Advocacy for Art Teachers: Planning, Prepping, and Promotion (Ep. 498)

In this episode, Tim sits down with Jessica Stuver, a K–8 art teacher, to discuss planning ahead for Youth Art Month and why early advocacy is crucial for art education. Jessica shares practical strategies for celebrating student creativity, promoting the value of art programs, and making Youth Art Month meaningful for schools and communities.

The conversation also explores the power of connection among art teachers, from conferences and professional learning communities (like the Art of Ed Community!) to everyday idea-sharing that helps educators stay inspired. As winter sets in, Jessica offers thoughtful advice on navigating the challenging months of the school year, preparing for the second semester, and prioritizing self-care while continuing to support students.

Full episode transcript below.

Resources and Links

• • Join the Art of Ed Community
  • 15 Ways to Advocate for Your Program
  • Simple Ways to Celebrate Youth Art Month in Your School
  • 4 New Ideas to Celebrate Youth Art Month
  • Listen to the Art Ed Radio episode on Advocating for Art Ed
  • Learn more about the Art Ed NOW Conference!

Transcript

Tim:

Okay, Jessica Stuver is joining me now. Jessica, how are you?

Jessica:

I’m really good. How are you?

Tim:

I’m doing great. I’m really excited to have you on the show. So welcome, first of all. And secondly, to begin with, can you just tell us a little bit about yourself? Can you tell us about your teaching and anything else that you want to share?

Jessica:

Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. I’ve been really looking forward to doing this. So I am a K to 8 art teacher in Cleveland, Ohio. My school is an IB World School. So we have a really big focus on inquiry and global perspectives and collaboration. In my art room, I especially focus on project-based learning. I have been at my current school for nine years, which is really fun because I get to teach the kids from kindergarten all the way up to eighth grade.

Tim:

Yeah.

Jessica:

My current eighth graders were in kindergarten when I started here. The first group I’m seeing through, it’s so crazy. But I did teach high school for six years prior to coming here. So I have definitely run the entire range.

Tim:

Yeah, that’s very cool. Very cool. Now I wanted to have you on because at the Art Ed Now conference at the end of January, you’re to be sharing some ideas for advocacy and for youth art month. And even though we’re a few months away, I wanted to ask you like, why do you think it’s important to kind of start thinking about these things at this point in the calendar? Like even though we we have while before youth art month actually arrives, like why should people start thinking about those things now?

Jessica:

I’m not the only one who thinks it’s just really helpful to let ideas develop over time. The year that I first decided I wanted to do Youth Art Month, I think I really started putting some thought into it in January. And of course, Youth Art Month is in March, so that gave me some time. And I just, I tuck that idea in the back of my head. And you know, you’re doing like a really mundane task, like driving home from school or walking the dog, and you’re like, my gosh, I just had such a good idea. And I know.

Tim:

Yeah.

Jessica:

I know if I had planned things like the last week of February, I know it would have been fine, but I just felt really good about those ideas because I just let them incubate, let them simmer whatever metaphor you want to go with. And this was honestly something I was just talking about with some of my students, especially with middle school. I try and introduce the project at the end of a class period because that way they have at least an evening or even a couple of days, depending on what grade level it is to think those ideas over.

And just earlier this week, I introduced the project to my eighth graders. I think that was on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, their lockers are right outside my room. So they just invade every morning. They, I had to, I had two of them come in like, Oh my gosh, Mrs. Suver. I got the best ideal last night. And then one boy, she’s just like, so I was thinking about this all night, but I’m really glad that they have benefited from that time. The same way that I do. Some people work really well on a tight deadline.

I am not one of those people. And I really like having time to let those good ideas come to fruition on their own. Because sometimes the creative process is very finicky. So that is really why I like thinking about that stuff now or a few weeks in advance.

Tim:

No, I think that’s really well said. And, you know, even for people like me who are procrastinators and like that tight deadline, I know that work is better. I know that ideas are better when they can marinate a little bit. So yeah, I like that approach. I think that’s a really, really good idea. And I think it’s a good idea to kind of share it with students in that way as well. But just kind of thinking about Youth Art Month and

Jessica:

Yeah.

Tim:

For those of us that are thinking ahead at this point, can you tell us a little bit about the presentation and what people can expect to see from you at the conference?

Jessica:

Absolutely. So my first year at my current school, I decided I really wanted to celebrate Youth Art Month because it was my first time with younger students in my career and I thought it would just be so much fun. I did not have an elementary art teacher.

Tim:

I didn’t either!

Jessica:

So really, yes, I know. And they are truly horrified when they hear that information. They really are.

