Independent School Art Educators (ISAE) Column: Spring 2023

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Greetings ISAE members!

I hope this letter finds you well in the midst of another busy spring season. By the time you receive this, many of you will be preparing to attend the 2023 National Convention in San Antonio! Before you completely fill your convention schedule, we wanted to take this opportunity to draw your attention to several events and opportunities that might be especially interesting to art educators working in independent school settings.

An official NAEA Interest Group since 2008, the Independent School Art Educators (ISAE) Interest Group is invested in your development as an artist–educator, and we strive to connect you to the resources that will keep you feeling inspired, fulfilled, and supported. How do you balance the needs of your learning community while also staying connected to trends in the field of art education? Where do you look for information that is applicable to your teaching environment and also your personal artmaking practice? What opportunities exist for you to connect with colleagues who work in non–public school settings? Whatever type of professional connection you may be seeking, ISAE wants to support you, and we welcome you to our wonderful community of educators.

Connect with ISAE:
If you are attending the 2023 NAEA Convention, we hope to see you in San Antonio! Please join us at our ISAE Business Meeting (Friday, 4/14) and Interactive Member Discussion (Saturday, 4/15) sessions. The ISAE Business Meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the operations of the Interest Group, as well as to discuss any questions or concerns you might have. The Interactive Member Discussion is a great way to meet new colleagues and to discuss our upcoming initiatives—including the celebration of our third annual Independent School Art Educator of the Year award recipient! ISAE will also be participating in an in-person social event in San Antonio with several other NAEA Interest Groups—please keep an eye out on our social media channels for more information! Finally, we will also host a table in the NAEA Interest Group Roundtable event, so be sure to swing by for some ISAE swag and conversation! These Convention opportunities serve as dedicated spaces for collaboration, connection, and community building among independent school art educators. We can’t wait to see you!

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Find us online:
If you won’t be attending the convention this year, you can still connect with ISAE online! We would love the opportunity to learn more about you and the happenings in your learning spaces. Find us at all of your social media hot spots:

• Instagram: @ ISAE.NAEA
• Facebook: @ Independent School Art Educators Interest Group
• The NAEA Collaborate page

And of course, you can always send me an email @ ISAEpresident@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your engagement, and we look forward to seeing many of you in person at the NAEA 2023 Convention.

Warmly,
Evan Thomas
ISAE President

Column by:

Evan Thomas, ISAE Chair
Email: isaepresident@gmail.com