NAEA SPRING CONFERENCE

NAEA Conference - Vibrant

This year the National Art Education Association Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky. Lucky for our UW-Stout students, the conference was during their spring break! Thanks to the AIM Grant, a delegation of 10 highly active involved future art educators attended along with 3 alumni art educators.

During this conference the students saw 2 key note speakers, Nate Powell and the Guerrilla Girls, and attended many different professional development and learning sessions, as well as hands on lesson planning workshops.

Group dinner at the hotel

Thursday night the delegation had a group dinner to reconnect and discuss how the first day of the conference went, and all of the different sessions everyone attended.

Josh, Lily, and Victor taking in the downtown art scene.

Throughout the conference the students explored and enjoyed the local art all around downtown Louisville. Many murals and sculptures were found, and a few also were excited in the architecture of the surrounding area. Murals and street art are a fantastic way to make and share artwork with a large group of people.

Excitement arose in the group when we found a colorful shake sculpture around the corner from the conference center.

Lin (left) and Josh (right)

Lin enjoying a “shake”

Victor Kopping

The main street is peppered with stunning

murals between storefronts and restaurants,

and Victor’s favorite was this brightly

colored Abraham Lincoln.

Marci, Lin, and Karla enjoying more murals and street art.

Getting to know one another better while exploring a new city and appreciating all that we see.

Marci and Lily holding a project sample from a session where they learned about incorporating books and contemporary artists into lessons for all ages.

Lily Schwartz

Guest Speaker - Nate Powell

During the opening session, the first keynote speaker on Thursday was author Nate Powell. He talked about his journey as an author, and how he handles being an author, artist, and parent in this society. He also touched on how comics is a very accessible medium for everyone. Often art or materials can be expensive, but all you really need to make comics is some paper, pens, and creativity. 

Universal Design of Learning for Preservice Teachers

An overview of preservice lessons/projects that prepare students for adapting their lessons to students of all abilities. This interactive session started with a speed cutting contest, with left-handed scissors. This activity encouraged us to think about how sometimes even having proper materials can help students excel. We looked into lesson adaptations, choice based lessons, incorporating diverse artists into examples so that students feel represented, classroom environment, and providing proper assessment and feedback for each student individually. 

Inquiring Minds - What to Know

This session focused on the inquiry method and including students questioning throughout the learning process. We want students to engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. When students are engaged with art their engagement and curiosity increase. This also is a way for students to listen and understand ideas that are not like their own, backed by each students observational evidence. I really enjoyed this session, as it forced me to thing about how my own experiences impact how I react with artwork. 

Art Education Club Programming

This session was presented by the art education club at the university of Kentucky. I really enjoyed learning about how they encourage involvement in their club across all majors, and their different meeting ideas. They offer various workshops for the campus and community throughout the school year, like Women’s History and Handicraft, make and take activities, cute and paste poetry, glow shows, and Day of the Dead community weaving. I’m excited to bring back these programming ideas to UW Stout and Menomonie. 

Curiosity Lab

Research in the art room. These presenters are on the research team for NAEA, and I learned a lot about how we can bring research and data into our classrooms to work with students, and how we can study our own research within the classrooms that can be used to justify the importance of art in schools.

Embroidery on Photos

This was an early morning session, so I was expecting it to be a little less busy than it was. We learned about how to embroider on paper, magazines and photographs, and how we can tie in meaning, data, or information into the embroidery. I really enjoyed this hands on session, and I made a few really wonderful connections with teachers and museum educators that I talked to while we were working. 

Engaging with Art Through Nature

Ecopedagogy was the primary focus for this session. I learned a lot about bringing the environment into our classrooms and artwork, or our classrooms to the environment. We also had some really interesting discussions about how different people and cultures have various definitions of “environment” and both urban and rural can bring nature into their inspiration and classes. 

Lin Boland

Overview of the conference:

NAEA 2025 was another great opportunity and experience for myself and my Stout peers once again. This year, every educator was able to come together and find ways to help one another and support one another during a stressful and uncertain year. I was able to meet educators who were willing to share resources to help in my future classroom. NAEA never fails to bring an uplifting community together, and this year, if I could describe our group of educators in one word, I would describe us as: powerful. I think being together and empowering one another is important now more than ever so I am glad I was able to have the opportunity to join my fellow art teachers at the national level for a third time!

Hip-Hops Transformative connection to SEL and DEI in arts education

For my first official session, our speaker focussed on how to make students feel seen and heard through hip hop music and projects based on music they know. This person in particular used kendrick lamar as their inspiration for their final unit in one of their art classes, and students are to make a project that represents a story of some kind, usually their own personal story. This seems like a great idea for an SEL lesson and having students show stories instead of telling them. 

We will draw with anyone about anything speed date

I always like to attend sketchbook speedates at conferences, but this one peaked my interest more than usual. The goal for this particular session was to talk about anything, any topic at all, and then draw as we talked with our neighbors. Once we finished, we all added our conversation- based drawings to a community poster to show others what conversations we may have had and how they vary from person to person.

Big gay church: the final act

For my third session, I went to the final session of big gay church. This session showed another side of such a warm community as everyone came together to remember 15 years of an uplifting group of individuals. There were poems, video goodbyes from characters that other people played, and overall I think it was a wonderful sendoff for the community.

Kayla Ellefson

Hip Hop's Transformative Connection to SEL and ED&I in ArtEd: This session focused on how hip hop can be used to connect students to social-emotional learning and equity topics in a real, meaningful way. It wasn’t about turning students into rappers, but rather about using elements of hip hop—like rhythm, storytelling, and identity—to help students express themselves and reflect on their communities in their artwork. I appreciated how it tied into culturally responsive teaching. It gave me some practical ideas and a broader way of thinking about student voice and connection.

Tips and Tricks for Teacher Sanity: This was a very practical session full of small things that can help reduce stress and keep things manageable. The presenter shared time-saving strategies, classroom management ideas, and simple routines that help with staying organized. It was helpful to hear from someone with experience and to get ideas that could actually make a day-to-day difference. I wrote down several ideas I’d want to try during student teaching or my first year.

Youth Artists Advocate for Positive Social Change: This session highlighted student artwork centered around social issues. The students shared what they created and why, and it was clear how art can be a way for young people to process what’s going on around them and speak out. It was straightforward but powerful. I liked seeing how teachers supported these projects and helped students take the lead while still guiding the process.

Cross-Level Collaboration and the Importance of SEL in the Art Room: This session showed examples of elementary, middle, and high school students working on connected projects, often with a social-emotional learning focus. I liked seeing how collaboration can happen across grade levels and how SEL was intentionally built into the planning. The strategies shared felt doable, and I liked how they showed real student work and the outcomes of the projects.

Play, Process, and Meaning Making: Learner-Driven Creating: This session focused on letting students take the lead in their artmaking by emphasizing play and exploration over final products. It was grounded in process-based learning and choice. I liked how it connected to student motivation. When students are trusted with their own creative process, they tend to engage more. There were good examples of how to support meaning-making without over directing.

Ignite Artistic Fire in Your Middle Schoolers: This session was all about strategies to keep middle school students engaged and excited about art. It included specific project ideas, classroom routines, and ways to build classroom culture. I liked the clear, practical takeaways, things like using sketchbook prompts, building in choice, and how to manage materials in a way that works for that age group. It reinforced the idea that consistency and relationships go a long way.

How We See Neurodivergence in Media Matters: Exploring Visual Culture Representations of Autism: This was one of the more thought-provoking sessions. It looked at how autistic people are represented in film, TV, and other media, and how those portrayals impact students. The session challenged stereotypes and showed how to be more thoughtful about what media we show and how we talk about neurodivergence in class. It wasn’t about having all the answers, but about being more aware and intentional. I appreciated the examples and questions they raised.

Cultivating Creativity with Simple and Effective Challenges: This session offered a bunch of quick, low-prep challenges that can help get students thinking creatively, especially during transition times or when you need something short and engaging. Some of the prompts were open-ended drawing or material-based challenges that could work at different grade levels. I liked how flexible everything was. It made me think of ways to build more moments of experimentation into a week.

