ARTeacher Fellowship Program Seeks Applicants

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ARTeacher Fellows must have been teaching for at least three years.

The Center for Children and Youth at the University of Arkansas is seeking 10 secondary-level teachers to apply for participation in the fifth year of the ARTeacher Fellowship program, a collaboration between the center, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walton Arts Center.

To be considered for the yearlong project, teachers in the Northwest Arknasas area should be in their third year or greater of teaching English, science, or social studies with an interest in using arts integration to enrich learning and meet curricular standards.

"The ARTeacher Fellowship has been a tremendous success, and we expect our fifth year to be even stronger," said Hung Pham, director of the Center for Children and Youth. "This is a yearlong, ongoing process that really allows educators to deepen and refine their practice through vigorous, creative, and meaningful pedagogy."

The program, based in the College of Education and Health Professions, provides Fellows with professional development throughout the summer and school year, featuring nationally recognized arts-integration specialists. Participants collaborate with second-year and third-year fellows with the support of the Center for Children and Youth, Crystal Bridges staff and Walton Arts Center staff. In addition to developing teachers' classroom practice, the ARTeacher Fellowship also provides financial and planning support for Fellows to present at regional and national conferences.

"My experiences with ARTeacher have been transformative in my classroom," said Suki Highers, a third-year Fellow from Fayetteville High School. Last spring, Highers and another ARTeacher Fellow presented at the Literacy Unbound education conference hosted by Teachers College, Columbia University in New York.

Jamie Stallings, a third-year Fellow from Lakeside Junior High School in Springdale, also recognized the program's impact.

"My big 'Aha!' moment happened talking to a friend about this program," Stallings said. "She teaches in Chicago and was blown away with what we're doing in the ARTeacher Fellowship."

Stallings has used a variety of arts-integrated approaches in his classroom, including photography and tableau.

The ARTeacher Fellowship program begins with a three-day institute July 27-29. Fellows will receive a $1,100 stipend for successful completion of the yearlong program as well as certified PD credit hours. To apply, send a completed application by email to Pham at literacy@uark.edu by May 6.