Art Works for Teachers

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Fredricka Reisman has spent decades championing creativity in education... and she learned from the best. In this conversation with Susan, she shares her personal mentorship with Dr. E. Paul Torrance, the origins of the RDCA assessment tool, and why awareness - not talent - is the key to creative growth.

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When students struggle to show what they know, it’s often not a lack of learning, it’s a barrier in how we teach or assess. In this episode, Susan sits down with Dr. Rhoda Bernard to explore how accessible arts education helps students build identity, confidence, and belonging. You’ll hear real stories and walk away with simple, practical shifts that make arts learning more inclusive - and more effective - for everyone in the room.

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Everyone says creativity matters... but can you actually prove it moves the needle? In this episode, creative leadership expert Michael Ackerbauer is with us to unpack the measurable impact of creativity in schools, teams, and classrooms. If you've ever struggled to justify creative work to data-driven stakeholders, this conversation will give you the language (and the confidence) to finally make your case.

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“Why don’t people like me?” It’s a question no child should have to ask, and one that stuck with our guest Kirsti Lewis for years. In this conversation, she and Susan talk about how the arts can open doors to empathy, inclusion, and real connection... and why this work matters more than ever in our schools.

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Students shine when learning feels connected... and the results are remarkable. In this episode of Art Works for Teachers, Sally Baker takes us into Georgia classrooms where students tackle real-world challenges in creative ways. From protecting local wildlife to turning data into stories that actually matter, she shows how mixing science, math, tech, and the arts gets kids thinking, experimenting, and owning their learning. 

STEAM doesn't mean adding more to your to-do list, it's seeing teaching and learning in a whole new way.

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In today’s digital world, even a friend’s post might not be what it seems. As AI-generated content floods our feeds, Susan explores the growing skepticism shaping how we view truth, connection, and credibility online. This honest conversation dives into what happens when we can’t tell real from artificial, and how that uncertainty reshapes our ability to trust. It’s a timely reflection on belief, misinformation, and finding clarity in an age of digital confusion.

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Think the future is something we have to invent? Think again. Astrobiofuturist Billy Almon shows us how nature’s own designs hold the keys to dreaming big, adapting fast, and thriving through change. This one will leave you rethinking what’s possible... for your classroom and your world.

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Sometimes the smallest shifts make the biggest difference. Stand Tall Steve Bollar shares how simple, consistent actions can transform school culture... and why leaders - and teachers - can’t afford to ignore them.

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Teaching and leading can be messy... but also full of joy. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Tracey Severns about how humor, vulnerability, and storytelling can strengthen relationships, boost creativity, and make school culture more positive, with practical ideas you can try right away.

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Great ideas don’t come from the loudest voice in the room. In this episode, creativity expert Birna Birgisdóttir shares how teachers can design brainstorming that lifts every student’s voice and sparks deeper creativity.