Elementary Division Column: Summer 2023

Hey Hey Hey!

I’m Devon Calvert, and I’m thrilled to have become the Elementary Division Director on the NAEA Board of Directors! It’s been an 8-year journey for me, starting in Wisconsin where I followed the previous Elementary Division Director, Tiffany Rice, from state President-Elect to President to Past President before joining the NAEA Board myself. Having had consistent mentorship and support, I feel well-prepared for this new role. When I’m not serving on the board, I’m teaching my K–3 students all things art history–related in the Milton School District.

I look forward to working for you. Please be sure to reach out if there is anything you need, or if you just wanna say “hi,” that’s cool too!

Now enough about me. I want to introduce you to your fantastic Elementary Division Director-Elect and our Regional Elementary Directors who will be helping to serve you!

Leslie Grace, Elementary Division Director-Elect

I have been teaching visual arts since 2004 and currently work at Nebinger Elementary. I founded the Philadelphia Art Teachers Alliance and serve as the Past President of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. Additionally, I teach at the University of the Arts and Moore College of Art and Design, and I serve on the Moore College of Art and Design Advisory Board. I have been recognized for my leadership in education by BillyPenn.com and PAEA. I graduated from NAEA’s School for Art Leaders and received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching from the School District of Philadelphia in 2022. Currently, I serve as a Teacher Leader in the NAEA’s Connected Art Networks program.

Meera Ramanathan, Pacific Region

I am Meera Ramanathan, an art educator at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy, teaching students from UTK to 5th grade. I hold a master’s degree in history of fine arts, drawing, and painting from India, and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Visual Art from San Diego State University. With 9 years of experience in an early childhood setting, visual art has always been an essential part of my life since growing up in Chennai, India. My teaching philosophy involves introducing students to art and artists worldwide, building their skills and empathy, and inspiring them to create meaningful art. To make learning accessible, challenging, and engaging, I recently launched a podcast, Elementary Art Talk, with my students.

Ted Edinger, Southeastern Region

In the summer of 1997, I packed up everything and moved from Ohio to begin my teaching career in Nashville, Tennessee, where they hired 80 art teachers to fill all the elementary schools. I’m so thankful I did. I’ve been able to do and be a part of more than I could ever imagine. I’ve been at my current school for over 20 years. In addition to teaching K–5, I teach art appreciation at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. You may know me from blogging and social media (ArtWithMrE). I love connecting with art teachers and sharing tips, ideas, and encouragement.

Jen Webel, Western Region

I have 25 years of experience teaching the arts and love inspiring general artists from 2nd to 4th grade, along with offering electives like ceramics and 3D art. As chair of the fine arts department at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School, I am grateful to have been teaching and parenting there for 17 years. I earned an MA in Art Education/New Genre from The University of Arizona and a BFA-Interdisciplinary Studies in Scientific Illustration with a minor in Spanish from the University of Georgia. My husband and I cofounded the Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata (http://www.mnae.org) in 1999, a curiosity museum that has won many awards.

Tamika Diaz, Eastern Region

My name is Tamika Diaz, and I am an art educator at Grace N. Rogers Elementary School in New Jersey. I previously taught middle school for 18 years, but I’m incredibly grateful to be settling into the elementary classroom again. I am a School for Art Leaders graduate (SAL ‘17) and enjoy meeting fellow educators at different NAEA events. Additionally, I am currently serving as President-Elect with AENJ. I live in Pennsylvania with my husband, Ryan, and our three fur babies.

[[image #### "Devon Calvert (top left), Leslie Grace (top middle), Meera Ramanathan (top right), Ted Edinger (bottom left), Jen Webel (bottom middle), Tamika Diaz (bottom right)"]]

Column by:

Devon Calvert, Elementary Division Director
K–3 Art Educator, School District of Milton, WI. Email: rd.calvert91@gmail.com

Elect: Leslie Grace, Art Educator, Nebinger Elementary, Philadelphia, PA.

Regional Directors:
Eastern: Tamika Diaz, tamolta92@gmail.com
Southeastern: Ted Edinger, tededinger@gmail.com
Western: Jen Webel, jwebel@sgs-austin.org
Pacific: Meera Ramanathan, mramanathan@sandi.net