First Year Teacher Tips: This was straightforward advice from teachers who had made it through their first year. There were reminders about setting boundaries, staying flexible, and asking for help. Some of the tips were more about mindset, while others were practical (like organizing your supply area early). It was helpful to hear what people wish they had known and to get a more realistic picture of what to expect.

Low Budget, High Impact Supplies: This session shared a ton of ideas for saving money while still offering students meaningful materials. There were examples of alternative tools, reused or repurposed supplies, and dollar store finds that can stretch a budget. It made me feel more confident that I don’t need fancy materials to run a strong art program. There were also ideas for getting community donations and building partnerships.

Conference Reflection
Overall, the conference was really worth attending. I left with new ideas, resources I can actually use, and a better understanding of how to connect with students through art in both practical and meaningful ways. Some sessions gave me lesson ideas, others helped me think more about classroom management or how to support all learners. I also appreciated seeing how other teachers approach things, especially when they shared student examples. It was a good balance of inspiration and down to earth advice, and it helped me feel more prepared as I move into my first job this coming fall!

Victor Kopping

During my time at the NAEA 2025 convention in Louisville, Kentucky, I was able to do a number of things including networking with people in the profession, talking with fellow preservice students, and attending sessions, and after each day was done, I was able to experience some of what the city has to offer. Over the few days I was in town, I feel I learned a great deal and was able to forge stronger relationships with my UW-Stout peers.

I opened the first day, Friday, with a thoughtful session welcoming first-time attendees and explaining the structure of events at the conference. I thought it was considerate of the organizers to host a session like that for those of us that hadn’t been to a national conference before.

From there I attended the first keynote of the event featuring graphic novelist Nathan Powell. He discussed his work both generally and specifically, covering his technical process as well as the social impact of his art and art like it. He emphasized the value of art in community and sharing powerful messages. I found his speech to be one of the most inspiring and enlightening that I was able to experience.

Next, I made my way to a session on equitably teaching LGBTQ+ artists. The panelists explained important rules of thumb for teaching really any diverse artist but especially LGBTQ+ artists, primarily to not treat them tokenistically. They speakers shared a number of queer artists’ work as they relate to the principles and elements of design and different art movements and styles, such as Shantell Martin and her use of line.

The following session I attended was about encouraging students to document their work. The speakers explained how to design assignments to guide students through recording their inspirations and tracking their sketches and drafts. One thing they brought up that I hadn’t thought of before was how having students make a process book for their projects limits their ability to turn in AI assignments as it documents their thoughts as they work.

My next session shared a transgender history of art education. A scholar in the community shared their work-in-progress essay that explored the history of art education with a focus on transgender perspectives. I found it interesting how, as much as trans perspectives were incredibly sparse in the past, they’re still very sparse in modern day aside from a small handful of influential teachers and scholars.

The second to last session I saw on the first day focussed on reengaging disengaged students. We got to hear perspectives from three veteran teachers on the impacts of homelife, background, and neurodiversity on students’ ability to focus in a classroom setting. The main takeaway was that, as a teacher, you should consider each child’s needs in your classroom. Traditional teaching methods may not work for every student so you have to communicate with them. One thing the presenters really stressed was getting gifted and talented certification in order to offer more opportunities to advanced students.

One of my favorite sessions I went to at this year’s conference was the final one I attended on the first day. This session centered on strategies for teaching empathy through art history. The speakers had us in the audience participate in a few activities in which we thought through some historical works of art together, specifically focussing on considering what the characters in a piece might be thinking or feeling about the situation they’re in. I found the idea of connecting visual analysis to Social Emotional Learning lessons really interesting as it wasn’t an idea I’d considered before.

After a wonderful evening exploring the city with my fellow UW-Stout preservice teachers and a good night’s sleep, I opened our second day in Louisville with a session about teaching female artists. The panelist, whose specialty is teaching AP Art History courses at the high school level, took us through a list of influential female artists to teach to our students. I especially enjoyed how she highlighted both historical artists like Mary Cassatt as well as contemporary artists like Toyin Ojih Odutola.

My next session was Saturday’s keynote event: the Guerrilla Girls. Only one of the two planned members of the activist group was able to attend, but she gave an uplifting speech about utilizing statistics and humor to bring attention to important social issues. An interesting point she made was about how capitalism has a great deal of influence on what art gets displayed in museums. I hadn’t thought about how private collectors and privately-owned museums decide what art gets a spotlight and whose art is deemed valuable in our country. I was really moved by the way that their art has been translated into so many other languages because their message resonates with artists all over the world.

After a quick break for lunch, I was able to attend a thought-provoking session on the representation of autism in the media and how it impacts our view of neurodivergent people in our greater culture. The presenter, an autistic teacher, showed us examples of autistic characters in American and Korean television and discussed the stereotypes perpetuated by said characters. She concluded the presentation by explaining both some accommodations to make our classrooms more accessible for neurodivergent students and the importance of interacting with real neurodivergent people in order to hear their perspectives and challenge negative stereotypes of autism in your mind.

The following presentation I saw was about cultivating good sketchbook habits in your students. They primarily focussed on the value of time constraints and random prompts on sparking creativity, having us in the audience try a few prompts to see said creativity in action. I thought that using such prompts as a warm up to loosen up students’ creativity at the beginning of class sounded like a really useful teaching technique.

After that, I attended a session that shared a number of tips for incoming teachers. One of the tips that really stuck with me was to find community with your fellow teachers. Having professional relationships with other people in your field and similar fields to ask for support is something that I feel will be really valuable when I graduate and become a teacher myself.

The final session I was able to attend before we headed home was a panel of two disabled preservice students and one of their professors discussing accessibility in the classroom. I found their perspectives incredibly valuable, especially their experiences with what elements in the classroom environment and instruction that did and didn’t help them. While disabled people are not a monolith that all experience their lives the exact same, I feel that being able to hear personal experiences from individuals with disabilities on top of research around accessibility is important for making more informed decisions regarding making my future learning environment as accessible as possible for all my students.

Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful that I was able to have such an experience as attending this conference. I feel that I learned a large amount of information and met many people in my prospective field that I wouldn’t have been able to had I not been able to attend this event. I look forward to potentially having an opportunity like this in the future as I believe that it can only strengthen my skills as a future art teacher and member of this community of educators.

Gwen Stein 

Misfit Memory Work: Challenging Sexism and Ableism in K-12 Self-Portrait Lessons

At this session I learned that there is a stigma around visual scarring or other physical differences that can make students uncomfortable. I learned artists now show scars in self-portrait but we don’t ever show it in the K-12 classroom. Some artists we learned about were Laura Swanson- an artist with dwarfism, showing different people.We even learned about Frida Kahlo’s portraits that show less disabled-ness are typically shown even though her work goes both ways. We learned about bringing back memories by using art to bring back repressed memories. We also talked about the questions: How does peer pressure work with self-portrait? And how do others perceive them? This is the link that that we got shared during the session.

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1839028362538910564 

Exploring Self-Care Among Arts Teachers in an age of Burnout and Anxiety

At this session we learned that time is important to take time to refuel instead of “moving like in the machine”. We also learned about self care for some people: making art, exercise, meditation, family… They talked about a holistic view of self care. We talked about how we aren’t able to drink enough water because we don’t have enough time to go to the bathroom. We also talked about being able to let go of perfectionism, “be planned and prepared for class, but its ok if everything isn’t graded.” They also talked about Teachers want more PD’s related to their subject. They also talked about the fact that teachers want to be given time for research, like a sabbatical. We weren’t given very many solutions, just answers. 

Getting Started with Tape Art: Practical Approaches for Preservice Art Teachers

We made a tape painting/sculpture. We learned that tape art is not too expensive. We learned how to making curves by having your hands close together. We also learned that If the tape is not filled in the project doesn’t use that much tape. 

Navigating AI in Art Education:

We learned why we should teach AI, you can teach how to use it responsibly.  This is also important to be honest about AI. This can also help talk about the value of art.It’s going to be a part of schools at some point so why is this a start?

