Meet the Board

ellen Scharfenberg

I am a K-12 Visual Arts teacher at in North St. Paul. I have been a part of the Art Educators of Minnesota Board since 2021 and an active member of NAEA and state arts organizations since 2015. State level arts leadership & involvement has always been an important part of my journey as an educator. I love helping connect arts educators to the NAEA/AEM community and the amazing resources that we provide!

Contact: president@artedmn.org

President

KELLY ANDERSON

Bio coming soon!

Contact: presidentelect@artedmn.org

President Elect

Ryan ERmisch

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.

Contact: membership@artedmn.org

Membership Chair & Social Media

Lindsay Hunkins

As the Professional Development Coordinator for Art Educators of Minnesota (AEM), I organize state conferences and create opportunities for art educators to connect and grow. I also served on the local committee for the National Art Education Association’s 2024 Conference in Minneapolis and was selected to join the Perpich Regional Art Teacher Leaders Network, collaborating with arts educators across the state.

I spent 11 years teaching at Hill-Murray School, where I grew the ceramics program into the school’s most popular arts course, developed middle school art curriculum, led a thriving art club, and coordinated student art shows and fairs. I’ve also judged a variety of competitions, including the Minnesota State High School League, Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, and Youth Art Month State Flag Design Program.

Currently, I am the Owner and Creative Director of Spinning Wheel Ceramics LLC, creating custom dinnerware and home decor to reflect each client’s unique style. While I am no longer teaching full time, I continue to feel strong ties to education and this art teacher community, and am passionate about supporting our members in their artistry.

Contact: prof.development@artedmn.org

Professional Development Coordinator

Stena Lieb

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chair

Lanesboro Public Schools is the district I call home for the past 9 years as a visual arts teacher to kindergarten through 12th grade learners. Stepping into ED&I this year is a role I took on because I see the great benefit it can provide to all educators and learners. I hope to use this platform to inform my own education process and to help others influence their own educational style.

Contact: edi1@artedmn.org

Museum Chair

Bio coming soon!

Contact: museum@artedmn.org

Paige Brevick

Jessica Jones

Past President

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.

Contact: pastpresident@artedmn.org

Open Position

Please email president@artedmn.org if you are interested in joining the board

Advocacy

Joy Blewett

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.

Contact: yam@artedmn.org

Youth Art Month Chair

Open Position

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

Contact: communications@artedmn.org

Communications Chair

Jeff Pridie

As the Finance Coordinator for Art Educators of Minnesota I organize the financial records of the organization. I keep track of daily expenses, and revenue, manage the check book, savings account, set the budget yearly. I manage the tax information, paperwork of the non-profit status federally and locally.

I am a retired Art Educator with 43 years of experience. I have been with Art Educators of Minnesota for many years as President, Youth Art Month Coordinator, currently Finance.

Contact: finance@artedmn.org

Finance Chair

April Malphurs

I have been teaching for over 25 years in both public elementary schools and in community art education programs. I currency teach at LeSueur Henderson Elementary and run a free summer art program in St Peter that takes lessons to children living in low income and BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) neighborhoods. I am also a practicing artist, working both in glass and fiber/mixed media.
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Last year I was awarded MN 2024 Elementary Art Educator of the Year. I have been an active member of NAEA and AEM presenting at both state and national conferences regularly. I am also a participant in the MN Culturally Responsive Arts Educators Cohort, the NAEA Connected Arts Network, and had the privilege to attend the NAEA School for Arts Leaders in 2022.
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I have been passionate about ED& I work throughout my years of teaching and it has shaped many aspects of my career include my current teaching position, summer program, and the above groups I am actively involved in. Additionally I am a parent of both BIPOC and LGBTQ+ young adults which has also helped shape my understandings. As a new co-chair of ED&I, I aim to bring opportunities for other art educators which share this passion to get involved via a committee, ED&I Book Club, and professional development opportunities.
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If you share this passion or have questions about ED& I, feel free to contact myself or Stena.

Contact: edi@artedmn.org