make some friends that I didn’t have before. I also think going to New York was an amazing experience that made me happy. Although it is not really something that would make everyone happy, I had lots of fun going to the Nintendo store and I was even able to buy some stuff while I was there to remember my trip. Again, this trip made me grow closer to others in the major and although I already have an opportunity to do that with NAEA meeting and leadership roles, it is amazing to be able to go do fun things and strengthen those friendships. Overall, this was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to go.

Bailey Iwen’s Convention Experience

Overall the experience of attending the NAEA convention in NYC this year had a major positive impact on my thoughts and feelings as a future art educator by enhancing my competence as well as boosting my confidence in return. I feel that the conversations that took place within the sessions as well as outside the sessions enhanced my knowledge by connecting content from the big world ideas, back to the small classroom settings that each person can relate to. Listening and engaging with other teachers from all different places was very exciting to hear how they are making impacts on the lives of their students, which reflects the changes that other teachers across the country see as well. Gathering new ideas and deepening my understanding of how a classroom could look and things to keep in mind made me so excited to just jump in and start teaching as soon as possible! The desire to teach has always been sweltering and keeps growing greater and stronger with every experience and opportunity I encounter. I am only one year away from potentially being hired full time, so my commitment level is at an all time high where I’ve been focused on looking at my future ahead within my classroom and educating my students that I don’t even have. The NAEA convention was a breath of fresh air getting to be excited with other people who are excited and passionate about teaching art and being the change they want to see in the world. I didn’t anticipate growing closer to colleagues, but I had lots of bonding experiences with people just as simple human beings together, that helped me learn more as a person and as a future educator. This experience is definitely one that will remain with me in my practices as a teacher.

Jake Mazourek’s Convention Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on:

• Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

As a current student teacher, I have already noticed how my practice and lesson planning development have begun to change. Attending this year’s NAEA conference [held in New York] has made an impact to how I approach Art Education, and the style to which I design and develop content material radically. This, is to which, no fault of the University of Wisconsin- Stout, as the university has taught us [Art Education students] the ground level concepts needed to prepare for a career in education. However, the opportunity provided in New York, has allowed me to observe a far wider spectrum of what is possible for practicing educators, and to that, the way in which I teach I feel has improved so significantly.

• Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

While my passion for teaching has always been drive by the longing to cause change in the life of my students and demonstrate a safe environment in which they feel they can thrive and grow as a person, i.e., my passion for teaching remaining high and not changing, the confidence to which I know I will now approach my first year of teaching, as well as the interviews proceeding, has been filled with much insight and gained confidence because of the resources shared out generously by the Art Education Community.

• Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

Still passionately strong. Students spend some of their most confusing and life-altering years while in school, and by practicing art, the ability for students to explore, find a sense of accomplishment, and satisfaction, all while fulfilling content material, is a rare occurrence in disciplines. Art is adaptable, and students, as they practice, are able to adapt how they approach the project individually. In doing so, how content is understood changes slightly per user, giving the material a moldable quality. What more, is that due to the freeing nature of expression commonly allowed in art, students are able to feel a greater sense of accomplishment, knowing they can work toward an answer that allows their own personal fulfillment (but also one that engages the idea of the lesson). In this way, art allows for critical thinking, self exploration, and confidence development all simultaneously. Of which, few other disciplines accomplish this all at the same time.

• Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

Better! I love spending time with friends and other Art Educators! Having meaningful conversations with these people make me so happy to be part of this community.

• Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

I believe it is well. I had the chance to spend time with each “group” that formed (other than Ann and Tami) during the trip, in which, I guess I could be considered a drifter, but I really just saw it as “we’ are the Stout Art Ed crew” and I wanted to spend time with everyone. Also, I got to know a few other Art Teachers while at the conference, but I lost my voice while there, so the number of those I got to meet was limited. I meet a teacher from Oregon, Delaware, and Massachusetts.

Nicole Seidler’s Convention Experience

Over the years, I have attended four National Art Education Association Conventions. These experiences have always had a positive impact on me not only as an art educator, but also as an individual. Every time I attend, it shows me so many new ways to learn, implement, and refine topics related to art education.

The NAEA Convention expands my teaching knowledge and abilities by introducing new ideas and lessons that I am then able to bring into my classroom. By taking what I learn at the convention, I can give my students new and exciting experiences to allow them to experiment and try new things. This can then spark a new kind of learning and creativity from each of them. Providing my students with many new opportunities from the things I learn at the NAEA conventions, I am able to gain so much confidence as an art educator. It brings me so much joy to see my students experimenting and discovering new things that they would not have done if I didnt attend the NAEA convention.

At an early stage in life, I decided that I wanted to be an artist. As I continued to grow and learn, I looked at the relationship I had with my high school art teacher which drove my passion for art to change. I grew such a healthy relationship with education and art which led me to the decision to become an art educator. The commitment I have to being an art educator keeps growing stronger as I continue to see myself teaching art everyday. As an individual who loves to learn, attending the NAEA conventions allows me to ignite my passion and commitment to teaching over and over again. Within a world where education is constantly changing and improving, I believe that teachers should be going the extra step to continue learning and growning as an individual and as an educator. This is why I have such a strong desire to continue attending the NAEA conventions. So many new ideas and lessons are brought to the table for all art educators to share which brings so many more opportunities to students across the world.

 I am so happy where I am at in my personal and professional life. I knew that art education was the right choice for me and I continue to be grateful for the opportunities I am provided to continue to learn and grow. Finally, one other factor I love about attending the NAEA convention are the relationships that are made between the preservice art education students at Stout and myself. I look forward to hearing the journey they are on and making connections between preservice art education students and an actual art educator. It is always a pleasure to catch up with others and meet new people throughout my time at the NAEA convention

I am so honored to be able to have the opportunity to attend the NAEA convention as an alumni and continue to support and encourage everything there is about AIM. Thank you greatly for this opportunity.

Amy Lawrence’s Convention Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the NAEA National Convention had on:

MY ART TEACHING KNOWLEDGE AND/OR ABILITIES:

 As an art educator who is early in my career I found attending this convention to be immensely helpful. I found great relevance in the sessions that I attended, and feel that I have expanded my art teaching knowledge. It is such a beneficial privilege to attend sessions and reflect in real time on how what the presenters are speaking on can be applicable to my own classroom and methods/approach to teaching.