So I think one of my biggest goals with this age group is to give them those experiences that I wish I had had at that age. And I think recognizing how important it is for kids to have art and the chance to be creative in schools is a really important thing to celebrate. And I feel very lucky to be in a school that supports the art program and knows that the arts are important. So, to be able to tell those kids like, hey, we’re so lucky to be able to do this and to really spend the time celebrating Youth Art Month. To me, that’s been huge. that first, that was a really long answer. my gosh, to get here. But basically that first year I was at this school, I decided, okay, we’re gonna celebrate Youth Art Month. So I really consider it a tradition at this point.

I change a few things each year or add a few things each year. And it really has just become this tradition that I look forward to that the kids look forward to. So what I’m sharing in my presentation is 10 concrete ideas that other art teachers can use in their classroom. While it can be adapted to any grade level, I do think, again, I’m in a K to 8 school. I celebrate it with all of them. These ideas are probably geared more towards that age group. But these ideas range from really small and simple displays to things that kids can take home and do and engage in conversations with their families. And also you get a couple like larger collaborative ideas that can really involve the entire community if you want to. So my hope is if you’ve never celebrated Youth Art Month before that you have at least one or two ideas that you think, yes, that is something that I am willing to try. I do think and hope that there is something in there for everybody.

Tim:

Yeah, I think there will be. think there are a lot of really good ideas. You know, I’ve seen a rough draft of the presentation, so I can I can kind of speak on that. I love the bingo idea personally, and I know we’re putting together a, you know, Youth Art Month bingo card for everybody who comes to the conference, which I think will be really cool. think people will appreciate it and

Jessica:

What did you do?

Tim:

All the ideas are great and not to put you on the spot too much, but I would love to know like which of the 10 ideas that you’re sharing is your favorite idea or which one have you had the most success with or the most fun with out of the 10?

Jessica:

Yeah, it is a hard choice and I do, I love the youth art month bingo, which you mentioned, but really my favorite, my absolute standout one is what I refer to as the wearable art. So without spoiling anything for the presentation, I basically invite my students to create small drawings. I take those drawings, I turn them into fabric or a wearable item and I wear it to school. And sometimes it’s like a quarter zip or a dress or something like that. So I don’t wear it as much.

Tim:

You have.

Jessica:

But my apron that I wear in my classroom, know, like every single day, that was the product of wearable art from a few years ago. And I honestly, I just had it on and you know, all the students are just like, I love that, Trine. I remember making that one. Who made that one? And it’s really fun because it just engages them. It’s also like a mini time capsule from that year. Like the kids that I taught, the things that they were most interested in, the occasional meme that you thought would never end but did, but I have that to remember it by. And they just get so excited about it. And I love being able to feature their art in a way. It’s like, I value it and I’m going to wear it. Like that is how much your work means to me that I’m going to really hang on to this. So yeah, they love seeing it. They get really excited anytime I wear one of those items. And I’m also just really proud about how that idea has developed over time.

Tim:

Yes.

Jessica:

I, like many people, picked up a pandemic hobby, which was for me sewing. So I did not always sew this wearable item. used to have kids draw on like a blank article of clothing, but I, yeah, and it did, it totally worked. But the fact that I get to personalize it a little bit more, and I also get to engage in a creative act that I love doing has just been really, it’s so fun.

Tim:

That’s awesome. You know, it ties everything together. I really love that. I was going to tell people like if you want a sneak preview, if you join the art of Ed community, I know you’ve posted some pictures of that before and kind of talked about that process. And I know it’s so cool to see that. I think it’s such a great idea, which I really love. But yeah, speaking of the community, I know you’re super active in there. I know you’ve been to Art Ed NOW conferences a few times before, and just thinking about all of those connections, all of those ideas, I want to ask, you know, what do you get? Like, what do you take from those interactions and those connections? And what do you think other teachers can get? How can they help themselves by creating those connections with other art teachers?

Jessica:

Yeah, absolutely. I am such a fan of the Art of Ed community and the conferences. These interactions have just been so special over the years. And I think it’s said really often, but art teachers can really be an island, especially at the elementary level. You, like me, might be the only art teacher in your building. And sometimes that’s a hard subject to relate to. We have a lot of different weird things that come up.

Tim:

It is.

Jessica:

So being able to interact with others and share ideas with like-minded individuals I think is so important. Really anytime I think multiple art teachers are together, I think of this one experience that I had when I was in college. I got pizza with two of the other art education students and you know we’re eating, but then also there’s this like textured plastic liner in the box. Most people would think like that’s garbage, but no we’re like we should use this for monoprinting. Or does someone have a crayon? Let’s do a texture rubbing. Like, of course somebody had a crayon. So no one else, no one else outside of a friend in art education would be thinking that. And like we were, we were all thinking it and finally someone said it like, yes, me too. But I love that because you know what? We just approach things in a different way.

