Getting of the Island: Remaining Connected to other Educators Through Organizations

Art Educators are a tight-knit group, but what I love about the community of artist-teachers is that we can feel so “close” and be spread so wide.  The reason we remain close is because of our collective participation in professional state and national organizations.  In this post, I will be highlighting two organizations that are a great source of professional support for art teachers.  Participating in organizations like these is often critical for the success of new teachers that enter the field because art educators often face feelings of isolation and exclusion simply because we are often the only art teachers in the building. We will need to "get off the island," every now and then to stay sane and more importantly, to stay relevant. Staying connected to other art teachers who understand the specific challenges of running an art program can ease these feelings and offer you the support you will need as a first-year art teacher.  The first organization I will highlight is a national organization, and the second one is a state-level organization (Michigan, because that’s where I call home).  However, stay tuned for future posts that will list other great resources for art educators 

that are not necessarily “state-specific.”

National Art Educator's Association (NAEA)

www.arteducators.org

This is a fabulous organization for art teachers because memberships are reasonably priced around $90 to join, and students receive a discounted rate at around $45.  The rates do vary by state, but membership to the national organization often includes membership to the your state's organization. When you become a member of the NAEA, you are eligible to receive a subscription to one of their professional journals called Art Education.  The journal is a great resource for teachers who want to stay up-to-date about research-based practices for the art classroom.  Also, joining gives you access to a variety of online resources through their webpage.  The most recent offerings include webinars, virtual conferences and professional development online courses. The culmination of all these good things occurs during the Annual Convention. Researchers, artists, educators and teachers are invited to present, speak and share at these conventions.  This year's convention will be held right in my neighborhood, in Chicago on March 17-19, 2016.   The Cost to attend is $105-$125 for students and $165-$195 for active members.  This is really a "must-attend" event for any art educator, especially those of us who are just starting out in the field. The resources that are available through the NAEA are incredible! 

Michigan Art Educator's Association (MAEA)

www.miarted.org

So, this is kind of a cheat, because this organization is tied to the NAEA, and membership to the former grants you membership to this organization, but I think that because this organization is close to home, it deserves a spot in the limelight too. Additionally, the reason I want to highlight my state's organization is because their fall conference is fast approaching and it represents similar fall conferences that are taking place in other states like Arkansas, Iowa, Pennsylvania and many many more.  Here in Michigan, the annual conference falls on October 15-18th. The conference will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (beauuuuutiful!) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It happens to coincide with Michigan's Comic-Con Convention, so MAEA conference goers receive a discounted rate for the comic convention. This event could be a great source of inspiration for provocative and engaging lessons that incorporate what students already love, graphic novels!  Aside from the amazing conference offerings, the MAEA also offers professional development courses, opportunities to apply for special grants, and events where art teachers can exhibit their art.

This is just a starting off point for connecting to outstanding resources that are within your reach as an art educator.  Like I said before, stay tuned for future posts that will outline more ways to stay connected with the latest trends, practices, and resources in the fields of art, education, and art education!