For this year’s Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to take a moment to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions that teachers make to our society. 

As a community of curious learners, we deeply admire the dedication of teachers in shaping our future. We feel grateful to all VAWAA artists who share their knowledge and inspiration with all of us.

In this blog, we are celebrating three art educators from our community who have participated in a VAWAA to become students themselves, explore their creativity, and leave with a rejuvenated sense of inspiration to bring back into their classrooms.

As artist and arts educator Claire shared “I became my students.”

Megan Pendleton

Megan is based in Istanbul, Turkey (originally from Boston, Massachusetts). She teaches visual and media arts to Grades 7-12 at Istanbul International Community School.

What teaching achievement or moment are you most proud of? 

Megan: My students constantly make me proud to be their teacher, but it's the little moments I treasure - someone finding the confidence to try a new medium or teaching each other best-practice techniques. When teaching in Seoul, South Korea, I was part of an amazing team which developed an Arts Night. During the event, visitors enjoyed an art show, student drama performances, and painted a mural while music students performed right in the art room. It was a magical experience.

What’s one thing you brought back from your VAWAA into your classroom?

Megan: I've been lucky enough to participate in two VAWAAs - one with Cloe in Majorca, Spain, and another with Nato in Tbilisi, Georgia. Both ladies were strong, patient teachers who worked to help me connect with the medium I was working with and help me express myself as an individual. I try to bring this experience to my own students everyday as it's the personal connection which leads to the best creative risks.

You can view more of Megan's personal artistic and professional journey on her website at meganpendleton.co

Kerrie Bellisario

Kerrie is based in New Jersey, USA. She teaches Middle School Art (Grades 6-8) at Lazar Middle School in Montville Township, NJ

What teaching achievement or moment are you most proud of? 

Kerrie: I am so proud of how many first generation students I was able to help achieve their college dreams.

What’s one thing you brought back from your VAWAA into your classroom?

Kerrie: Studying with Roser was an amazing experience. As a teacher, in addition to bringing back new printmaking techniques, Roser inspired me to use found objects and recycled materials such as cardboard and plastics as a way for students to create artwork while spreading the art budget. But most of all, Roser's inventive and innovative ideas and techniques inspired me in my own art and now I share the spirit of "What if you try this? or have you thought about that?" The resulting art from my students is really exciting.

You can view more of Kerrie's personal artistic and professional journey on her website at www.kerriebellisario.org

What teaching achievement or moment are you most proud of? 

Claire: I’m proud of my ability to find ways to connect with so many different students of different ages and backgrounds and build meaningful relationships. 

What’s one thing you brought back from your VAWAA into your classroom?

Claire: I brought back from my VAWAA trip the feeling of giving myself over to the process of learning. I was reminded that there is so much joy in going from not knowing to knowing. To learn more about Claire's experience, read Tend Your Garden, Cure Your Burn Out

You can view more of Claire's personal artistic and professional journey on her website at www.clairelouisereynes.com ; @temperedeast

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to learning and for shaping the minds of the next generation.