There are ways to talk about cultural appropriation and bias that we can teach about. We learned about “encourage[ing] AI as a starting point and not a finish line”. Canva can use AI for students and not adobe express.Siri is AI and google so it's in everything…We also learned about Reversey… to track if the product turned in is AI. We were also told to look into plagiarism checkers on google classroom.

From Trauma Informed to Trauma Swept: A journey to Empathy Understanding, and Peace:

We started off by learning how to make google slides have captioning: google sides: slideshow and menu at the bottom to add captioning. We learned trauma makes it so you might not be able to picture the future. We learned about Adverse Childhood Experience is a type of trauma and then took a test (in the artifacts) that is an indication for if you are likely to have experienced trauma. This test is not a complete list, things like violence, racism and poverty. We learned to be realistic with trauma, read cues, detach from the situation, saying “no”, Sticking to boundaries, and advocating. We also learned “it's ok to be alone”. We talked about the process but not the product to help our students who are experiencing trauma. We learned about tranquil two minutes in the classroom, silent two minutes to help students. We also learned “behaviors are needs” so students do them to say something. 

Unlocking digital Art With Chromebook:

We learned about different tools to use with chromebooks that are ready to use, free and for most require no log in. They also tried to get ones with strong privacy policies so they would be acceptable in schools. Here is the list below:

• Autodraw: has AI, but this could be an entry point, there is also freeform drawing. Could create a coloring sheet this way… maybe just a fun thing

• Chrome canvas: this has layers, Limited pressure sensitivity. 

• Adobe Express: drawing is an option, there is pressure sensitive brushes. 

• miam, there is a paid version but forever just limited brushes. This can be a collaborative art canvas.  This is similar to jam board. 

• Canva: they have drawing but no pressure sensitivity. This is good for collage, they also have a never ending white board. Mood board is a good idea with reference imagery.

• Sketch.io: this has layers and multiple brushes. 

• Paint sumo: saves between sessions, but still try to save. Tap and hold to change things about the brushes to make them more yours. This one doesn’t follow normal symbols. 

• Kaliki: save file and import it the next day. 

• Pixel art: may be blocked. Has a teacher and student portal. Has an uncontrolled gallery so it might be blocked or not good because we have issues knowing if images are appropriate. Allows layers…

• Sculpt.gl: (not on PDF): This is a 3D modeling software. Has symmetry, looks like forger. 

• This is Sand: more of a mindfulness tool but still cool.  

They sell their tablets at wacom for $39 each at the cheapest. 

Elaborating the Narrative of a Personal Meaningful Photograph with Collage, Assemblage, and Sculpture: Linda Popp  

We learned college doesn’t necessarily have to be 2D.We talked about how students can make something “Authentic, personal, and meaningful to you”. We also talk about how artists that students reference do not have to align the project materials if they are inspired by the artists.We talked about this process NOT being scrapbooking. We always start with a title to start with an intention. Take pictures along the way… have students draw thumbnails for non phone schools.

Pressed bugs and flowers, other memorials are good for narratives.These use a real photo and narratives to bring the artwork to life. This is meant to be a cherished piece, and should be a meaningful project.

Unlocking Potential: Exploring Literacy in Art Education:

We did an activity where you write/draw from the perspective of a non person price of an artwork ( examples Salvador Dali) We also talked about approaching artwork with: I think, I see, I feel, I wonder. Look at an artwork and have them answer the questions.Another activity was creating a diptych and triptych of what happens before and after a painting or image.Another activity was artist research, just have artwork up with one or two hints about the price and then they figure out the title, artist, year made, and anything else. This is not only digital literacy and literacy.Have students describe the artwork to find it in google.They can also research in sketchbooks, adding not only words but doodles and drawings.We also talked about having students keep sketchbooks like a diary, but make it so other students don’t get to look at them.

Reflection:

This is my fourth NAEA conference with AIM. This conference is my first one not being a preservice teacher. This conference make me feel more confident in my passion for teacher by getting to hear from more veteran teachers. I also learned so much and one of my sessions was about trauma informed teaching which is going to be so valuable as I continue to help my students with issues outside and inside of my art classroom. My well-being has also been improved during this trip. I got to hang out with art ed peers and make art. I had a session about tape art with my friend Abigail and it was so fun. It was a free session, and they even gave us mocktails. We got to make a cool temporary piece of art as well as learn about a new medium we had never worked with. I got to network with not only teachers from across the country, but also contacts at colleges so I can look forward into starting a master’s program. I got to hear a first-hand account from a current masters student as well as get in contact with someone who sent me a code that will waive the application fee. This experience has made me more confident to be able to finish out the year. It is all thanks to the AIM grant that I have been able to get to experience so much and learn even more than I would if I had never been able to go to these conferences. 

Abigail Thompson

Summary:

Mock Interviews & Resume Review: 

For this session, I came prepped with my resume and my interview binder which contains an example cover letter, the 12 werf questions, examples of my work, lesson plans, and student work. I first had a mock interview which had a shaky start but went well overall. The two main pieces of advice I got were to keep an eye on the time throughout your interview and to memorize at least ten terms principles will know and recognize, such as PBIS and 21st Century Skills. 

Tape Art:

This was a free ticketed session for preservice. In this session we learned what tape art is and there is a group of artists who go around schools teaching it to students. Tape art as we learned is making a temporary mural on a wall or floor with tape. We also learned that they use a specific type of that that only one factory still makes, despite this it is only a little over $50 for a box which should last a couple of sessions. We then dived into making tape art for ourselves with a theme of plants coming alive with feelings in a science lab.

Exploring Self Care: 

This session, I felt would’ve been better for teachers who are currently teaching and for those who hold power to make change in their schools. This session was a lot of review of numbers gathered from a poll they sent out to teachers. Some things they did talk about which was helpful was to keep doing your hobbies, taking time away from work to function properly, engage with others outside of your job, go to therapy if needed, and to take water and bathroom breaks. They also talked about setting boundaries for both you and for others. These included, trying to keep work at work, staying out of gossip, and that its ok to stray from the to-do list.

AI in Art:

This was an interesting session as with reason a lot of art teachers are opposed to AI in the art classroom, it was also interesting as at my former student teaching placement I attended an in-service day which talked about how to implement AI in classrooms. This session talked about the importance of teaching students about AI, what is, and how you can identify it in art, as it is not going away anytime soon. They also talked about teaching responsible use, and to teach the ethical considerations, and how it might be used in the classroom.

Preservice Adaptive Art:

This was another free preservice ticketed session. In this session we learned about making art accessible through inclusion, scaffolding, and equity, along with why it’s important. We talked about how we can adapt our materials, tools, teaching style, and lessons to make them more assessable. We also talked about different things that might need adaptations in the classroom. These were; intellectual disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impaired, emotional and behavioral, sensory, and gross motor skills. 

Unlocking Digital Art w/Chromebooks

This was a really good session as I don’t know much about digital art. It introduced us to several free programs that students have access to on their chrome books and the difference between the programs. These included: Auto Draw, Chrome Campus, Adobe Express, Magma Studios, Canva, Ex Cali draw, Sketch IO, Paint Sumo, Kleki, Pixel Art, Sculpt G.L., and This is Sand.

What New Teachers Need to Know – Tackling Your First Few Years with Confidence:

This was a good but fast session. The presenter talked about curriculum, instructional strategies, classroom management, building relationships, assessment, repurposing rubrics, and informal formatives. 

Literacy in Art Education:

This was another great session. We started off with a drawing warmup based on student’s vocab words, and talked about the importance including literacy in art, as it enhances reading, writing, critical thinking, and communication skills. Some of the broader benefits talked about were creativity, cultural appreciation, and social emotional development. Some ways we talked about including it were presenting an artwork and having student draw/discuss what may have happen before, what was currently happening, and what may have happened after. Another one was researching in reverse, showing just the artwork and presenting the student with only the time period and medium, and having them research the artwork with the limited information to find out more about it. We also talked about visual journaling and documentation, research, experimentation, practice, and reflection. The lasted thing discuss was having every class keep a sketch book.

2024 WAEA FALL CONFERENCE

During October of 2024, thirteen UW-Stout preservice students had the opportunity to attend the WAEA state conference in Black River Falls! Students had the opportunity to meet experienced educators, learn from art educators from across the state, and attend conference sessions where they gained valuable information and insights, and came back with information and stories to share with their fellow preservice students.