 MY CONFIDENCE IN AND/OR PASSION FOR TEACHING:

 Attending this convention has been such an inspiring experience! This year has been particularly challenging for many educators, including myself. Having this opportunity to travel and learn from other art educators, who themselves are coming from endlessly different backgrounds, is so refreshing. It is easy to feel like we are on our own island as art educators, or have our self doubts. However, attending different sessions and hearing new ideas to apply to my practice - and even about things that I already am doing in the classroom, is incredibly validating. It gives me a refreshed sense of confidence that I am in a wonderful career, and I am rocking it!

 MY DESIRE AND COMMITMENT TO BE AN ART TEACHER?

 I am coming away from this convention feeling so empowered, and eager to apply new things to my professional practice. Many of the sessions I attended presented opportunities to look at experiences and interactions I've had while teaching from perspectives that I have not previously considered. I learned proactive ways to approach challenges and obstacles that I face while teaching. I feel more prepared, and excited about teaching - which brings on a greater commitment to my career choice!

 MY OVERALL MOOD, HAPPINESS, OR WELL-BEING?

 This opportunity has been great for my mental health, and overall well-being. It was such a blessing to take the time to work on myself professionally, as well personally. I learned a lot new things, and had so many experiences that were new to me. I was able to step outside of my comfort zone frequently due to this, and I feel that I have grown as an educator, but also as a person from doing so!

 MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ART ED STUDENTS OR NETWORKING WITH OTHER ART ED PROFESSIONALS?

 The past few years have shown us all what a great privilege in person social interaction is. It was so wonderful to spend time with people in group and individual settings at this convention. I was able to get to know other art educators, and art ed students professionally and personally. This trip was an opportunity to connect with people in various stages of their career. I think that it is so great that AIM includes both current art ed students and alumni. Talking with current art ed students gave me fresh ideas, and I feel more than comfortable sharing tips and tricks that I have picked up in my teaching experience with others. Additionally, there were so many other art educators, like presenters, who's contact information I obtained, that encourage others to reach out for questions or conversations.

Marko Pechnik’s Convention Experience

The National Art Education Association conference has played an important role in my many years of teaching. I have attended 5 years of these conferences, and each year I find it helps me refine my abilities as a teacher and my professional practice. I realize now, that there will never be a “best-practice”. It is important to be adaptable in the field of education, because educators from all over the world are identifying new and innovative ways to relay information. Being adaptable is the key take away. It reminds me of a famous drawing by goya, I am Still Learning, which was created towards the end of his life. It showcases the importance of maintaining your practice within whatever field. You should always continue to educate and better yourself.

In many of my lectures, I found practices that were praised by other teachers were practices that I myself have developed in my own classroom. I found this to be quite fulfilling and developed upon my confidence. Additionally, I found that having been an educator for many years now, my social barriers have let down. I am more comfortable talking with colleagues and having dialogue with others. In the past I would have been shy to put myself out there. The conference has introduced me to people I would have otherwise never met.

Having the opportunity to reconnect with some of my peers through this conference is beyond appreciated. These individuals, who are also in the same stages of teaching as myself, help me realize I am not alone. I am highly committed to the field of education, and find it a hard field to remove myself from its benefits. I also find it rewarding to visualize how students in preservice are experiencing their first conference. It really gives me insight as to how fast one will grow in the field and it makes me look forward to continuing my teaching career far beyond my initial 5 year goal.

Overall, it was a very joyful experience at the NAEA conference. The excitement of new cities, friendships, and lifelong memories are what engrains these moments in my mind. I feel as though, upon returning, that I have jumped right into modifying my lesson plans and feeling refreshed for my students. After the conference, I have a new, more positive outlook, on the relationships I have developed with my students as well as the welcoming environment I have worked so hard to create.

In conclusion, upon return, I have been working hard to maintain relationships with those at the conference that I met. I have also been sending out resumes to possible new employers. I am always focused on growing and developing, not just as an educator, but as a professional. The AIM foundation has opened many doors for me to explore. I aim to spend the next few months learning from these connections. I would like to thank Tami and Ann for the opportunity. Two friends I hope to never lose.

Samantha Plasch’s Convention Experience

I am fortunate enough to have attended this convention multiple times: as a student, as a brand new teacher, and as a teacher with a moderate level of experience in the field. My biggest takeaway this year is that if I am to continue to evolve as a person, citizen, and educator, it is almost entirely up to me to make that happen.

As a student, you are surrounded by people whose job it is to present you with new ideas and experiences. As a teacher, it is up to you to seek out these ideas and experiences for yourself. As I wrap up my 5th year in the field, I am beginning to see how easy one might fall into stagnation. I am beginning to understand why some teachers present the same information and repeat the same projects year after year. As I begin to hit my stride, I see the appeal of settling into the comfort of what I already know.

Attending the convention this year reminded me of the world and the people that exist beyond my classroom and my district. Hearing new voices speak on topics they are wildly passionate about reminded me what it feels like when my mind and heart are fully engaged in learning. I was a student once again.

This feeling is what led me to the field of education; it is what makes me a good teacher and gives meaning and purpose to my life. This feeling, coupled with the desire to understand, to learn, to grow, to connect, and to share, will always be so much deeper and more meaningful than the superficial comfort that might come from giving in to the appeal of a more automated approach to teaching.

I feel recalibrated and ready to continue forward, the appeal of settling diminished. As a wise woman once told me, “embrace the discomfort.” This is the sort of advice that leads to the places worth going, and I am excited to see where it guides my teaching and my life next.

Wisconsin Art Education Association State Conference 2021

---

Occurring in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, the WAEA State Conference enabled eight UW-Stout preservice students to gain competence and confidence regarding their teaching capabilities in addition to enhancing their overall well being. With a theme centering on ‘Art & Soul,’ many of the sessions discussed reconnecting to ourselves, our students, or environment, and one another.

