Imagine that you’ve landed the perfect job at your ideal school. While a significant transition, the first few years are thrilling! Whether you’re new to teaching art or a seasoned veteran, learning the ropes at a new school takes time. But what happens after the honeymoon period ends? How can you keep your art teacher energy high and stay in love with your job?
Keep reading to see what you will need to stay in art education for a long, fulfilling career!
Your time is valued.
One reason art teachers stay at their school long-term is because their time is respected. We don’t mind being asked to “do more,” especially when it’s a compliment to our skills and abilities. However, we do mind when it becomes an expectation and we are “voluntold.” It means so much when administrators put in the effort to understand the unique responsibilities art teachers have. Prepping a range of different materials, ordering supplies, maintaining equipment, and assembling displays throughout the year are just a few. A supportive environment recognizes these time-consuming tasks and ensures quality prep time is built into the daily schedule.
What can it look like?
- Dedicated and uninterrupted time to eat lunch.
- Allocation of quality prep time in the daily schedule.
- Respect for personal time after contract hours.
- Included in content area meetings.
- Encouraged to take sick days, personal days, or a leave of absence when needed.
- Requests and appreciation for additional tasks, such as covering for other teachers.
- Boundaries or a polite decline suffice.
The environment is collaborative.
Your work environment can significantly impact your long-term plans. A collaborative environment starts with colleagues who have positive, forward-thinking attitudes. Your team should want to exchange ideas, share resources, and work together to put students first. When peers celebrate each other, everyone thrives. If your colleagues are consistently unhappy, the negative energy can be draining.
What can it look like?
- Scheduled time for art department collaboration.
- Continued support from mentors and instructional coaches beyond the first year.
- Celebration over competition.
- A shared growth mindset that fosters creativity.
- Open to giving and receiving feedback.
- Team player mentality such as assisting when you’re out and troubleshooting issues.
- Focusing on current trends, student needs, and new ideas.
Your administration supports you.
Actions speak louder than words and there are nuanced ways to feel supported by your administrators. Supportive leaders will advocate for you when you are managing conflict in or out of your classroom. They take your requests seriously and seek out resources to meet your unique needs. This extends beyond the day-to-day and includes encouraging art-specific professional development to grow your teaching practice. The team that makes you want to stay long-term is genuine, fair, and committed to the well-being of their staff.
What can it look like?
- Follow-through on commitments.
- Listens to concerns and actively seeks solutions.
- Enforces consequences for inappropriate student behavior.
- Supports you during conflicts with students or families.
- Allocated funds and approved time off for art-specific professional development, such as conferences and workshops.
- Accepts art-specific graduate degrees or courses for growth and salary advancement.
- Respect for your knowledge, skillset, and expertise.
- Collaboration and support during the observation and evaluation processes.
- Participation and willingness to work on tasks alongside you.
Your administration is communicative and transparent.
Teachers who stay year after year are not only supported by their administrators but also benefit from timely and transparent communication. These leaders handle emergencies professionally and seek feedback to look for ways to improve. Your supervisor, principal, or department chair is clear and honest about funding and budget allocation.
What can it look like?
- Regular and balanced communication with the whole staff.
- Responses within 24 business hours.
- Specific details with measurable goals and clear expectations.
- Advance notice of upcoming events and requests.
- Willingness to acknowledge mistakes.
- Actively seeks solutions and is open to feedback.
- Explains decisions and ties to cast vision.
- Transparent budgeting practices.
You are trusted as the expert you are.
Are you considered “just the art teacher” by your school community? This perspective can speak to the level of respect your colleagues have for you and the visual arts. As we all know, art teachers have a lot to offer to both students and staff. Not only do you have art-specific knowledge, but you also have relationships with the entire student body. When you are valued for your input at important meetings, asked to participate in feedback sessions, and share best practices to educate your peers, you feel a sense of belonging in your school community.
What can it look like?
- Autonomy in designing your curriculum.
- Invites to lead professional development and share your expertise.
- Administrative support when parents or students question your teaching practices.
- Assistance getting what you need for your art room.
- Public acknowledgment of your accomplishments.
The arts are a priority.
Nothing makes an art teacher feel more valued than being part of a community that appreciates the arts. When your school actively removes barriers and celebrates your students’ hard work, you’re more likely to stay for the long term. A community that attends your art shows and shares in your delight over student achievement provides a sense of purpose. This supportive environment not only fosters your professional growth but also strengthens your commitment to the school’s mission.
What can it look like?
- Dedicated spaces to display artwork.
- Administration asks you to exhibit more artwork.
- Classroom materials and supplies are fully funded per student.
- Allocated funds for the maintenance of tools, supplies, and equipment.
- Stipends for art-related clubs.
- Celebration of art students’ achievements both in and out of school.
- School and community presence and engagement at art shows.
- Stakeholders are eager to understand and learn from your classroom activities.
Year after year, the State of Art Education Survey shows that one of the greatest joys art teachers have is building relationships and connecting with students. While our students are what makes us love our jobs, feeling valued in our school is what makes art teachers stay for longevity in art education. This climate of respect, support, and appreciation hinges on a positive environment with open communication, two-way feedback, assistance, and collaboration.
Aside from the many suggestions and examples of what this can look like above, talk to other teachers in your district and building. Find out what they enjoy about working there and any obstacles or challenges they face. Remember, a supportive school environment that fuels your unique art teacher energy will not only encourage you but also attract other teachers long-term as well.
If you’re a new art teacher, what are your priorities when looking for a supportive school?
If you’re a veteran teacher, share what makes you stay in the art room!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
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