This years participants included:

Lily Schwartz

Lin Boland

Victor Kopping

Joshuah Von Alman

Karla Lara

Abigail Thompson

Meghan LeMay

Courtney Burr

Gwen Stein

Kayla Ellefson

Amelia Johnson

Marci Kodl

Paige Van Booven

Group picture at the end of the conference.

Lin Boland

AP art organization! 

For this first session, I was looking forward to seeing how the Ap art program is run, as I had only participated in Ap once before and wanted to see more of how I could help my students behind the scenes. I thought it was very interesting how early the teacher presenting was trying to convince her students to try AP. She even had a student who did AP art in 10th grade and got a 5 on her portfolio! How she goes about doing this is she will have students in art class, and just comment on their art, hyping them up and expressing that she thinks the student could go even farther with a specific theme, and then when they agree she helps them take off running. I personally thought it was a very smart idea that this teacher just gives all of the AP information to her students throughout the year/semester, so they know what to expect. She has them start working on it by using sketchbook inserts, taking photos throughout the year, and using PowerPoint presentations to answer some of the AP questions before they actually have to put it in the portfolio. Overall I thought this was a great strategy to keep her students informed with the process and I hope I can use these techniques in the future. 

We are better together collaborative mural 

This session taught me a lot of good information about how to do service projects with students whilst also doing our own project in the art room, and that something as complicated as a mural can even be done by students as young as 4th grade. For this project, this teacher needed a theme and a team, so she started by using a superhero design project that she already had been doing with her students in the past. This project includes students designing a superhero and creating “power projects” having something to do with the hero that they designed, then at the end of the project, the teacher would hold a small “comic con” in the basement of their school. She knew that if she could just ask some community members and artists for some extra help as to how to make a mural also happen within this time, they would be able to keep the superhero project but take it up a notch. So, she recruited a local painter, and AWE (Artists Working in Education) to help her come up with a superhero design that could represent community and building each other up at school. Students got to help once the mural was designed, as this was also done to look like the wall was made of bricks and then graffitied on top of, so each student designed a brick and even helped spray paint some stencils up on the wall. I also found out that Liquitex makes spray paint that is safe to use inside when you have little ventilation, so that is what they used for this project, and they seem to have worked well! Overall I enjoyed the amount of teamwork shown here and I felt a bit more confident after learning how this teacher incorporated the mural-making process into her project and overall her school year. 

Art therapy in the art room 

I found this session very interesting. We learned about how to help students when they are in a hard place in the art room, and even some techniques that I think could just be good emotional regulators for students. Some of the techniques we learned were: dancing it out with students for a minute if they just need a break, “scribbling it out”, neurographic art,  or having a student draw how they are feeling that day. It was explained that bi-lateral movement can bring our brain back to reality, so having students participate in activities like these can really help them move through a problem smoother or even just distract them for a short while so they can calm down for the time being. Overall this session gave me a lot of learning opportunities and I hope to keep some of these strategies in my back pocket for when I will need them when I teach. 

Still life exploration 

This session was a more hands-on session dedicated to experimenting with supplies, angles of the still life, thinking about zooming into the subject, and how students can use the materials on top of one another to create a replica of what they are seeing. 

Nature journaling 

This session consisted of some mixed-media sketchbook journaling revolving around nature, which I found interesting. Students can either use plastic animal toys as references for their nature journals, or they can go outside and collect things off of the ground for a still life. The only rule for collecting things from outside is to not harm any living things whilst students are collecting things, everything must have been naturally shed from said living thing that is being used in their still life. I found that I was nice to experiment with watercolor and adding water to tissue paper to add even more color to the paper, overall a great project that I look forward to using in the future. 

Community-based art 

For this session, I learned more about murals and how to go about fitting murals and other community-based projects into your school year. I learned it is a great idea to have students work on murals either during class time, study hall, during art club, or even during a summer school class. Build the time into your normal school schedule, otherwise save the project for later. For murals like these it would also be  a good idea to recruit an artist from the community to help out when needed! You can create art almost anywhere too, and with more techniques than just mural painting. You can create mosaics on walls and can even mount clay pieces to walls as well. Overall I found that with this session and also the other mural session, I feel much more confident in making community murals and murals within my own school a reality. 

Welcome to art activities 

This session also proved to be a lot of fun for me, as I don’t normally know what to do with students at the beginning of a semester. We learned about the dot challenge where students design a dot with anything that represents them or even just something they like so that they can get to know each other once they are displayed. There is also the “art is…” challenge where students can draw or write what they think art really is in their own words. Another good challenge is to have students set smart goals for their art class to help them see what they will achieve throughout the class. These all can be made with recycled materials which can be beneficial for students, and they are great bulletin board fillers! 

Epic boomerangs 

My last session was a great example of a one-day lesson that works well as a filler for students, especially students with lots of energy. We learned how to take one piece of printer paper, cut it into four pieces, fold three of the paper pieces together and tape them, color them, and then prepare them for flight. This project is simple yet complex and entertaining enough for students from grades 3-4.  

The fall WAEA conference this year proved to not only be a great learning and networking opportunity, but it was fun as always. I feel even more confident now knowing there are other teachers who are also interested in trying out some art therapy techniques in their classroom, as well as so many teachers who are also interested in helping their students get interested in murals. I saw so many familiar and unfamiliar faces this time around and met so many teachers that I hope to keep in touch with in the future. As always it was also very nice to have all my Stout peers by my side so that we could help each other out when needed. Overall, I learned a lot and now will have a few fun, yet useful tricks to keep in my back pocket for later! 

Lin, Lily, and Grace

Lily Schwartz

Grants, Go-Getters, and Glue 

In this session we learned about different ways to find and apply for funding, and different categories that grants usually fall under. We had broad categories that most grants will fall under: events, supplies, art instillations, art residencies, field trips, and service projects. We broke up into groups and discussed different reasons we could use certain grants/what we could use them for.  

Thrift Art 

From scampering and taking artwork encouraging revisions, we learned how to encourage high school students to not be afraid to alter and change their artwork. By using artwork that is thrifted, there are less expectations and fewer hesitations. Students will be less afraid to “ruin” their art. During the session we took old thrifted artwork, or artwork that would have just been burned, and heavily changed and altered it. Sometimes that was ripping the canvas, puncturing holes, or painting/adding something over parts. It was  

Teaching About Ho-Chunk Artist, Truman Lowe in the k-12 Classroom 

It’s surprising how little students are taught about Native American Artists and Artwork. We learned about Truman Lowe’s life and his artwork, and the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation. After looking at some of Lowe’s artwork and his inspiration we discussed how we can encourage students to pull influence from their own cultures and experiences. Because so much of Lowe’s artwork was influenced by his surroundings, we drew our own river, influenced through our experiences. Mine was supposed to represent the Eau Claire River, as I grew up spending the summers down by the river in phoenix park.  

Choice Based Studio 

Choice based, TAB, discipline based, and blended styles of teaching. Personally, I am a blended teacher. In this session I learned a lot about how to run a successful blended choice based art room. The presenter struggled connecting with his students and sparking their creative choice until he switched to a blended style of learning. He started off the year as a disciple based art class with more structure, and as students got into a routine and expectations they slowly were given more and more choice based projects.  

Balancing Rocks 

“Appreciating Beaty in the Chaos.” Using the Headwork and Handwork to guide, we took a moment to reflect in our heads all of the different things we balance in our lives. From what we will make for dinner to relationships to students and lessons. On the back or a paper we write down all of the things that we balance, and then we get to use our handwork. After picking out different recycled papers we cut out rocks that represent what we are balancing, and paste them to the front of the paper in a stack. It was a really wonderful reflection and mindfulness activity. 

STEAM Insects  

After hearing a presentation from the Paine Arts Center and Gardens in Oshkosh they lead us through an insect STEAM lesson that went along with one of their summer exhibits. We learned about the different parts of an insect, and then used model magic and other materials to build our own bugs, from either real life or from our imagination. I also learned that model magic tends to be pretty sensory friendly in regards to smell and texture.  

