Greetings Art Educators!

As the school year is winding down get ready to gear up!  The summer offers so many opportunities for you to grow professionally and renew your own artistic ventures.  Opportunities are offered nation-wide.  The Kansas Art Education Association Summer Camp is scheduled for June 17 & 18, 2010 at the Ulrich Museum in Wichita, KS.  Aimee Geist has done a wonderful job coordinating the KAEA Summer Camp.  All of the registration information can be found on the KAEA Website.  There are great opportunities to be had at KAEA Summer Camp!

Make sure to checkout the NAEA website this summer as there are many great educational resources available:  blogs, wikis, lesson plans and more!  Make sure to have your NAEA membership number available when you enter the site as it will allow you to access much more.

Remember that the deadlines are fast approaching to nominate fellow art educators for awards and to send in conference proposals.  Our organization is strong due to the active participation of our membership.  If you haven’t given a presentation and feel unsure about presenting for your peers, don’t worry!  Our members are supportive and hungry for new ideas!  Are you still unsure?  Consider partnering with an art educator friend to present to make things easier.  We want to hear what you have to say! 

Finally, I know that the state of our economy has cast a shadow on many art education programs across the state including my own district.  I want to encourage you to stand strong and continue with art advocacy activities in your area.  Write your legislators to tell them about the important role that art education programs play in our communities.  Put up art displays and advocacy posters at your local board meetings.  Don’t be afraid to speak out at open forum meetings.  All of these things help.  Parents are supportive of the arts and need a leader to be a voice for their children.  You can be that voice!  At the end of the day, you want to be able to say that you did everything in your power to speak out and take action toward preserving the art education opportunities for the children in our schools.  It is not too late!

Linda Morgan
Co-President Elect