ARTeacher Fellowship Program Accepting Applications

Photo Submitted

The ARTeacher Fellowship is seeking bright and dedicated teachers for the seventh iteration of its successful and innovative professional learning program.

Organized by the University of Arkansas Center for Children & Youth in collaboration with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walton Arts Center, the ARTeacher Fellowship provides area secondary teachers with an intensive course of training and development focused on using arts-based strategies in the English, science and social studies classroom. The application period is now open, and the deadline to apply is May 1.

Ten area teachers will be chosen by a selection panel to participate in the yearlong Fellowship. To be considered, applicants should be in their third year or greater of teaching English, science or social studies in grades 7-12, and demonstrate a keen interest in learning and implementing well-designed arts strategies into their classroom. Fellows who successfully complete their first year receive a stipend for their work and may be selected to continue for a second and third year to further develop their expertise.

"We believe that teachers, just as much as students, are at their best when their work is creative, challenging and exciting," said Hung Pham, director for the Center for Children & Youth. "The past six years of the ARTeacher Fellowship have shown the remarkable potential of arts integration to empower subject area teachers to deepen and invigorate their students' learning through the arts."

ARTeacher Fellows receive professional development in both performing arts and visual arts strategies from leading educators, including teaching artists from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts; Teachers College, Columbia University; and the Lincoln Center. With the support of peers and the ARTeacher staff, the participants take their learning back to the classroom to implement new arts-based activities and projects.

"Being an ARTeacher has been a game-changer for me and my students," said Ashley Grisso, a second-year ARTeacher Fellow and social studies teacher at Fayetteville High School.

This past January, Grisso's AP World History students invited the local community to a public unveiling of their "Putting a Face on Islam" photo-documentary project at Nadine Baum Studios. The project allowed students to contextualize their study of Islam throughout history with the experiences of Muslims living in Fayetteville today.

ARTeacher Fellows have presented on their arts integration experiences at regional and national conferences, including events hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the Arkansas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

To apply, download the application PDF and submit by May 1. For questions, contact Hung Pham at ccy@uark.edu. To learn more about the ARTeacher Fellowship, please visit our program page.

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