Reflection  

I learned so much from the WAEA State Conference. I had the opportunity to reconnect with teachers that I had met last year, and learned from many educators that I just met! I learned about lesson planning, cultural lessons and appreciation in the art room, teaching art abroad, and how to strengthen my teaching. I had never considered where teaching art could take me outside of Wisconsin, and I am excited to explore a whole new world of sharing art education. I feel more confident in myself as a person and as a teacher. I believe it is so important for us to connect and network with fellow teachers, as I learn such a vast array of things from them that I wouldn’t otherwise in my college courses.  

Lily at the rock stacking session

Amelia Johnson

Final WAEA Conference Recap Fall 2024 

AP Art Organization 

We learned about some brainstorming strategies for students who might be interested in the AP Art Program. One big takeaway was the importance of meeting with students one-on-one, even before nominating them, to get a sense of their passions and what they want to explore in their art. Starting students off gradually can help keep them from getting overwhelmed by the program’s demands. We also discussed the importance of students using their own reference images to avoid plagiarism concerns. It's important to make sure students explain the “why” behind the materials they choose in their written reflections. The teacher mentioned that this detail often gets skipped, but it’s actually really important for scoring, since the AP program values the thought and creative journey behind the artwork just as much as the final piece. 

Art Therapy in the Art Room 

We learned about the use of art for students to communicate, especially those who have been exposed to violence or negativity. Art gives students a chance to express themselves and process emotions without worrying about creating a finished piece. Sometimes, the act of making art is just about releasing feelings. The focus of art therapy isn’t really on creativity, but rather on using art as a nonverbal language to express personal struggles. Everything a student creates is a partial self-portrait, reflecting what they’re going through inside. To really understand what students might be dealing with, it’s essential to let them talk about their work, as their explanation can reveal a lot. Techniques like scribbling, neurographic drawing, and feeling drawings were shared as helpful ways to encourage emotional release and calm.  

Still Life Exploration 

This session was a making session. I created art from a still life, using a flower as our subject. By adding patterned or collage paper as a background, the drawing feels less intimidating to start and adds to the piece. It gave me some ideas for engaging students with still life projects in the classroom.. 

Nature Journaling 

I learned about the idea of having students create art inspired by nature, like mandalas, drawing from the work of artist Andy Goldsworthy. This practice can really help with students' mindfulness, social-emotional learning (SEL), and observational skills, encouraging them to focus on the process rather than just the final product. In the classroom, we often focus on the outcome, but nature journaling encourages students to engage thoughtfully and reflect on their experience. When taking students outside for these activities, it's important to set rules to protect the environment and ensure everyone’s safety. Working in nature can help students feel more present and get re-inspired by the change of scenery. There are plenty of ways to bring nature into lessons, like creating nature collages, making mandalas, or drawing from observation such as sketching butterflies or exploring abstract forms in nature.  

Collage Jewelry 

In this session we made a fun and affordable project where we made pins. The materials were scissors, hot glue, pens, packing tape or a laminator, pin backs, and collage paper or magazines. To make the pins, students start by picking out an image or object they like from the collage materials, cutting it out, and then sealing it between laminating sheets. After laminating, they cut out the shape and attach a pin back with hot glue. Students can add words or positive messages to their pins. This project is  sustainable, letting students make wearable art while recycling materials. 

Water Soluble Techniques 

The presenter experimented with a special water-soluble pencil and explored techniques. A key takeaway was the "less is more" approach since the pencil is tough to erase, it’s best to build up the layers gradually rather than pressing hard right away. When darkening areas, layering works better than applying too much pressure. We also learned that it’s effective to wet the lighter areas first and then move on to the darker ones for a smoother transition. Other techniques we tried included wet-on-wet, press-and-seal, and using wax paper for texture. The pencil can also go over acrylic, tempera, or ink, and adding watercolor on top makes the artwork pop. When using this pencil, it's best to work on watercolor or mixed media paper to handle the water well. We learned that you can recycle broken colored pencil tips by letting them dissolve in a spray bottle with water, to create fun effects on paper. 

Community Connections 

I learned about a fundraiser that benefits both the community and the school's art program. The idea is to partner with local businesses that pay a yearly fee of $200 to showcase student artwork on a rotating basis each month. This helps fund the art room budget for supplies and resources. Although managing logistics, sourcing frames, and coordinating volunteers can be tricky, the project can start small with just a few businesses and grow over time. Parent volunteers play a key role in delivering and setting up the artwork, which strengthens the sense of community and school pride. Students also feel proud and motivated when they see their artwork displayed. It's important to make sure payments go through the school, getting parental and student permission for the artwork, and meeting face to face with businesses to make it more personal.  

Creating for Mindfulness 

 This session covered mindfulness practices. We learned that setting a calming environment dim the bright lights and play guided meditations to help students focus. By asking questions like, “How does this material make you feel?” or “What does this color remind you of?”, we encourage students to be present with their art. Watching peaceful nature videos, like someone walking through the woods, can help keep the room calm. We practiced journaling and drawing techniques that promote mindfulness, which left me feeling relaxed. Since the session, I’ve been using some of these techniques to manage my own stress, and I can see how helpful they would be for students, too. 

Reflection  

Attending the Wisconsin Art Education Association conference was such a rewarding experience! I felt truly inspired by the opportunity to learn from art educators who are actively in the classroom, sharing their skills and ideas and strategies from their experience and classroom that I can apply to my own teaching. Connecting with fellow art education peers was also a highlight; it really felt like we were all part of a supportive community. I was able to grow in my relationships and learn more about others in the program that I had not met before attending.  Every conference I’ve attended has left me with new  ideas as well as inspiration for how I will implement, use and share this information. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow as a professional and to share this journey with others who are dedicated to teaching art. It is a highlight to be a part of this experience and I continue to be passionate for the program that I am in.  I’m excited to continue attending conferences as forms of professional development even after I am no longer attending the University of Wisconsin Stout.  

Amelia, Kayla, and Lin

Joshuah VonAlman

AP Art Organization 

Starting projects with brainstorming and research of subject matter and inspiration artists can help students think more critically about their art. 

Thrifted Art POP Culture 

Deconstruction of thrifted paintings and art can still teach students about making art. 

Mixed Media x2 Fun! 

Mixed media is a great way for students to experiment with new materials and mediums. 

Keynote Speaker, Sarah Krajewski 

It's important to be mindful and aware of your classroom and to be a model for your students. 

Classroom Control 

Connect to your students and take negative responses and turn them into something positive. 

Nature Journaling 

Allowing students to connect to nature by either going outside for their art or bringing nature into the classroom with projects. 

Community Based Art Projects 

Make the art project meaningful to the students and the community. 

Cabinet of Curiosities 

Using small collectables and boxes to create a “cabinet of curiosities” to showcase students' interests. 

Keynote, Matt Young 

Find community with your fellow teachers and embrace the community around you. 

3-D Puff Pets 

Using roving yarn and pipe cleaners we can create fun little animals or monsters. 

A bunch of UW Stout art education students happened to be taking the same session! Impromptu group photo with the project samples!

Abigail Thompson

Thinking Outside the Landscape 

This was a lesson based on Jon Bugerman’s Art, in which students created a cartoon character in the style of his work.  Students pick a landscape from a magazine or calendar and collage to create their character interacting with this landscape they have been set in. 

Thrifted Art, Pop Culture Smash Up 

This session focused on revision in the A.P. classroom and introduced the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. method. Which stands for, substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, and reverse. We were also introduced to a project to be used as practice for these methods that reuse old paintings/ thrifted art, where the students have to make their piece of art unrecognizable to what it was originally, this could be through painting or destroying the canvas.   

Beyond Measure: “Ungrading” Your Classroom 

This session talked about the history of grading and how it hasn’t changed in 100 years. It also gave us ten reasons to end grading, those being: 

• It diminishes students’ interest in what they are learning. 

• It creates a preference for the easiest possible task.  

• It reduces the quality of student thinking. 

• It makes you less efficient and prevents flow. 

• It crushes creativity. 

• It crowds out good behaviors and encourages unethical behavior. 

