The application period is now open for participation in the ARTeacher Fellowship program, a collaboration between the University of Arkansas Center for Children and Youth, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walton Arts Center.

Ten area secondary teachers will be chosen by a selection panel to participate in a yearlong course of professional development aimed at fusing the arts with subject area learning. To be considered, teachers in grades 7-12 should be in their third year or greater in English, science, or social studies with an interest in using arts integration to meet curricular standards and deepen student learning. Fellows who successfully complete their first year may be selected to continue for a second and third year to further develop their expertise.

"The last five years of the ARTeacher Fellowship have shown how effective and powerful the arts can be for authentic learning," said Hung Pham, director for the Center for Children and Youth. "In our present educational climate, it is as important as ever to foster creative, challenging and meaningful experiences for students. Arts integration is a powerful tool to do just that."

The ARTeacher Fellowship provides participants with several opportunities throughout the summer and school year for professional development focused on using the arts — from dance to photography — with classroom content. With the support of other Fellows and ARTeacher staff, the participants take their learning back to the classroom to implement new arts-based activities and units.

"Being an ARTeacher has been a game-changer for me and my students," said Ashley Grisso, a first-year ARTeacher Fellow and English teacher at Fayetteville High School. This past fall, Grisso's students completed a photo-documentary project titled "Putting a Face on Islam," where students engaged with Muslim members of the community, documenting their learning through words and images.

ARTeacher Fellows have shared their work at numerous local and national conferences, from Little Rock to New York City. They have also received recognition for their arts-integrated teaching. In February, ARTeacher alum Nathan Strayhorn was announced as the winner of the Jane Ortner Education Award, given by the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

The Fellowship program begins with a three-day institute Aug. 2-4 at Crystal Bridges Museum and continues through the school year. To apply, submit the application and a letter of support from your principal or assistant principal to program director Hung Pham at ccy@uark.edu by Sunday, May 7, 2017.

The Center for Children and Youth is an endowed initiative housed in the U of A College of Education and Health Professions, Department of Curriculum and Instruction.