Attendees Included:

• Nicole Burt

• Reese Millam

• Gwen Stein

• Alissa Ruppel

• Haley Parsneau

• Rachel Gatti

• Olivia Bonlander

• Lauren Dillinger

Nicole Burt’s Conference Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the WAEA State Conference had on:

• Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

Teachers sharing their knowledge and resources at WAEA have broadened my perspective on what is possible in the classroom.  We were given so many resources - especially lesson plans! Now I have more tools to implement lesson plans about graphic design, biomimicry, sewing, and game design.

• Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

Networking with art teachers boosted my confidence and passion for teaching. This last year has been difficult for everyone, but despite that many teachers I talked to maintain their passion for art education and recommended the profession to me. I ran into my middle school art teacher who retired last year and she spoke very highly of the profession and she opened my mind to teaching middle school.

• Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

Being a part of WAEA strengthened my desire and commitment to be an art teacher. I felt inspired by all of the possibilities when it comes to lesson plans- elementary students are even using Microsoft Paint 3D to animate! It feels right to be on this track to be an art teacher.

• Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

I feel very happy to have been a part of the WAEA conference this year. It was such a positive experience to meet other teachers who highly recommend the career, despite some of the challenges we all have been up against.

• Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals? 

Everyone was so willing to help and chat! WAEA was a great example of how we are better together. I met the keynote speakers, few WAEA board members, other teachers, and reconnected with people. I felt more connected with my peers in the Art Education major as well.

Reese Millam’s Conference Experience

Attending the WAEA conference this fall in Wisconsin Falls has helped me gain an idea of what it will be like to be an art educator in the future. I feel that this conference has provided me with many lesson plans and assignments to teach my future students. I also am beginning to understand the mindset of a teacher, and how to manage a classroom and manage the overall environment.

            I feel that I have a greater passion for teaching after attending this conference. I have a greater confidence that I can bring great art lessons to my future students. The teachers at the conference were all very optimistic and enthusiastic about new teachers entering the schools. They often asked my peers what grade they were teaching and offered us many opportunities to teach at opening schools.

            I also have a greater desire to be an art teacher. So many of these teachers went above and beyond for their students, especially during the pandemic where they had to meet virtually. I heard so many of the teachers talking about how badly they wanted to attend the conference, and I realized how important it was for them to be around other art teachers just like them. I felt that they were a tight community and were very welcoming and supportive of pre-service art teachers.

            I had a really great time at the conference, and I felt excited when heading to my next session. All the sessions had me interested, and even the crafting sessions had a lesson that I took away from them. An older art teacher taught the clay session I attended, and she was so excited to be showing other teachers how to create horses, cats, and other animals form a tube of cardboard and some clay. She taught me to trust the process and be patient with the results. I had a good mood the entire trip, and I loved being able to feel the excitement off the other teachers.

During the conference, I got to know my art education peers well. They all attended many different sessions and were able to tell me what they had gathered from them. I didn’t see many of them in the same sessions as me, so we all went to a wide variety of events. I got to understand the reason that many of them wanted to teach, and I appreciate them much more as I got to know them better. I trust that they will help and support me in the future, and I can rely on them for guidance through my art education courses.

Gwen Stein’s Conference Experience

The overall impact of attending the WAEA conference has given me a lot of new knowledge. Some of the most valuable advice was given to me from teachers who are currently working. I was told to put myself first when I start to teach in the classroom.

            The conference has given me more knowledge about different things to teach, I learned that if you put newspaper around a toilet paper roll you can slide the toilet paper roll out then you can reuse them so that you can use them again for armatures. I also learned about lots of fun things to do with students like learning about biomimicry and holding art fairs. I feel like through the WAEA conference I learned that I could teach.

            I feel like through the conference my confidence in my ability to look like a teacher has increased because so many people genuinely asked me what and where I taught. This was a big shock because I was intimidated by these people because they are already teaching whereas I am a first-year college student with very minimal teaching experience. My passion has defiantly grown since the conference because I got to hear about all the injustice at these schools. Some teachers are not even able to show support for their LGBTQ+ students with a simple rainbow sticker on their computer. This makes me want to get into the classroom even more because I want to be able to create a fun and safe learning environment for my future students.

            I had a few working teachers come up to me to tell me that I should continue becoming a teachers even though there are a lot of downsides to the job. This makes me want to be an art teacher even more because people believe in me and want me to succeed. All the teachers I talked to were very excited that we were at the conference representing UW-Stouts Art Ed program. They want us all to succeed, so it means that we have someone other than ourselves to work hard for. If I didn’t come to the conference, I would never have heard such inspiring words form these amazing individuals.

            There were also lots of wellness things at the conference that diffidently made me think hard about my wellbeing. They made me want to reflect on how my mental state is doing and think about what I could be doing to help it. It being midterm season, I am a bit stressed out but because of all the speakers I feel like I am a bit calmer than I would be regularly, so that is nice. I also learned some new mindfulness exercises for when I am stressed.  One of them being to spell your name out by moving your foot, taking deep breaths helps to Zen you out and calms the mind.

            Finally, I really enjoyed meeting more people in the program, I am a very shy individual, so I didn’t really know anyone going on the trip before the trip, but I can say I defiantly made a few new friends. We all got to bond over fun things like when we struggled to understand one of the keynote speakers when they were talking because it was so echoey. It was also fun to go out to dinner and have a nice meal with all the people on the trip. At the end of day, it was also fun to see what everyone had made. Everyone’s projects were always cool. As far as networking with the teachers at the conference, I did get to meet a lot of cool new people. I heard about how their schools have reacted to covid and how they have been handling everything. I found it invaluable to hear what other teachers have been going through because it helps to paint a picture of what I will need to do in the future when I am placed in a school.

            Overall, I would highly recommend every Art Ed student try to come to this conference because there is so much to learn and so many people to meet. You also get to become closer with your classmate and future colleges while building up your resume.

Alissa Ruppel’s Conference Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the WAEA State Conference had on:

• Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

This conference positively impacted my knowledge and abilities as an art educator. I was given access to new lesson plans and after attending I find that I am much more creative when it comes to designing lesson plans. I have gained a lot of knowledge by attending this conference. For instance, I learned how to teach students how to make personalized study journals. I also learned how to better cut costs in the classroom; should the situation of budget costs arise.

• Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

This experience not only boosted my confidence as an art teacher, but it also enhanced my passion for teaching. After attending this conference, I know for sure I will be an educator in just a few short years. I have always been confident speaking in front of large groups of people, and it is nice to know that so many people are as passionate about teaching art as I am.

• Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

Attending the WAEA conference in Wisconsin Rapids further inspired my wanting to become an art educator, (which I didn’t know was possible.) This conference was the final push I needed to know for sure that this is the kind of person I want to be. I want to live my life informing others about the beauty of our world, and help students grow as individuals.

• Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

The key speakers at the conference, (especially Daniel Bryant,) gave me time to self-reflect. This positivity impacted my overall mood and well-being. I now know that every day I must choose joy for myself and to project positivity on others. Not only does choosing joy affect me in an overwhelmingly positive way, but it also gives students the opportunity to be happier as well.

• Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

I met so many art teachers at this conference. I was even reunited with my high school art teacher who had left a very positive impact on my life during my teen years. She was one of the reasons I had decided to become an art teacher. Seeing her boosted my confidence. Meeting other art educators was very beneficial as well. There were moments I would find myself in deep conversation with other teachers without even trying. It was so easy to communicate with others about experience, relatable issues, and their students. I was given so much advice and was encouraged by so many to keep pursuing this amazing and rewarding career.

Haley Parsneau’s Conference Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the WAEA State Conference had on:

• Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

The impact of my knowledge and abilities of art teaching was advanced immensely. This is because of the number of tools and conversations that were gained during the conference. The knowledge I had before the conference was limited to mostly art ed peers in the Menomonie area, so it was great to talk to teachers working in various parts around Wisconsin.

• Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

 My confidence was boosted from the conference because of the number of resources that were available. Along with the number of networking opportunities I took advantage of showed me that I am going into the right profession. Confidence is a key part of being a teacher because you are leading a classroom of studnets. But also, passion is an important part of being a great teacher. If you do not have passion for what you are doing with your students, they can sense that and be less passionate about their learning. Although I have a tremendous amount of passion for teaching this was enhanced because of the amazing tools I earned. This made me even more excited to get out into a classroom and give students the opportunities that I learned.

• Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

The conference influenced my desire to be an art teacher by making me extremely excited to get out into the field and start working with students. My desire for my profession did not change a lot but mostly just the anticipation of graduating and working in my own classroom increased. My commitment to being an art teacher also did not change that much but learning about the diverse ways I can commit to my students and my future school was beneficial. Commitment to my major started when I first enrolled into the program. However, I feel like it grows the closer I get to graduation.

• Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

The conference gave me helpful tips for mood, happiness, and well-being while being a teacher. It was also focused that you are not alone and there is a whole community of art educators that want to support each other. This was very comforting to be able to hear as a preservice educator and I know I will benefit from it in my first few years of teaching. Teaching is not an easy job and has become more challenging due to COVID-19 so being able to talk about it with others put me at ease.

• Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals? 

I made so many strong connections on this trip not only with other art ed professionals but also with art ed students. We bonded so much during the convention, and it is helpful to know that we always have a friend in the major. School can be difficult sometimes and to know that we can all understand and be able to help one another is beneficial. I did bound with a few art educators from the Appleton and Milwaukee area, these connections help me learn about even more tools to bring into my classroom.

Rachel Gatti’s Conference Experience

I had a great time at the WAEA State Conference, and I believe it has really impacted me overall as a future art educator. I learned a lot about curriculum content in various contexts both elementary and secondary, and how to include adaptive art to meet the needs of students with disabilities. This really helped me to increase my overall knowledge in ideas for lesson plans and my abilities to meet the needs of my students.

 After attending the conference, I feel more confident in my abilities and ideas for lessons. I also feel good about experiencing the sense of community that NAEA has even at just the state level. There were so many art educators willing to share their ideas, their contact information and their experience which was nice to see and hear. This experience gave me an overwhelming sense of community in ways I wasn’t familiar with. There were so many art teachers in various parts of their careers, and it was overall a great way to get together and collaborate.

I definitely feel more excited to be an art teacher and planning my curriculum and it doesn’t feel like a daunting task any longer. I think this experience helped me envision what my future is like in the upcoming years and to truly get into the teacher mindset.

Through growing more in my confidence and competence as a future art educator I feel more grounded and happier with the career I have chosen. I feel as though I am well on my way to graduating with my degree and now, I have a lot of knowledge and resources to use in any school or classroom I end up in. The future feels brighter, and I feel less intimidated at the thought of starting my teaching career.

I found the conference to be a great opportunity to connect with my peers and get to know them more outside of class, and to collaborate on what we were making, learning and experiencing. Lastly, I found the conference to be great for networking. So many teachers were willing to make small talk in passing or offer ideas in sessions and add insightful advice. A lot of the presenters were happy to share their teaching social media pages or emails to be resources to reach out to. I was also able to reconnect with a past friend from home who is a preservice art teacher as well and that was super nice and unexpected.

            Overall, I had an amazing time at the conference, and I am very thankful for both the UW-Stout NAEA Chapter, and A.I.M. for the opportunity to attend and increase my knowledge as a preservice art educator!

Olivia Bonlander’s Conference Experience

Attending these conference always makes me feel more connected to both my major and my content. I am able to work with many different educators on developing what I want my future program to look like while also enjoying a stress relieving opportunity.

When it comes to content, these sessions are always filled with new and interesting things that I could possibly incorporate into my future classroom. The vendors are also amazing with this because they offer resources, materials, and sometimes event lesson plans.

My confidence, commitment, and wellbeing as an educator are all tied together with the connections that I am able to make at the WAEA conferences. The more educators I am able to meet the more I am able to feel as if I am apart of a greater whole. I need to feel supported as an educator and within WAEA, I am able to feel that way. Being able to see some of my peers also connecting to educators at their first conference also made me feel so much joy about the profession. Living and breathing art education can sometimes be frustrating but within a positive and fun loving group, like WAEA, it is stress free and made fun!

I hope to continue attending these sorts of professional development opportunities in the future so that I can continue to share my knowledge with others on campus. As a mentor I feel as if I am seen as an expert on art education content when in reality I am still learning and growing and always will be.

Lauren Dillinger’s Conference Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the WAEA State Conference had on:

• Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

In relation to how the conference has impacted my teaching knowledge and abilities, I had the opportunity to be introduced to a plethora of lesson plans, strategies, teaching techniques, and valuable resources. That said, I plan to utilize the resources that I have gained from the conference and place them in my teaching ‘tool belt.’

• Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

Relating to my confidence in teaching, the WAEA State Conference had impacted me by reinforcing that I am on a path that I desire. While at the conference, I felt as if I fit in there and ‘belonged.’ Because of this feeling, it made me more confident in the career path that I had chosen for myself not too long ago.

• Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

In terms of how the conference had impacted my desire and commitment to teaching, it simply made me eager to get into the classroom and apply the knowledge that I recently learned. As a fourth year student at UW-Stout in the ArtEd program, I am ready to move on preservice teacher to first-year teacher. That said, this conference simply made me desire this transition even more. I am excited to be a teacher, and I remain committed now more than ever to make that happen.

• Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

The conference had impacted my overall mood/well-being in a positive way. Over the past nearly two years, it has been difficult to find joy due to everything that has been happening within the world. Therefore, by attending this conference in-person, I felt my mood shift to a more positive emotion by connecting with individuals in a way that we haven’t been able to in a long time. In turn, this affected by overall well-being as well in a similar manner.

• Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?          

While attending the WAEA State Conference, it impacted by relationships with my colleagues as well as with other ArtEd professionals. For instance, I had gotten to know my younger ArtEd peers a lot better and value the connections made. Additionally, I had the opportunity to network with many ArtEd professionals. For instance, I now have an Instagram Live discussion set up through @theartofed Instagram page! These connections never would have happened without the conference; therefore, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

2021 National Art Education Association National Convention [Virtual] !

---

This year, the NAEA National Convention had moved to an online format due to Covid-19 restrictions. That being said, the following preservice art teachers had been awarded a scholarship through Arts Integration Menomonie to gain access to over 400 live, recorded sessions available for six months after the event.

• Elsbeth Bandli

• Lauren Dillinger

• Mekenzie Bisel

• Rebecca Virchow

• Bailey Iwen

• Rachael Cunningham

Additionally, two UW-Stout Alumni art educators that had attended include:

• Nicole Seidler

• Marko Pechnik

As highlighted through the blogs and images below, participants engaged in a collaborative viewing of the live sessions within the UW-Stout library to continue to collaborate and build relationships with other teachers.

Mekenzie Bisel's Virtual Convention Experience

Explain the impact that this experience had on:

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

The NAEA convention made me feel more confident in my knowledge on art teaching, as the information I learned in every session was extremely helpful. Even though the sessions provided me more knowledge on art teaching, there is obviously still more I need to learn. With that being said, the overall impact the NAEA convention had on my art teaching knowledge and abilities was that I feel like I am in a good place, but I still feel excited to continue learning more and improving immensely. The knowledgeable from individuals leading the sessions inspired me to take up all the opportunities I can to learn and grow as a future art teacher!

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

Every single session I attended excited me and made me want to learn as much possible as soon as possible about art education. I feel my confidence and passion for teaching was sparked for sure during every session. It is impossible not to feel excited and eager to get into the art education profession when listening to wonderful sessions! I especially enjoyed all the sessions geared more towards the preservice audience. The tips and tricks shared will be things I can look back to before heading into student teaching and interviews.

Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

I was reminded each session that I want to be an art teacher, even when the session talked about the challenges of being an art teacher. Whenever the preservice sessions talked about the hard times of teaching there were always more positive to outweigh the challenges. Things like impacting the students are what make me strive for being an art teacher. Overall, the convention made me think about what motivates me to be an art teacher!

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

Overall, the NAEA convention left me feeling good. I left each session with my brain overflowing with information to process. With that being said it was hard for me to not want to drop all my school responsibilities right now and order all the art education book recommendations! I hope to find more time this summer to read these books. Along with that the convention sessions boosted my overall mood with helpful information I am grateful to have gotten.

Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

Even though the convention was virtual I still feel I made good connections and relationships with my fellow art ed students. I was pleasantly surprised to be reached out to by an art ed professional who was leading sessions at the convention. So, despite everything being virtual it is possible to still create relationships and connections with others.

Elsbeth Bandli's Virtual Convention Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the NAEA convention had on:

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

I chose to attend sessions that delved deeper into topics that I want to explore further as an art educator. This included choice-based curriculum, culturally sustaining pedagogy/multiculturalism, and social-emotional learning. By attending these sessions, I had the opportunity to learn from a variety of professionals and gained access to resources that I can use as a preservice and in-service art teacher.

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

I have found that my confidence grows as my knowledge grows. I never want to stop learning, and access to conventions and conferences offered through AIM has provided me with the opportunity to continue my learning beyond the classroom. I’ve also noticed that every time I attend a convention or conference it excites me and reinvigorates my passion for teaching because I can’t wait to apply my learning from these experiences in the “real world”.

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

Attending conventions and conferences provides me with a sense of Art Ed. community beyond UW Stout. This is especially important to me because it makes me feel supported and reminds me that even when I leave the university, I am a part of a large group of people with similar passions, ambitions, and challenges.

Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

Every time that I attend a convention or conference, I am reminded that I am exactly where I need to be. It encourages me to continue working hard as a student so that I can enter the field prepared and enthusiastic about teaching. It also provides me with the ideas and the knowledge needed to offer a school district with opportunities for sustaining and growing an art program.

Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

During the convention, I also attended preservice sessions. This was an incredible experience because I got to hear from people who are at the same point in their Art Ed. journey and from new teachers to the profession. I also enjoyed the opportunity to gather with other UW Stout students to watch some sessions together even though the convention itself was virtual.

Lauren Dillinger's Virtual Convention Experience

Describe the overall impact that attending the NAEA convention had on:

Your art teaching knowledge and/or abilities?

When thinking about the knowledge that I have gained by participating in the convention, I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend. As I move through the program at UW-Stout, I am able to connect my knowledge from the convention to what I am currently learning in the classroom. With this in mind, I believe that I have a better understanding of the material and have learned new material that has not come up during the program. Because of this, it inspires me to ask more questions and look forward to attending the convention in the future.

Your confidence in and/or passion for teaching?