• It fosters short-term thinking. 

• It is incapable of representing the complexities it is meant to summarize. 

• It creates composition and comparisons while impacting mental health. 

• It continues and potentially grows bias “baked into the sequence” 

Classroom Control – Expressing Expectations 

In this session, we talked about reviewing with students why they are at school and the benefits of being there, along with PBIS strategies. Giving students a chance to correct their bad behavior, micro affirmations, and having students design and sign a contract and check in the students to see how following the contact is going and what needs to be changed.  

Collage as Jewelry 

In this session we learned a quick lesson of making mini collages to turn into pins or magnets, to make these, we used magazines, scrapbook paper, and calendar scraps and laminated them to protect our work this could also be done with tape. 

Art and Literacy: Integrating Visual Expression with Language Arts 

In this session, we learned about the importance of literacy in art and how to implement it into our classrooms. The 8 reasons we were given were: 

• Developing well-rounded learners. 

• Enhancing critical thinking. 

• Supporting diverse learning. 

• Strengthening communication skills.  

• Encouraging personal expression and identity exploration. 

• Building connections across the curriculum. 

• Fostering emotional and social growth. 

• Inspiring creative and analytical thinking. 

Retired/Preservice Breakouts 

In this session, we met with other preservice teachers and retired teachers and had the chance to ask any questions we had, we talked quite a bit about unions and to not switch schools as to go seniority within your position and therefore a higher wage. 

Printmaking with Erasers 

We learned how an eraser can be used for printmaking and can be used as practice for the students or be used to help cut down on supply costs.  

Origami Boxes, Wreaths, & More 

In this session, we went over different origami shapes to make and how to make them.  

Reflection

By attending the WAEA State conference my teaching knowledge has broadened by gaining a deeper understanding on topics such as grading in the classroom and learning new ideas for future lesson plans. I am excited to continue to pursue a career in art education and look forward to teaching in a classroom of my own.  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.  
I also enjoyed having the chance to sell my jewelry at a booth during the maker’s market and again during lunch the next day. Overall, I had a lot of fun at the conference, strengthened my connections with my friends and classmates, and I’m looking forward to the future. 

Paige Van Booven

In the first section they showed us how we can teach a clay flower project with a radial design.  They talked about how we could tell the children the story about the cat and the mouse and cheese to make a radial design.  It’s an easy lesson for first graders and a fun project for the children. 

My next section I went to was called watercolor flowers.  They showed us how that with this lesson we can change it up and it can work for many different ages or ways.  We could do this with first grade up to high school. I really liked this one as it can be a personal project and makes the children think about how they can setup their flowers and what kind. 

While I was at the vendor meet and greet I got to see many different vendors, most of whom I didn’t know.  Jack Richeson is from my hometown in Kimberly. My dad even works there, and I had to go their mutable times in high school in my drawing class. Many of the vendors had a lot of different art supplies.  I have a lot from jack Richeson, so I looked at others and one caught my eye.  General pencil showed me a watercolor pencil and I thought it was really cool as I haven’t seen something like that, so I had to buy a set.   

During the WAEA annual meeting the speaker talked about her teaching work and four important things she wanted us to remember.  She went on about how it's ok to slowdown and observe and ask for help when things get hard.  With being an art teacher it’s important to embrace the weird and have fun with kids even if it has nothing to do with art.  She also talked about how we are not just an art teacher we are artist.  It’s going to be hard work, but we can’t forget to keep doing art for fun and in our free time. We are educators we are artist but most importantly we are human.   

My next session was mixed media.  We talked about a project called the 13-dot drawing.  It a form of drawing what you see and would be great for substitutes.   

My last session on Thursday was a lesson plan exchange.  Even though I’m not a teacher yet I was hoping to get lesson plan ideas that I could use in the future. But, no one showed up.  It was kind of disappointing that no one showed up but then me and the speaker talked about her experience and what she has done.  It was really helpful as she talked about how she taught abroad and now I’m looking into that as I would like to teach abroad given the chance.   

My favorite session would probably be the high school Div breakout.  I plan on teaching high school so I thought that this would help me know about what they talk about.  I thought it was really helpful as they talked about art competitions and grants that could better their students.  They also talked about the struggles with their administration as many people said that their school didn’t them to come and the teachers are having to explains they this conference is important and many don’t get the change to come. 

My next session was Printmaking with erasers.  It's a simple yet engaging technique, perfect for middle school and older students. I appreciated its personal touch, allowing for unique designs and patterns.  I've also had fun with origami in the past and in my last session we learned more.  It's a versatile art form that can be adapted for various lessons, and it's a great solution for times when supplies are limited, as all you need is paper. 

Gwen Stein

Grants, go-getters and glue: 

This session was super useful thinking about what can be funded and how to fund school things through grants and other means. Usually, the buckets that people want to fund: Events, supplies, residencies, art installation, field trips and service projects. Les Paul is a grant foundation in Waukesha that we can submit to. It’s also super important to document and see the growth with the grant.   

Artsonia would be great to include community to write goals to gain grants for procreate.  

3D-Printing: 

Autodesk is a software that is good for 3D printing.  3D ceramic printers exist, that would be really cool.  3D printing is a type of additive Manufacturing, this is a good way to connect to future careers. 3D modeling is a good way to build career skills. The medical field is a good real-world example. 3D printing is also good for servicing things and making things to be able to fix instead of throwing away things. There are so many things we can print with; edible art is an option. You start with a cad program, Computer Aided Design. There is a 3D printed bridge in Amsterdam! 3D printed hears is also a an option that is real. So much more than just plastic. 3D printed vaccines is a thing which is super cool. Orthodontics also uses a lot of 3D printing. Wax casting can have 3D printed rings and jewelry.  3D printed houses are also the way of the future. Chocolate printers are about $600, glass can also be printed. 3D metal is also an option. ParaNorman was completely made with 3D printers. Shoes and fabrics are starting to be created. There is extrusion printing, Inkjet printing, selective laser sintering… There is a free version of z-brush, very basic. We used Auto desks tinker cad which is a free software that you can use on a computer without downloading anything. This would be cool to make plastic stamps for clay. Tinkercad saves online, works more for geometric and less in terms of “sculpting”. 

“Ungrading” your classroom: Chris Gleason 

It doesn’t always feel nice to be evaluated especially when you don’t get feedback. Here are some quotes: “Grades are not only biased and ineffective but downright harmful”. “Assessment is here to asking questions”. Ungrading is not as simple as removing grades but instead how to assess without grades. Grades were important to bring education into factories. Students used to be taught as if they were the average and they all had the same benchmark to meet. No one is the same so we shouldn’t teach students the same. Grading hasn’t been updated in recent years. Grading makes students take shortcuts and will get rid of them trying to take risks.  Standardized tests make money off of students studying and prep materials that make it so rich people succeed and it makes it hard for the less privileged. Assessing. Is not the same as evaluation, you can also act and assess. Self-assessment and peer assessment is important when you teach students how to do this. Diagnostic assessment is very important but often forgotten.  

Classroom Control: 

“You’re the teacher”, how your classroom operates depends on you. Having students introduce themselves is super important. She also suggested name tags. Building a community goes a long way to helping students. We were given a classroom expectation review sheet.  Why we do things is very important to students, so it is helpful for them. Stressing upon, learning, getting a job, basic needs, socializing, accepting all individuals, be on task/get tasks done. Twist negative things into neutral and positive things. Having school and building specific rules that work together is really important. In our activity we wrote “good” behaviors on the top of a line and their opposite in the bottom, and we then can talk about climbing up to the latter. This is a good way to redirect with the students. Consequences are very important if it takes a few times. Explain the end as “surround you with the circle of love” to tell them they are getting lots more support if they can’t fix their behavior.  Specifying “teachers roles” vs. “students roles”; Thinking about holding them accountable for their messes and their learning and have the teacher be the one who enforces rules and teachers. Having students sign a contract helps hold them accountable too! Visuals for reminders are super important and checking out and establishing procedures are important.  

