K12ArtChat the Podcast

In this episode, The Creativity Department speaks with Ashley Washington, M.Ed., an instructional coach in Plano ISD. Together, they explore the question, “If excellence is only celebrated once every 12 months, how do students know the greatness that lies within them the rest of the year?” Discover how conversations beyond a designated “appreciation month” helps students feel seen, valued, and represented throughout the year.

In this episode, The Creativity Department speaks with elementary art educator Daniel Bryant about the importance of joy in the classroom and connecting with students on a personal level. From individual greetings at the door for each student to rap battles about contemporary artists and impromptu performances to end a design lesson, Daniel Bryant ensures each class is an experience for his students. Listen in to hear how he makes his art room a creative, joyful, and unique place to be!

In this episode - The Creativity Department is joined by rapper Mekka Don! From the football field of Ohio State College to lawyer at a top firm in New York City and then MTV and CBS, Mekka Don has pushed boundaries and sparked conversations about non-conventional ways to approach entrepreneurship, mentorship, and race relations. Listen in to hear about the struggles he faced, his support system, and influences that helped him create his dream!

In this episode the Creativity Department speaks with NAEA’s Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Ray Yang! While the work we do for ourselves and our students around this topic is some of the toughest work we do as educators, it is deeply important and continuous. Success in this space requires us to be curious and approach learning with an open mind, it requires us to be active. Ray offers tips to help tackle these topics with students in the art room as well as valuable insight into what NAEA is doing to support art educators. 

Art educator and artist Raine Valentine joins the Creativity Department on this episode. Raine talks about her Chippewa heritage and how it inspires her. Hear how indigenous philosophies have informed her creativity as she discusses her belief in the importance of expressing yourself. Self-expression is a powerful tool that will inspire others (students) to feel comfortable to do the same! Listen in to understand how tying this altogether creates connection between us all.

What is an NFT exactly? In this episode The Creativity Department talks with Michael Cohen, AKA The Tech Rabbi, to find out! As an artist, author, and consultant Michael has experience in this fledging tech and how it could be implemented in the art room and school community. Advocacy for your art program, fundraisers for your school, digital art shows, introducing your students to the world of crypto – NFTs cover all the bases.

In this episode, Matt and Laura talk with returning guest James Rees! Advocacy outside of the classroom and real-world experiences for students are important. One of the best resources for both of these things could be down the street at your local art gallery or museum. Involving students in the production process of exhibiting their artwork is a meaningful way to make your program visible and build critical skills for students, even if they don’t go on to work in the field of art. Listen in to hear how James facilitates student art shows at his local galleries and the benefits that come from doing so.

Happy New Year! In the first episode of 2022, The Creativity Department reflects on last year’s challenges and successes. Kick off the year with a little fun that covers "This or That" and some thoughts from teachers in the field.

In this episode - Thye Creativity Department speaks with professional artist and designer Erik Abel. Working from Southern Oregon, Abel's pieces have been featured in galleries around the country and abroad while his commercial work has attracted clients such as REI and Patagonia. Listen in to learn how this successful artist found his way to the world of commercial art and stays true to his own artistic passions as he navigates the business of Art.

This week, Matt & Laura talk to fellow podcaster Candido Crespo! The Grundlers and Candido talk about building and nurturing your own creative community. Whether it be in the art room, in your wider community, or solely online – everyone can benefit by surrounding themselves with like minded people!