In terms of my confidence, I believe that it continues to grow every time that I am able to have the opportunity to attend a conference or convention. While attending, I received an abundant amount of resources in regard to various material and topics. With these material now in my back pocket, I more confident in what I know, what I can do, and how to do it. This experience has allowed me to listen to a large amount of other art educators’ experiences. By listening to their successes and failures, it makes me more confident in my teaching practice because I know that I am not alone.

Your desire and commitment to be an art teacher?

While attending the virtual convention this year, I found myself in a state of excitement at various times. By observing images, listening to the speakers, and accumulating knowledge, I continued to envision myself within my own future classroom applying what I had been learning. That being said, my overall desire to teach art continues to grow by this excitement that I have toward having a classroom full of students in the near future.

Your overall mood, happiness, or well-being?

In relation to my overall mood and well-being, attending the convention has allowed me to focus my attention on something other than homework. Because of this, I exhibited emotions of happiness due to the fact that I was furthering my learning in the area that I am most passionate about, teaching.  

Your relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals?

By attending the live event with my peers in the library, I had the opportunity to build my relationships with several of my colleagues by sharing ideas, laughing, and learning. Since the convention had been online once again, it was difficult to network with teachers outside of the presentation other than introducing ourselves and asking a question or two. Apart from this, there had been instances where I recognized a name of a speaker from a past conference that allowed me to feel a connection toward them. However, building this connection is something best done in person; therefore, I look forward to having an in-person convention next year!

Bailey Iwen's Virtual Convention Experience

At the conclusion of attending the NAEA virtual convention, I feel that my knowledge of art education has been validated and amplified. At this point in my college career, I am beginning to realize my strengths and comfort zones of teaching, starting to shape what I will become as a future teacher. Some of these sessions spoke right to those strengths, and others encouraged to go beyond the comfort zone. The knowledge gained from the experience was mainly centered around what needs to happen outside of the art making and cater more directly to the learning component of how to effectively engage and interact with the students in a fashion that will encourage further and deeper context evaluation from the student, outside of what is taught in that lesson. One session explained different tactics on essentially forms of the anticipatory set that I found interesting and unique! While watching the sessions, my excitement only grew, I cannot wait to be out there in the field of teaching! The presenters from the sessions had a deep sense of passion that was contagious, supporting my passion for teaching to an even higher scale. I am a confident person in general, and my experiences with teaching have supported my confidence, there was a few sessions that talked about the tone and attitude of the classroom and I am looking forward to experiment with that element even more. From the sessions, one, I was able to receive resources for my future classroom, and I believe these will help me in different aspects and help me to not overlook these important elements. I am 100% committed to being the best teacher I can be, and that will only improve with my willingness to learn. I want to learn just as much as my students, because the journey through art is never ending. There are various goals to be achieved along the way, but through the progression of art I want to push my knowledge further and continuously provide new material and more ideas for my students to achieve. I want to do good, and I am willing to ‘go the extra mile’ for my students and provide a well-rounded education through art and beyond. With each session I watched, the overall mood changed, based on the presenter as a speaker, and the environment they were in. The more enthusiastic speakers drew in a more interactive crowd of viewers, which brightened the mood and engaged me in a more compelling manner. However, throughout each of the sessions I attended I was extremely happy to be learning not only new content, but this new content from another person’s perspective with a lot of experience. There’s a difference in learning a new subject simply for the sake of content, but this sense changes the minute you add a person who has lived these experiences, sharing their input on the new content. It is something I greatly appreciate. The positive attitude of the speakers was contagious, and brought a positive energy to the room, especially when I watched the session in the “watch party” because we felt more compelled to talk out loud and give our own thoughts on what was being said. This energy is what brought us to opening to our own opinions and sharing resources we each thought beneficial for our own future classrooms. Bringing myself into different environments to interact with my classmates builds a sense of community and strengthens bonds, making us more comfortable to have constructive conversations.

Rachael Cunningham's Virtual Convention Experience

Attending the NAEA convention impacted my teaching knowledge/abilities in that it gave me ideas for art lessons and inspired me to create art.  In this way, it positively affected my art education knowledge.  I learned about the process of art and people, leadership, using surroundings as a means of being creative and inspired, using visual narratives, and human relationships with objects.

The convention definitely increased my confidence in and passion for teaching.  This semester has been a very stressful time, but both the NAEA convention and practicum have been fantastic reminders for me as to why I want to be an art teacher.  It was great listening to passionate art educators talk and made me look forward to truly being a part of the art education community.

This increased my desire and commitment to be an art teacher.  Learning from current art teachers was beneficial and made me excited to join them in being an art educator.

The NAEA convention improved my mood, happiness, and well-being.  It was rejuvenating to hear passionate people express and explain different aspects of art education in a way that I could learn from, especially knowing that I wasn’t going to be tested on it. 

I was able to watch the NAEA convention in the library with Lauren, Elsbeth, and Mekenzie, so it was very nice being able to be in the same room and talk in a somewhat more normal way despite Covid.  We also got to hear from other art ed professionals, even though it was virtually.  Despite the virtual aspect, it still felt like a somewhat connecting experience.

2020 WAEA Virtual Conference!

---

Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the Covid-19 Pandemic, participants had been unable to attend the WAEA state conference in-person; however, the Wisconsin art educators association had worked diligently to put together a virtual conference. That being said, SEVEN UW-Stout students have been given the opportunity to attend the WAEA state conference virtually this year. CONGRATULATIONS to these UW-Stout pre-service teachers who received a scholarship to attend the conference for free, supported by A.I.M.!

• Elsbeth Bandli

• Olivia Bonlander

• Mekenzie Bisel

• Rachael Cunningham

• Lauren Dillinger

• Bailey Iwen

• Jake Mazourek

The conference reflections of these participants are included below.

Jake Mazourek's Virtual Conference Experience

By attending the virtual conference, it had impacted me greatly according to the following:

Art teaching knowledge and/or ability

From my experience participating in this year virtual conference, my peers and I were able to acquire a strong new array of teaching ideas and strategies to be used within our own educational practices and personal classrooms. Whether the knowledge acquired included ideas on teaching multicultural pedagogy, applications to be applied towards online teaching, methods to be used in the production and discussion of art, or serving students with exceptional needs, there was a wildly extensive amount of selection for whatever (upcoming and pre-existing) educators to choose among. As for myself, despite having a large amount of other activities calling my time and attention during the length of this conference, I found myself again and again, not only enjoying the material, but feeling excited to hear and learn more from my peers already active in the field. The conference allowed me to witness a more in depth take in the practices of online teaching methods, as well as other topics (such as the practice of multiculturalism) to be more fully explored in the teaching context.

