November 11, 2010

Graduate school welcomes largest group of artist-educators to date

Among the 144 students who entered the Master of Arts in Teaching program this year, 11 plan to specialize in teaching art. This represents the largest cohort of arts teachers ever for Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

Among the 144 students who entered the Master of Arts in Teaching program this year, 11 plan to specialize in teaching art. This represents the largest cohort of arts teachers ever for Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

While all 11 students are working toward degrees that will allow them to teach the next generation of artists, each is an artist in his or her own right, coming into the program with an undergraduate degree in art.

“I love the creative process and feel enriched when I see children opening up and tapping their own well of creativity through my working with them,” said Kristina Passadore, a graduate student from Portland. “I wish to help students participate in a rich and vibrant experience in my classroom.”

From graphic design to sculpture to oil painting, each member of the cohort brings a unique set of artistic skills and expertise to the teacher education program. They also bring a clear understanding of the value of creativity in the classroom and in the lives of all children—not just those who are artistically inclined.

I want kids who don’t normally consider themselves ‘artists’ to learn the power that comes from being creative and actually creating things,” said Boise, Idaho native Peter Johnson. “I want them to be comfortable and confident in their abilities and to know that the real success is in pushing themselves to create.”

In the following slideshow, several members of the cohort offer samples of their own artwork, along with their perspectives about arts education.