On September 17, Teri Yacovelli gave an online talk titled, “Working in the Arts: What is Arts Education?” In this informative talk, she spoke about what it takes to become an arts educator and her own 30-year journey in the arts education field.
To become an art educator, you need to have a passion for teaching people of all ages. Yacovelli taught elementary art for 11 years, high school art for 19 years, and was an adjunct art instructor for 19 years. To become an art educator, Yacovelli needed to earn a Level 1 certification. To earn this certification in Pennsylvania, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in art education from an accredited university, complete a teaching practicum, and pass six exams. The college education and exams prepared her for what she would teach, and the teaching practicum gave her a mentor to teach her how to manage her classroom. This Level 1 certification is good for three to six years. After that, while teaching, you had to take graduate coursework to keep your certification active and prepare for permanent certification. Yacovelli recommended earning a K-12 certification because it would allow educators to be placed with children of any grade level.
“To be an art educator, you need a passion for teaching people of all ages.”
After earning certification, Yacovelli stressed the importance of comparing salaries in different school districts. Art educators have a base salary, but can earn more with experience and degrees. Salary increases vary by state and school district. Available benefits, such as health insurance, also vary by location.
Yacovelli loves teaching elementary students, kindergarten through fifth grade, because they tend to be very energetic and excited about art. This is the time when they try out beginner materials, such as colored construction paper and colored pencils. Middle school students, grades six through eight, are in the transition from elementary school to high school. Yacovelli has never taught this grade level, so she can’t comment on the experience, but her art teacher friends told her they love working with kids this age because they’re just a little more mature and just as passionate about art. High school students, grades nine through 12, are more mature and learn how to critically speak about emotions and the importance of art. Unfortunately, many high school students question their skill set for fear of what others will think. That’s why Yacovelli found her role as a teacher so rewarding, because she was able to create an environment that welcomed mistakes and helped them develop a personal connection to art. For Yacovelli, building connections and watching her students grow is the highlight of being an art teacher.
“Iacovelli loves teaching elementary students, kindergarten through fifth grade, because they tend to be very active and enthusiastic about the arts.”
Although art teachers have a great deal of creative freedom, and as Yacovelli explained, “they can teach however they want,” that doesn’t mean art teachers can teach whatever they want. Art teachers can develop their own curriculum, but they must follow state art standards. Pennsylvania’s standards place an emphasis on showing students the process of making art and explaining its cultural context. Still, art teachers can create their own lesson plans that do this in a way that is engaging and effective for students. Yacovelli has a maxim: “Tell, show, do,” because she explains the cultural significance of the art and visually breaks down the art step by step. Art teachers can find ways to present the same information in unique and exciting ways.
Art teachers also play vital roles in other departments and activities. They may be asked to lead advisory groups, be homeroom teachers, or train new teachers. They may also be asked to lead after-school art clubs or lead fundraisers. Unfortunately, art departments are severely underfunded, so many of the school supplies are purchased through education grants and collected in non-traditional ways, such as with common household items. Although it takes a lot of work and energy to be an art educator, educators like Yacovelli find the fruits of their labor in being able to watch children grow up with tenderness and a passion for art. Being an art educator is different from a standard job, and it is important to remember that every day is different and “they are the kids, not the customers.” Educators become more accessible to children and can be seen as warm figures to them. Art educators build a loving community that is enthusiastic to work with different supplies every day. Every day as an art educator is a new experience, which is what makes it exciting.