Confidence in and/or passion for teaching

One thing that stands true, is that the 2020 virtual conference has undoubtable given me a new collection of knowledge to be employed upon my teaching methods, strategies, and approach- in turn, yes, improving my confidence in the teaching context. I feel that in the case of most, having access to a wider spectrum of knowledge and being able to absorb the information provided, gives learners a more thorough level of understanding, not only for what they are expected of in practices, but also how to counteract difficult situations they may find themselves in. In turn, this results in a more confident figure in the face of the practice they are employing. In terms of my passion of teaching, I feel like it has always been there. I have always had a love for the craft, but (I guess) the conference did achieve improving my love for Art Education and what it entails.

Desire and commitment to be an art teacher

As previously stated, the desire to pursue a career in the field of education has been a long running commitment of mine. From beginning as a volunteer at a local summer camp (just over 7 years now) as the arts and crafts station leader, to my high school experience interning at a plethora of different schools within the district, teaching art and working with students has brought me a tremendous amount of joy throughout all my experiences- and is not anything I plan to forfeit lightly. In terms of what the 2020 virtual conference has done to elevate this commitment to art education? Being able to come into contact as well as witnessing additional male figures in the field of art education was a wonder experience to see, not that any of my female peers have been any less of a genuine joy to work besides, it is still at times just nice to see the diversity amongst the crowd. On that note, witnessing art educators of color and how they introduce diversity into their classroom was equally a beautiful experience to have during this conference.

Overall mood, happiness, or well-being

I was genuinely excited every time I tuned into the conference. For myself, the art and beauty in learning and diving deeper into just any subject matter is so enriching in the experience itself that to appreciate the accumulation of a deeper understanding really should be reflected on more often. I make the joke whenever I am in relationships, but it honestly holds some truth, my true love is education. Learning more about the things that take place around us and becoming fully aware of all sides to a topic, is the only to genuinely make an educated decision and achieve actual growth and change, two things that the U.S. is in desperate need of during this time. Although the conference did not bolster my mood for days following it, I did enjoy my time attending, and for me that is enough.

Relationships with other art ed, students or networking with other art ed. Professionals

Although the conference unfortunately had to be held online, I am genuinely grateful for the experience, and besides that for the plethora of resources and contact information (such as personal emails, YouTube pages, and Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts) that so many of the speakers put out into the world for upcoming and present art educations to access. What is more, is that although I attended much of the conference solo, I know that I will be able to contact any member of my peers who also attended the conference and be able to hold a discussion with them on the knowledge acquired through the conference videos as well as like Ted Talks that were presented.

Bailey Iwen's Virtual Conference Experience

My connections from the conference and what it means to me:

I felt that I could connect with each of the demonstrators, and while taking notes I related to their approach. The format and style of their presentations made me feel more prepared for the art teaching lifestyle. I thought my abilities thus far can reflect those of the presenters, which gives me more confidence. I have yet to attain more knowledge about presenting, but I know that will come.

My passion for teaching is always at an unmeasurably high amount of energy and want to improve the lives of others through art. Naturally I have a high level of confidence in myself when presenting, and feel my capabilities reflect my desires to become a better teacher.

Being an art teacher is my passion and role in life, and I wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of achieving that role for myself and others. I am extremely committed to teaching art so that students can broaden their perspectives and expand their abilities of how they can view and participate in life through art.

While watching the videos I was very excited to learn so much more about my future career and an array of valuable materials. I was very happy throughout the process of taking notes and applying my own knowledge to the lessons presented. As an art teacher I look to continuously be improving and always learning more about my future. It’s not a destination to be reached, it’s all about learning how to go through the journey.

At this point in my Stout Art Education career, I have not had many opportunities to meet with other students in a physical capacity and having to overcome obstacles before I ever had the chance to know people beforehand, made it difficult to start somewhere. However, I have connected with a select few which have propelled us forward into the art educator career. After a semester of classes I have been able to also connect with my professors who have pushed me to do great things and find opportunities to practice, becoming a better teacher.

Elsbeth Bandli's Virtual Conference Experience

The overall impact that attending the WAEA conference has had on me includes:

Art teaching knowledge and/or abilities

·       This year, I chose to attend sessions that I felt would provide me with information and knowledge in areas that are not necessarily covered in college courses. I wanted to take advantage of sessions that focused on commonly used technology (like Artsonia and Seesaw). I also sought to choose sessions that focused on contemporary trends in education and culturally sustaining practices.

Confidence in and/or passion for teaching

·       My passion for teaching grows as a I learn! I have found that attending conferences brings great excitement and inspires me to try new things. I enjoy applying what I have learned to practicum experiences and at Children’s Art Club.

Desire and commitment to be an art teacher

·       I am very committed to becoming an art teacher. Connecting with other kind and passionate art educators from around the state has continually reminded me that I have made the right career choice.

Overall mood, happiness, or well-being

·       I have discovered that I am happiest when I am teaching and learning. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year for teachers and students but there have been bright moments and attending this conference was certainly one of those moments for me. I have missed getting to observe and assist experienced teachers in their classrooms and teach Children’s Art Club in-person. While I know that we all wish that we could have a “normal” conference experience, I am grateful for the resources and sessions that were put together. Learning from other art teachers reminds me that I am supported and part of a larger Art Ed. Community.

Relationships with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professionals     

·       I wish that we would have been able to “attend” the conference on the weekend that it was hosted. I learned so much on my own but would have loved to have joined Q&A sessions and listen to speakers live.

Lauren Dillinger's Virtual Conference Experience

Although the 2020 WAEA annual conference had been quite different in comparison to years past, it was still quite impactful to attend virtually. That being said, by attending the Wisconsin Art Education Association conference, it has benefitted me by impacting my art teaching knowledge, my confidence, desire to teach, my well-being, and my relationships with my peers and art ed professionals. Within this short reflection, I will be elaborating on each of the beneficial aspects that I have experienced while having access to the virtual conference.