Nature Journaling:  

This was all about art and nature. This is a good way to have students go out into nature and create things and get inspired by art. This is also good for a mindfulness activity and observational drawing. Teaching visual literacy is important and thinking about process and experimentation. Nature collages is a good way to create art for those who struggle with drawing. This can be a entomology unit or science connection to have students influenced by the world around them and connect art to science. Scientific drawing is a good example. Grade the work as a whole is a good way and thinking about sharing and critique that is super useful.  Adding a science rubric is useful. Exhibition is also useful and thinking about picking the favorites to hang or tabletop flip through. Also looking for things you can rent and work with science museums.  

Felt Nature Painting: 

This session was super fun. My big take aways are that you can frame these “painting” and needles break if its not in an up and down position. She also shared that real wool works better than synthetic. 

Drawing Games for Lit: 

 This session is from the Milwaukee art museum. We played a lot of games with lots of different games. Also teachers get into the Milwaukee art museum lets teachers in for free!  

Artist Side Hustles: 

6-EIN is for opening a business. It’s important to open an LLC. Stop making art “super” affordable and price things fairly! It hurts other people more if you price your stuff unfairly. Ideas are craft shows, charity events, teaming up with local businesses, find projects, come up with community events that support your art and cooperate with other artists and share the bills. Makers markets are better than craft shows. They also talked about liability insurance. Most businesses don’t make money for the first year.  Get a sellers permit. 

Women can get a $ 5,000 grant to start a business. There are also first-time business owners grants. 

Reflection

This WAEA State conference was a very fun and educational experience. I always learn so much from the sessions and it is always amazing to be able to connect with other art ed peers and alumni. This conference has increased my understanding of grading as a part of assessment, the uses of 3D printing, grants and business ideas and so much more. My confidence for teaching has also improved. Talking with alumni has made me feel more confident about getting a job and being able to talk to art teachers who teach where I want to teach helped me feel more confident. I also had my confidence grow when I was approached to help work with a museum for a day. I am very honored and excited about this experience. Talking to other alumni has made me feel more confident in my commitment to be a teacher in the future. The session I attended about side hustles has also made me feel more confident that I can make more than the basic teacher salary. My overall happiness was also increased because I got to reconnect with so many friends. Student teaching is somewhat lonely so being able to see art ed peers and make new friends was a joy that I needed to have. Overall, this conference was an amazing experience and I am so happy I got to go! 

Meghan LeMay

I learned so much at the W AEA conference this year. It was the first art education conference I

attended and I am very glad I did. I am looking forward to attending future conferences for years

to come. The resources and information offered to me at the conference created a great

opportunity for my development as a teacher and as a person. My favorite sessions I attended

were both of the Keynote speakers. I enjoyed their commentaries on their classroom

environments and their insightful advice for current and future art educators. I was also able to

reconnect with past teachers I had at the conference and gained valuable information from them.

Having the conference as a way to create community among local art educators is important, and

I feel like this conference makes connections between us so much stronger. I am thankful for this

opportunity and hope to attend many more WAEA conferences.

Courtney Burr

Thrifted Art Pop Culture: 

In this session we learned different ways to encourage students to alter and change their artwork. Some of these methods included the scamper technique and encouraging or revisions. We created a project sample where students take old, thrifted/discarded artwork that otherwise would have been destroyed and largely change it to make it their own. Some techniques that students can use but are not limited to are ripping, puncturing, painting, embellishing and more. 

Mixed Media 2x Fun: 

By incorporating Alcohol markers, we created an abstracted illustration in this session. This project sample that we created includes an abstract thinking practice in the beginning stages of creating. This looked like creating 13 dots on a piece of paper and connecting them with straight lines. Students would then look at the connected dots and try to see something in the shape they made.  

Keynote (Sarah Krjewski): 

This Keynote Speaker presented on her personal experiences in her classroom while feeling like a hummingbird person. She went through the different aspects that make up an art teachers’ identity including Art Educator, Educator, Artist and Human. 

Tempera Techniques: 

Through the medium of Tempera paint, we discussed and experimented with four different techniques for tempera paint. Light over dark, wax resist, Lifting and Pallet Knife. These skills are important because students and school districts have different levels of funding. Tempera Paint is the most common and easily accessible material for art classes across the country.  

Felt Nature Painting: 

In this session we gained information about distributors of wool and needle felting supplies. As a group we also discussed how to teach needle felting with a wide range of ages as well as how we can create accommodations for students of different skill and ability levels. 

Retired/Preservice Breakout: 

Five retired art teachers provided us preservice and young teachers with information about things not often discussed at the university about teaching and getting jobs at schools. After speaking about their personal backgrounds, the retired teachers opened the room for questions. Some questions posed were about Unions, moving schools, wages, building a program, Job hunting and more. 

Keynote (Matt Young): 

During Matt Youngs keynote, he discussed the interactions and influences that he had made and that his students had made on him. He also spoke about his career and how he has moved through the education system from student and forward. 

Alternative Mark Making Portrait: 

Using India ink, we started this lesson with drawing not using dip pens but plastic flowers. This session gave ideas for different drawing mediums we can use with our students. We also experimented with using charcoal attached to a bamboo pole to draw from a distance. These techniques can be implemented to create loose portrait studies with students in the classroom. 

Reflection: 

I learned a lot from the sessions I attended at the WAEA State Conference this year. I got to meet and hear the thoughts of many teachers from different backgrounds, I got to reconnect with one of my former art teachers and I got the opportunity to become closer to my peers in the UW Stout Art Ed Department. I got a lot of different lesson plan ideas, supplies and some new ideas for encouraging students to try new things. I feel a lot more confident in interacting with other art educators and am very happy I attended this event. Overall, I am excited to use these ideas in my future teaching and lesson planning.  

Kayla Ellefson

AP Art Organization: This session covered one teacher's approach to helping students succeed in AP Art. She shared strategies for staying organized and getting students to meet all the AP requirements without losing their creativity. It was really about helping students build confidence and find their own voices while keeping up with the demands of the course. 

Road Trip with Grant Haffner: In this workshop, we got to see project examples inspired by Grant Haffner's colorful, stylized landscapes. Then, we made our own Haffner-inspired paintings, playing with bold colors and unique perspectives. 

Art Therapy in the Art Room: The presenter encouraged us to create a safe space for students to open up emotionally, but there was a fine line between supporting students and acting as their therapist. We were reminded that, as teachers, we’re mandated reporters, so anything a student shares that indicates harm or abuse has to be reported, which could complicate their sense of safety. Still, one great takeaway was the idea of using art projects that involve bilateral movements—this type of movement, like using both hands, can actually help calm and ground students scientifically. 

Still Life Exploration: Here, the instructor had us draw a still-life subject with different materials, encouraging us to experiment and see how the medium changed the outcome. This session highlighted the importance of variety in materials and approaches, helping students explore different ways of seeing and creating without pressure for perfection. 

Nature Journaling: This session was all about nature journaling and how it encourages students to slow down, observe, and connect with nature. We got hands-on experience with different journaling activities that could easily be used in our own classes. It was a relaxing, mindful approach to art that students might find really grounding. 

Collage as Jewelry: This session introduced a fun, low-cost jewelry-making project using magazine pages to create colorful collages that could be turned into pins or magnets. It’s a creative way to make wearable art, and students get to practice design and composition skills in a unique format. 

Water Soluble Graphite Techniques: In this workshop, we heard about different techniques with water-soluble graphite pencils, which are great for adding depth and shading, especially in nature-based projects. We learned several techniques to create various textures and effects, adding a new tool to our art toolkit that can really bring sketches to life. 

Community Connection: This session shared a cool way one district got extra funding by working with local businesses. They put student artwork in local shops, which got the community involved and proud of the students’ work. It also helped secure more funds for the art program—great ideas for boosting resources through community support. 

Creating for Mindfulness: This session was about using art to help students unwind and be present. We tried different mindfulness activities, like repetitive patterns and meditative drawing, which helped students manage stress and focus. The presenter shared the positive effects these practices had on her high school students, making art a therapeutic tool as well as a creative one. 

