{"id":464415,"date":"2024-11-27T05:00:59","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T11:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theartofeducation.edu\/?p=464415"},"modified":"2024-12-02T13:15:47","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T19:15:47","slug":"august-how-to-become-a-leader-and-drive-meaningful-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theartofeducation.edu\/2024\/11\/august-how-to-become-a-leader-and-drive-meaningful-change\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become an Art Teacher Leader and Drive Meaningful Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an art teacher, you are a natural-born leader. You capture and maintain the attention of 30 or more students at once, delegate tasks<\/a>, facilitate deep discussions<\/a>, encourage character building, and develop skills. You do it all! As you gain experience and find success in the classroom, consider how you can share your wisdom with the broader community. Just like the art teachers you learned so much from in your early years, you have the opportunity and honor to give back to other art teachers<\/a> and drive meaningful change.<\/p>\n

Discover how to harness your classroom leadership skills for a fulfilling career journey and give back to other art teachers along the way.<\/h2>\n

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Recognize your value and share the wealth.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Many art teachers underestimate the value of their specialized skills. Take a moment and think about how often a fellow teacher or community member has said something along the lines of, \u201cI don\u2019t know how you do it\u201d or, \u201cI could never do what you do.\u201d Art teachers are experts in not only art media and techniques<\/a> but also cultural competency<\/a>, classroom management<\/a>, community organizing<\/a>, and more. Sharing your skills is an act of generosity that can mean the world to someone who is struggling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflect on your practice.<\/b><\/h3>\n

Many things that seem ordinary to you are extraordinary to others. Take time to reflect on your practice<\/a> and identify your greatest strengths. As you think about your typical day, focus on the aspects that run smoothly or seem easy. Do you have a knack for learning students\u2019 names<\/a>? Are your transitions calm and orderly<\/a>? Have you found a way to hook students and get them motivated in your lessons<\/a>? Once you identify your areas of strength, think about the steps you took to succeed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Find your people.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the biggest challenges many art teachers face is being the only art teacher or specialist in their building. It can feel very isolating! There are many spaces where art teachers can connect with other like-minded professionals, such as The Art of Ed Community<\/a>. This online space is the best corner of the internet<\/a> with fun and relevant activities like daily polls and Community Challenges. Follow your art teacher friends, make new ones, and spread the love by cheering posts and comments. Many art teachers are more than happy to connect with you!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Document everything!\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

As you create lessons, remember to take pictures of the process and the product. Many art teachers use a document camera to record videos<\/a> while they create sample projects and sub plans. These are invaluable resources for students to review asynchronously. It will also give you plenty of archived content to work with when you feel ready to share your secrets with others! Whether you decide to share on social media, start a blog, or lead a professional development session, pictures and videos go a long way to help your audience understand what you’re talking about.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Refine your skills.<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

While art teachers are experts in many areas, we still love to grow and explore new things<\/a>! If you’re looking for a way to level up your leadership skills, enroll in AOEU’s Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction<\/a>. This graduate-level course will help you improve your professional practice and apply your art education background to leadership roles. With the Instructional Leadership in Art Education<\/a> specialization, you will learn how to advocate for change in the field through building community connections, applying ethics, and writing grants. Reach out to an admissions counselor<\/a> to learn more!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Start local.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

You don’t have to travel far to step into a leadership role. Plus, starting locally can often make the biggest impact on your students! There are many opportunities even within your school and district.<\/p>\n

Here are a few local options to consider:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n