            Beginning with my increase of art teaching knowledge, the conference has allowed me to learn more about certain aspects of teaching that I had been most interested in. For instance, the most impactful session that I had attended was the “Leading a double life” presentation by Jody Boyer. Within this session, I had learned more about the importance of becoming more mindful of setting boundaries for oneself to develop a healthy balance between both teacher and artist. Overall, I had not considered the relevance of this aspect while teaching; however, while listening to Jody speak, I quickly became engrossed by this concept and learned a lot from her.

            In terms of my confidence and/or passion for teaching, it has only continued to grow when I attend these sorts of events and conferences. An example of this had occurred while viewing several demonstration sessions within the virtual conference. While watching these videos of different art lessons that I may consider integrating within my own future classroom, I felt excited and eager towards accomplishing my goal of becoming an art educator. In addition to the aspect of my increased passion for the career that I have chosen to pursue, it has also impacted my desire and/or commitment to becoming an art teacher. For instance, throughout the virtual conference, I continued to feel an overall connection to the subjects and topics brought up by each presenter. That being said, my desire to teach had only become even more supported.

            Lastly, to touch upon the network of educators that I experienced and how it had impacted my well-being, it had been heart-warming to recognize individuals from past conferences and listen to how they have been doing during this unpredictable time. That being said, it is obvious that I have been able to associate myself with some of these art educators; therefore, I am beginning to build some relationships that have overall improved my mood and well-being. This has been especially important for me during a time that does not allow for very many face-to-face interactions.

Overall, the benefits and impacts that attending this virtual conference have allowed me to experience inspires me to continue to attend conferences. More importantly, it inspires me to continue on the future art educator path that I am on. That being said, I am incredibly grateful for having the opportunity to attend the annual WAEA conference.

Rachael Cunningham's Virtual Conference Experience

The WAEA conference positively affected my teaching knowledge and abilities.  I learned about an interesting project idea that inspired me and made me think about other project ideas based on it.  I learned more about Artsonia and how it can be used in the classroom.  I learned a lot about how to effectively be an anti-racist teacher and how to teach activism along with art.  I also learned about the importance of teaching monuments and how that can often lead to important discussions about current events.

The conference increased my confidence and passion for teaching.  Being able to learn more skills and ideas from a wide variety of art teachers made me feel excited, as I was gaining knowledge that will help me in the classroom.  The more I learn about teaching art, or even just art in general, the more passionate I feel about spreading that knowledge and my love of art to others.  I didn’t have very much confidence in teaching at the beginning of the semester, but after taking ARTED-108 and after the WAEA conference, I’m beginning to gain more confidence.  I’m excited to continue to learn and grow in my art education journey.

The state conference increased my desire and commitment to be an art teacher.  I have had doubts about if I should become an art teacher and if I would be able to be the kind of high quality art educator the world needs.  I’m sure I still will have some doubts in the future, seeing as I’m both human and a nervous person by nature, but I certainly feel more committed to becoming an art teacher after hearing other art teachers speak.  I’m especially passionate about teaching diversity in conjunction with art, as the two are related and very important.  Listening to the speakers in “Anti-Racist Art Teachers” gave me ideas of how to do this and inspired me even more so to teach tolerance and diversity through art and make sure BIPOC voices are heard. 

Listening to art teachers talk about what they’re passionate about was very inspiring and beneficial to my mood/wellbeing as well.  I felt joy at hearing from lots of people who were passionate about art and teaching art, as I understand their love of art and the desire to teach it.  I felt excited and hopeful when thinking about a future career teaching art, and I was happy thinking about the fact that I will be an art teacher, too, in a few years. 

I don’t really have many relationships with other art ed students or professionals.  I know that that’s most likely because of Covid, making it more difficult to get to know other students in my Art Ed class, but I’m hopeful that I will be able to become closer with them soon.  I do know some, luckily, and they’ve been great.  I look forward to having closer relationships with other art ed students and professionals in the next few years and after college.  This was something I didn’t really think about much before the WAEA conference, but hearing from art teachers from across the state--and some outside the state--made me realize how important it is to have those connections with other art teachers.  They can help with ideas for lessons and may make you think about teaching something a different way.  And, of course, having close connections is beneficial to mental health and wellbeing.  It is also good to hear about others’ experiences teaching, as that can be helpful too.

Mekenzie Bisel's Virtual Conference Experience

Attending the 2020 WAEA virtual conference impacted me greatly according to the following:

Art teaching knowledge and/or abilities

·      Attending the WAEA conference was eye opening, showing me that there is so much more to art teaching than we are learning. I love that learning, improving, and growing my knowledge and abilities to teach art is something I will always be able to work on even after graduating from Stout. I am left looking forward to taking ARTED 208 next semester to gain more art teaching abilities.

Confidence in and/or passion for teaching

·      The WAEA conference was great and allowed me to further solidify my passion for teaching art.

Desire and commitment to be an art teacher

·      Since the WAEA conference was online due to the pandemic this impacted my commitment to being an art teacher, making me even more committed than before the pandemic. Seeing and hearing about how online learning is makes me look forward to being able to teacher students in the future. Realizing how different learning online versus learning in-person learning leaves me motivated to make sure students get the education they deserve.

Overall mood, happiness, or well-being

·      I had a great experience attending the WAEA conference. I do wish it would have been able to be held in person, but that is something I can look forward to for the next one. The conference left me feeling well. It was uplifting and encouraging to hear others who are passionate about art, education, and students.

Relationship with other art ed students or networking with other art ed professional

·      Since this was done online and not in person it was challenging to network and create relationships with other art ed students.

WAEA Conference 2019! Manitowoc, WI

EIGHT Art Education students had been selected to attend the Wisconsin Art Education Association conference for 2019! CONGRATULATIONS to these UW-Stout pre-service teachers who received a scholarship to attend the conference for free, supported by A.I.M.!

Angelina Brewer
Elsbeth Bandli
Lauren Dillinger
Olivia Bonlander
Megan Sykora
Nicole Seidler
Chloe Halverson

And congratulations to alumni recipient!:
Olivia Revolinski

Below, each individual’s reflections are included that describe their conference experiences.