To ensure learner development and advance the profession, the instructor seeks effective leadership positions and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, engage with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members.
Teachers exist outside of the classroom! Learning doesn’t end at the bus loop, nor should teaching. Collaborating with other educators and members of the community is how we diversify our own perspective, thus enhancing the environment teachers can create in their own classroom! It’s also a great way to show students how to be an upstanding member of your community.
Department Meetings
During my student teaching experience, I had the pleasure of working with the largest art department in Roanoke County at William Byrd High School. Each week, the four of us met and discussed class progress, pacing, troubleshooting, and future planning. For example, when covering the principles of design, a teacher may want to teach about radial symmetry. We then discuss which assessments could work for Art 1 classes (such as a dreamcatcher project), versus an advanced art class that is already familiar with the concept (advanced students could use radial symmetry as a component of a three-dimensional project), and share tips that led to greater success. Communication is vital to ensure robust learning. Weekly department meetings are our chance to work through the SOLs as a team, making sure we cover fundamental concepts in new and refreshing ways each year.
Black History Month Bulletin Board
While I was completing my internship at Cave Spring Middle School, I was in a unique position: although temporary, I was the only faculty member of color at the school. Once I was aware of my situation, I set off on a mission to reach underrepresented students at the school. Because my internship lasted the month of January, I asked my colleagues for permission to decorate one of the biggest bulletin boards in the school for Black History Month. The response was a
resounding “yes!” and I set to work showcasing Black artists across different media in a way that fit the school’s aesthetic and appealed to middle schoolers. Soon after, I was approached to collaborate with school administrators on a Harlem Renaissance Mural that was being painted in the newly renovated school. I accepted, and although the project is still in the early phases, I look forward to seeing the outcome!
County-wide Share Fair
Art teachers across Roanoke County came together and implemented what we call a
“Share Fair” by working either individually or in teams to create a small activity for other art teachers to try throughout the year. The goal is to give art teachers a chance to experiment with a tool or medium they have not yet used in their curriculum, without the fear of cost or waste when ordering for a whole class. Each month, a packet is delivered to each teacher with tools and instructions for an activity they can try. Teachers then send their feedback in an email thread with the rest of the department. This county-wide collaboration also highlights ISTE standard 2.4, as we share resources, ideas, and feedback on new tools and activities.