And I love that. And to interact with other people so that you’re not on an island and to find, you know, your people, your people who also hoard cardboard or also, you know, organize everything in their classroom by the colors of the rainbow or who are all trying to combat their erasers being stabbed. No one understands that the way that we do, but also

Tim:

Yeah.

Jessica:

Let’s be honest. No one is going to creatively solve a problem like art teachers. So when you do bring a problem to the art of Ed community, like everyone’s going to chime in in a kind way, in a helpful way. And I really love that. And I also, I learned so much from these interactions from, you know, art club and pop-up studio in the art of Ed community, but also from the conferences. I always come away feeling really inspired and I love seeing what other people are doing.

Tim:

Yeah, I think so. And I think the the feeling is something that I know is hard to quantify, like it’s hard to put into words, but it’s incredibly valuable. Still, like you said, when you’re on an island where you’re the only art teacher there, you know, you don’t have those connections, you don’t feel understood, you don’t have somebody to talk to all the time about, like you said, those specific problems. And so being able to find somebody who knows what you’re going through understands what you’re going through can be incredibly valuable.

incredibly uplifting, not just, you know, solving the technical problems, but just making you feel better about, you know, the issues that you’re facing and what you’re going through in your classroom. So I think that’s really well said.

Jessica:

Absolutely. And because you’re alone doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely. You know, it is so nice to be able to reach out to other people in a convenient way.

Tim:

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. One last question for you. Do you have any advice that you want to offer other art teachers for the coming months? I know we’re in the middle of December right now. It can be a struggle to get through the semester. And then we all know like January and February are really, really tough months for teaching.

Jessica:

Yes.

Tim:

You know any advice for winter break for starting the second semester going to the art Ed now conference getting ready for youth art month any of those things?

Jessica:

Yeah, I mean, it’s such a wild time of year. And I am saying this in a week where I have not had a single normal schedule. Like all week, I know I’m like, I don’t know who’s coming in. I know I switch. We’re good. I’m like, I have it written down somewhere. We’re just hoping for the best when they come in. But no, honestly, it can be such a challenging time of year. But I love reminding myself of how I felt when I was this age and how it felt to have holidays or winter break coming up. Yeah, they’re excited.

Tim:

Yeah. ‘Tis the season.

Jessica:

They’re kids, they should be excited. So sometimes it can be exhausting being in the same room and feeling overstimulated with that excitement, but that’s really what I’m trying to remind myself. I’m like, yeah, they’re kids, they’re gonna be excited. And you know what, we’re just like all gonna get through it. But really with all of the months coming up, I just really try and remind myself of two things. And it sounds so simple, but just like making sure that the students feel cared for.

Maybe that maybe you are transitioning classes. Maybe they are really, you know, for the semester. Maybe they’re worried about finishing the semester strong and just knowing that you care about what happens and that you’re supporting them I think is really important, especially like these December days. We might not be super productive in class. You might miss 10, 15 minutes off of a class and maybe that’s just not your most productive work.

educational day, but you know if those kids feel cared for I think that’s what they’re going to take away from it. And the other thing I think is really important is just to take care of yourself because I mean I have definitely felt burnout in the past and I know that it’s so easy to let that happen, but to really just make sure that you set aside some time for yourself because it’s not selfish. You know it’s just not selfish to take care of yourself. You can’t help other people if you’re not

Feeling yourself, so make artwork for yourself, read that book that you’ve been looking forward to, go to the conference and get some professional inspiration, something like that. It’s just so much harder to help other people in our people-facing job if you’re not feeling it yourself. Yeah, and honestly, if all else fails, my mom was also a teacher. She taught high school English for a very long time, and she always tells me, she’s like, hey, it’s gonna get done.

Tim:

Yeah. Yeah.

Jessica:

It always gets done. We’re not looking for perfection in every moment, but it will get done and the kids are not going to know the difference. And I do. tell myself that all the time, especially during this time of year.

Tim:

No, I think that’s a great reminder that it will get done, but I think that’s even better advice for for ourselves and for our kids. You know, take care of yourself. Make sure your students feel cared for. I think that’s really well said and I definitely appreciate that advice. So just thank you for for all of that and thanks for coming on and talking to me. It was great to have you on the show.

Jessica:

Thank you. I so appreciate you having me.