About the Author

Jessica Balsley

Hello. I’m Jessica Balsley, Founder of The Art of Education University. My husband Derek and I founded The Art of Education in 2011 to help art teachers around the world access higher quality professional development.

Before founding AOE, I was a K-5 Art Teacher, K-12 Professional Development Coordinator, and Graduate Instructor. I am passionate about helping art teachers perform at a high level, both professionally and personally.

The opposite of boredom is passion. When you are passionate about what you do, you are unstoppable. The Art of Education University exists to help teachers at every stage of their career reignite their passion for and confidence towards teaching. It’s my mission to lead this organization to produce high-quality professional development that is relevant and accessible. 

Posts by Jessica

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Video

How to Manage Your Crazy Kindergarteners at the End of Art Class

Clean-up in the art room is always chaotic, but during Kindergarten or 1st grade, the craziness can be amplified times...
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Article

Essential Tips to Help Your Students Enter the Classroom Quietly

The first few weeks of school are a great time to start new structures and routines. Even if you feel...
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Video

A Winning Lesson for the First Day of Kindergarten Art

You may think I am crazy, but I jump right into an art project on the first day of kindergarten...
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Video

Off the Wall Art Supplies Worth Having Around

You may browse through art catalogs when placing your order and feel overwhelmed. In this video, I want to share...
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Article

The Ideal Tech Set-Up for the Art Room

One question I get asked quite often is: What is the ideal technology setup for the art room? Of course,...
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Article

Incorporating Culture Into Your Weaving Projects

Weaving is a great opportunity to talk about many cultures from around the world.  In every lesson, I like to make connections to...
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Article

An Easy Alternative to a Bathroom Pass

If your bathroom pass was a crumpled, germ infested, barely recognizable piece of wilted lamination after a long school year and now...
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Article

Is Outlining in Sharpie Overdone?

Outlining in Sharpie to define shapes before adding color has become a cornerstone of most elementary, middle school, and sometimes...
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Article

The Process of Submitting Research to a Professional Journal

I’d like to share some fun news: My research was recently published in the Spring 2013 edition of the NAEA Advisory,...
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Article

There’s More AOE to Follow!

If you’re reading this article you probably read AOE regularly… but did you know that AOE produces even more great...
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Article

Rethinking the Materials We Use in the Art Room

“Every material comes with a story” These are the words of Jennifer Azzariti, published leader in the Reggio model of...
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Article

Tube Watercolors for the Classroom: Plus a Giveaway!

{This giveaway is closed to entries- Congrats to Keri who is the winner of this giveaway!} Tube watercolors remain one...
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