Hello! I have been teaching elementary art for six years. I taught for four years in Wisconsin and was a part of the Wisconsin Art Education Association as their Membership Chair for four years, and in 2021I was awarded the WAEA Outstanding Beginning Art Educator of the Year. I now teach at Mounds Park Academy in St. Paul. I love helping connect arts educators to the NAEA/AEM community and the amazing resources that we provide and are available!

Bio coming soon!

I have been teaching for three years, and I’m so excited for year four in August. In my experience, sharing important information with other educators is essential to growing stronger together. When teachers openly communicate ideas, strategies, and resources, we all benefit from new perspectives that can improve student learning. I am an elementary teacher—the best part of my job is breaking art practices out of boxes and opening up creativity to all kinds of groups in my student population. Collaboration helps me discover new ways to reach students and refine my teaching practice. Every time I learn something from a colleague, it inspires me to bring more energy and thoughtfulness into my classroom. Uplifting each other through shared knowledge helps us create more inclusive, dynamic spaces for our students. When teachers grow, students thrive—so the flow of information truly empowers us all.

I am an art teacher at Hill-Murray School where, for the past 10 years, I have been able to implement and grow the high school ceramics program into the most popular arts course. I am responsible for developing the Middle School Art 1 and 2 curriculum, establishing a successful art club, coordinating numerous art shows, and conducting art fairs where students are able to sell their own artwork! I am thrilled to be part of AEM and serve as professional development head. I hope to encourage the advancement of our fellow educators’ skills and qualifications to meet the needs of our ever-changing school communities.

I started teaching art in 2013 after professional careers in art direction, graphic design and training and development administration. Currently, I am the K-2 art teacher in Stewartville Public Schools but also have experience teaching middle school visual and media arts and PreK-5th grade in spanish and chinese immersion classrooms. It is a passion of mine to find ways to showcase student art publicly and have experience finding venues and hosting art shows while in all three districts I have worked. I look forward to getting involved in Youth Art Month, connecting with visual art teachers and finding ways to highlight the amazing artwork happening in schools around Minnesota.

I have held the position of Professor of Art Pedagogy at the College of Saint Benedict/St. John's University for the past 12 years. Additionally, I have 15 years of experience as an Elementary Art Teacher and, for the past 21 years, I have co-owned an adult foster care home with my spouse. Currently, I am also a doctoral candidate at Hamline University, where my research focuses on examining the factors that influence Elementary Art Teacher Retention.

In 2022, I had the honor of being recognized as the Higher Art Educator of the Year. My driving motivation is to facilitate communities of learners to make meaningful connections through art, thereby enhancing not only their own lives but also the lives of others.

Bio coming soon!

Hi, I am currently a Middle School Art Specialist in the Stillwater School District. I am also currently the Interim Treasurer for the Art Educators of Minnesota.  I have been involved with AEM as President, Past President, assisted with Youth Art Month, Professional Development.

Greetings to all! My name is Nathan Knick and I currently reside in Alexandria with my wife, Amber, and four boys, Tyler (11), Micah (9), Caleb (7), and Jordan (5). I grew up in Fergus Falls, graduating in 2000. I began my education by attending the Fergus Falls Community College, then transferring to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. After graduating in 2005, I found my first art teaching position in Alexandria and have been teaching in the community ever since. In 2017, I created an “In the Moment” art competition called Art Wars. I’m currently working to spread Art Wars and have competitions in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota next year. My favorite mediums to work in are ceramics and drawing, although I like using a mix of everything. The biggest inspiration for my art is Dr Pepper. It’s simply the best tasting soda, often described as the nectar of the gods. The logos have been some of the greatest in the industry since its inception in 1885 though my favorite to incorporate is the one from the 1990’s. When not at home or in the classroom……Ha, who am I kidding.

I am a former art educator of 9 years - teaching 1 year in Howard Lake Waverly Winsted (6-12) and 8 years teaching digital art at Alexandria Area High School (9-12). After the 2022 school year, I transitioned from the classroom to the office, as a user experience designer for a technology and digital design agency, based in the Twin Cities. I assist AEM by maintaining the AEM website and helping with the social media channels. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the AEM website or socials, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at the email below.

Please email website@artedmn.org for any communication needs at this time.

Leadership and advocacy has always been at the forefront of my teaching career since I began as an art educator in Wisconsin over 15 years ago.   As a membership representative of the Wisconsin Art Education Association, the National Art Education Association Western Region Middle Level representative, it has provided me the opportunity to learn and grow as an educator and advocate.  As a AEM board member for over 5 years, I have had the opportunity to help support on many levels.  From Awards, Board Services to now active President, I am dedicated to serve our community of art educators to the best of my ability.   I currently serve as the Middle level Art Educator at St. Paul Academy and Summit School.