For many years, Martha Sandven ran a non-profit professional theatre company and youth development program for teenagers in the Kansas City metro area.

When she moved to Fayetteville in 2003, Sandven continued her work at local public schools. When she started teaching at Ramay Junior High School in 2015, she was certain that an after-school arts program would make a difference in students' lives.

She started The Breakfast Club Interdisciplinary Arts Program, recruiting students who couldn't take arts electives because they needed to enroll in remedial language, reading, or math classes.

"When students struggle, they need ways to connect meaningfully with school," she said. "Just as importantly, we all need creative outlets for our ideas, concerns and emotions. Junior high is tough enough without arts electives."

Sandven said the Breakfast Club provides a safe space for people of all abilities, races, genders and identities to come together and learn skills through the arts. The first year, the program's members named the group in honor of the John Hughes film of the same name. The film showed how people with diverse backgrounds in Saturday school figured out that they had a lot more in common than they first believed.

Sandven's Breakfast Club was recognized recently with a 2020 Governor's Arts Award through the Arkansas Arts Council. Sandven will accept the award at a ceremony in March 2020.

Christian Goering, University of Arkansas professor of English Education, called Sandven "an amazing teacher and an even better human."

Goering met Sandven when she was earning a master's degree in teaching from the College of Education and Health Professions at the U of A. She was the 2017 COEHP Alumna of the Year and currently mentors first-year teachers and pre-service teachers in the U of A Master of Arts in Teaching program. Sandven graduated from the MAT program in 2009.

It's fitting that Sandven's Breakfast Club program just started a partnership with the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center at the U of A. The Faulkner Center and The Breakfast Club are collaborating to develop a shadow puppetry project for early elementary students. The Faulkner Center is sponsoring the club's attendance at Catapult, a shadow dancing performance. Club members will have the opportunity to do a workshop with Catapult and also Skype with them for feedback about the club's own shadow production.

Members of the Breakfast Club will also learn job skills through mentorship. Faulkner Center staff members will educate students about jobs working in front of and behind the scenes at a professional performance and art venue.

When the Breakfast Club's pilot program began in late fall of 2015, there were about 20 members. By the end of that year, it had over 50 members, and Sandven needed help from other teachers. Now the club has more than 70 members, not including high school students who return periodically.

"If we had the funding for additional staff and materials, we could easily serve 30 additional students," Sandven said. "Right now, more than 10 percent of students at Ramay Junior High School participate in the program. It helps students grow in academics, confidence, positive behavior, organization and self-expression. We gather data throughout the school year from students, teachers and parents."

Sandven said the club, which meets twice a week after school, grows every year. She'd like to expand education and production in stagecraft, costumes, digital design and marketing.

In the fall semester, students learn artistic processes such as sketching and improvisation. They present to peers and family audiences. They also produce a showcase of their work and give presentations about what they have accomplished personally and artistically.

In the spring semester, everyone works on a single large production that tours to middle or elementary schools. Each Breakfast Club member has a role, whether it's acting, writing, directing, design or technical in nature. Each student defines what they would like to do and then pursues their goals.

Projects have included adapting and producing picture books, creating puppet shows and stop animation, and this year, interpreting Norse mythology.

"We will perform several times for elementary students in Fayetteville, and we will announce a public performance when we get closer to April," Sandven said.

The Breakfast Club also involves a two-week arts integration camp called SAIL Academy that includes training for teachers to learn how to use arts integration in their classrooms to increase student investment, improve student performance and extend student learning.  

The Breakfast Club is funded by charitable donations, grants and corporate sponsorships. The Fayetteville School District supports the program with facilities and transportation.

In addition to the Governor's Arts Award, Sandven, who's a National Board Certified Teacher in adolescent literacy, has received a Point of Light Award from former President Bill Clinton, a Walton Foundation Quality of Life grant through the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, a Secondary Mentor Teacher of the Year award from the University of Arkansas, an Above and Beyond Award from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Fayetteville Public Schools Board of Education, and the Teacher of the Year Award from Ramay Junior High School.