Professional Development
From: Kirby Meng
I want to start this final blog post by thanking NAEA for the opportunity to be the Monthly Mentor for July. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and appreciate the participation of the readers so much. We all learn from one another and sharing what works for you could make a real difference in someone else’s classroom.
This final post finds me back to school. I know that is hard for some of you to believe, but our teachers started this week and our students return on Monday, August 3. I am in a new position this year as a Fine Arts teacher on Special Assignment (FA TOSA) and my new responsibilities center around support for all of the art teachers in our 48 schools. This is an exciting new position in our district as it will give art teachers someone to turn to with art specific questions and another person to advocate for them and their programs at the county level. One of my main responsibilities will be to plan and provide professional development for all of the art teachers. At our first meeting today, I reminded all of our teachers that they are professional art educators and, as such, should belong to their professional association. The doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals that we depend upon wouldn’t think of NOT joining their professional associations! NAEA and the state art education associations offer a myriad of opportunities for members to grow and be a part of the professional community. There is really something to fit each person whether you prefer webinars, face to face meetings, reading and responding to blog posts, or simply looking through the site to view position statements and read the NAHS News! Membership is a bargain when you look at all of the content and opportunity it provides.
I want to touch on one specific aspect of membership in NAEA and Georgia Art Education Association (for me) that has made my teaching career so much richer and more meaningful and that is the opportunity for leadership. I’ve noticed that art teachers are frequently overlooked for school level leadership positions, no matter their level of expertise and capacity to lead. I was afforded the chance to take on a leadership role in GAEA when I moved back to Georgia as a district president and then as Youth Art Month co-chair. Involvement in the organization made me want to stay involved and led to other positions including conference chair and president and all of that led me to want to become more involved in NAEA as well. Members nominate other members and the membership votes; with very few exceptions, anyone can run for an office, and most committee positions change every 2-3 years. For those who aren’t sure they have the right stuff just yet, there are regional summer retreats that are open to all as well as the new NAEA School for Art Leaders leadership development program that can help develop the leader inside us all. Next year’s convention March 17-19 in Chicago is entitled “Lead! Share your Vision for Art Education” and will be another great chance to grow professionally. You can be sure that Dr. Reeve and the Reston staff are already working on more opportunities to help us grow and develop as leaders!
I hope that you will consider serving on the board of your state art education association if you haven’t already and if you have, I hope you will consider a regional or national leadership role. If you aren’t interested on serving on the board of directors, let someone know what your interests are: research, policy, technology? There are many ways to serve and room for many to be involved at the state and national level. My involvement in GAEA and NAEA has informed my practice, given me a wonderful and diverse group of friends and associates (that grows each year) from across the country and has helped me in aspects of my life beyond teaching. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I had not gotten involved.
Whenever you start back to school, I wish you all the best and many, many awesome art teaching days this year. You make a huge difference in student’s lives and you are important to them; let them know how important they are to you!
Thank you again for spending a little time with me in July!