 Reflection

I had such a great experience at the Wisconsin Art Education Association conference! It was inspiring to learn directly from art teachers who are actively teaching, sharing real-world ideas and techniques I can use in my own classroom. Plus, getting to connect and bond with my art ed peers made the whole experience even better. It really felt like a community of people passionate about the same goals. I've loved every art education conference I've attended, and this one was no exception. Each conference gives me fresh ideas, inspiration, and practical tips I can bring into my classroom. I feel incredibly grateful for these experiences and the chance to grow professionally alongside others who are just as passionate about teaching art. I'm already looking forward to future conferences to keep learning and building my confidence in my career. 

Karla Lara

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with Renee Schumacher.

• Talking about the difference between equality vs equity when in the classroom. How they explained

it is for equality if someone needs a bandaid, you give everyone a bandaid vs if

no one needs a bandaid but just that one person you give them the bandaid that

needs it to help them which is equity.

• Effect in the classroom starts with educators, to help students succeed

individually.

• Students who need specific tools, instead of singling them out have to feel

included. For example, an EL student, instead of just giving them a sheet

of paper of pictures just give the instructions of images to everyone.

• Diversity, the teacher needs to bring equality, equity, and inclusion

together.

• ED&I, students come from various backgrounds, impacting the resources

and opportunities.

Keynote Sarah Krajewski

• Has a mantra with her students every day saying, “I am positive, I am

Creative, I am Mindful, I am Amazing, I am an Artist.”

• Reminds every teacher that it is okay if you ask for help. Even though

sometimes we don’t like to ask for help, ask for help from colleagues,

parents, volunteers, and students.

• Reignite Joy, embraces the weird by creating a safe place to be weird and

one thing that Sarah does is give names to items in her classroom.

• As a teacher, give time to yourself to make your own artwork and to relax

from stressful days.

Classroom Control

• Good communication team activity, where students can work together and

learn how to communicate with one another with a game in which you

grab a ribbon with a solo cup and with rubber bands try to stack 6 solo

cups together.

• Saying “You’re the teacher” how the room and students act its the

teacher's job who control it.

• Make a contract with the students to know the role they have as the

students and the students know your role as the teacher. For example, if

the teacher is talking to a student who is misbehaving and students are

also yelling at him to behave or mocking you when telling the student to

behave. Tell the students who are repeating after you that it is your job as

the teacher to talk to the student misbehaving and not them.

• Also to inform the parents of the students about the control that you and

their child agreed on in the classroom.

Inspiring Engagement

• Why kids are reluctant with art is that they don’t have the ability to work

some of the tools that others can.

• Using different types of tools such as a t-paper pick-up tool to help

students with trouble grasping things.

• The difference with tissue paper and knowing the difference with

bleeding/non-bleeding paper.

• Using milk carton hand grips, a good and recycled item for students who

need help holding a paintbrush or pencils.

• Colors sticks, instead of the color pencils being made out of wood it is

made out of all plastic reducing broken pencils.

• Wiki sticks, help students from getting stressed with drawing and erasing

over and over again wiki sticks help them make lines and trace later on.

Exploring ED & I

• Talking about the influences of Mhmong culture, of using the art form of

story quilts. Talked about exhibitions in Wisconsin of different artists, such

as Mao Lor in Oshkosh, WI focus on needlework, fabrics, and story

scenes, especially war.

• Pachia Lucy Vang focuses on needlework and fabrics to spread the

message of mental health, tradition, and health.

Reflection

Attending the WAEA, my knowledge about teaching is that being more confident

and knowledgeable working with students with disabilities, and different backgrounds,

and meeting each student's individual needs. Throughout practicum, summer camps,

and working with students I always worry that I don’t have the information or skills to

meet every student's needs when they walk into my classroom. By attending WAEA, I

can say that my confidence in teaching is due to learning new skills on having

classroom control, how to bring diversity, inclusion, equality, and equity into the

classroom, and meeting all the student's needs all at once. Most importantly, I got the

chance to get to know my art education peers throughout the weekend get to know

them better, build friendships, and meet other teachers around the state of Wisconsin.

Marci, Karla, Gwen and Abigail

Victor Kopping

This year, I attended a total of twelve sessions at the WAEA conference. The first I saw was “Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom Part 1” with Connie Greeny. She discussed her career, emphasizing lessons that she learned along the way which could be applied to anyone. The biggest take aways from her speech was that you should work to create an environment of positive attitude and respect in your classroom and the importance of greeting students as they enter the room to gauge their attitude and make a connection to them. After that, I attended “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” with Renee Schumacher. She explained the difference between equality and equity, the importance of providing an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion for students, and some methods to incorporate diverse figures and experiences in your lessons. Next, I saw Chris Gleason for “Ungrading in Your Classroom”. This presentation was dense with valuable information, but in short, Gleason described the shortcomings of the letter grading system in truly assessing students, the roots of the system in eugenics and the ineffectiveness of averages in gauging students’ needs and understanding, and the value of giving the students opportunities to grade themselves with evidence. Then I visited Sarah Krjewski’s keynote speech. Her presentation primarily dealt with ways of caring for oneself and colleagues as a teacher, reminding the audience to keep tabs on their mental health, look out for their coworkers, and ask for help when necessary. Following a brief break for lunch, I attended “Classroom Control” with Johanna Peterson. She discussed the importance of creating clear classroom rules and involving children in explaining what those behaviors should look and sound like when practiced. For my final presentation for Thursday, I saw Courtney Mook’s demonstration on weaving little monsters or pouches with yarn. It was an interesting project that could easily be applied to several age groups. My first presentation was “Community-Based Art” with Angie Szabo, where she simplified the complex process of organizing mural and public art projects in your community including picking a location, getting funding, and marketing the piece so that people see it. Next was “Art and Literacy” with Renee Schumacher. She discussed how most art teachers already include reading comprehension skills in their lessons and gave language to help explain to admin how these standards are met in the classroom. After that, I attended the Preservice/Retired Breakout. A group of preservice educators and I got to ask questions about unions, retirement, and career advancement from a group of retired professionals, including Connie Greeny and Johanna Peterson, who I saw presentations from the previous day. Then I saw Matt Young’s keynote. He shared his story as a teacher with the main message that what you say and do matters, that you can have a significant impact on the people you work with just like they have an impact on you. After pausing for lunch, I saw WAEA President Elect Justin Mane’s paper boomerang demonstration. He taught how to make a simple paper boomerang that’s a perfect make-and-take project to give late elementary school students during short weeks or right before holiday breaks. The last presentation I saw was “Artist Side Hustles” with Jill Fortin and Justin Markgraf. They went deep in detail explaining LLCs, simple tax information, product formats like prints that sell well, and the importance of advertising and choosing the correct events to attend to get people to buy what you’re selling. 

My first time attending the WAEA Fall Conference definitely made a significant impact on me. I learned many teaching techniques for everything from discipline and class control to connecting art to other subjects in school. Being preservice, there was some information that I can’t implement quite yet such as skills for working with administrators, but I did get a clearer picture of what to expect upon getting my first teaching job. I also got to see interesting new project ideas that I never would’ve come up with myself and got opportunities to work with mediums that I typically wouldn’t get the chance to.  

Seeing other teachers with clear passion for their work sharing stories about the students who’ve made an impact on them and the way that art has impacted their communities was inspiring. It reminded me what I’ve been working towards, which can be easy to forget amidst my hectic class schedule and workload. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and ask myself if I really want to dedicate myself to teaching art and after seeing so many people with that same passion, I’m more emboldened than ever to keep working hard to get into the field, to make my own impacts and encourage my own students to embrace their passions.  

It was wonderful to meet so many people thriving in my future field. Not only did I get the chance to introduce myself to accomplished individuals in the profession, but I also formed a closer relationship to my peers in UW-Stout’s Art Ed program. Being able to engage in team building activities with them and share notes with my peers brought me closer to them than I was before. Forming these relationships with people new and old made me feel less alone in my career of choice than I sometimes did. I feel like the opportunity of attending conferences this early in my journey is a great way to get my foot in the door with experienced people. I got to socialize with people I wouldn’t have otherwise, learning from them and their experiences as well as hopefully creating a memorable image and good reputation of myself in their mind, which is great for any profession, not to mention positively representing my school.

Group photo before the guest speaker

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

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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] !

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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!

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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.