TAEA Leadership

Click here for a list of open positions, requirements, etc.

Linh Nguyen (President Elect), Myron Stennett (Vice-President Elect Membership), Jami Bevans (Past President), Walter Holland (President), Angela Coffey (Vice-President Elect Youth Art Month), Gretchen Bell (Vice-President Membership), Tiffany Silverthorne (Vice-President Youth Art Month), Sara Chapman (Executive Director), Lisa Saenz-Saldivar (Treasurer), Ricia Kerber (Commercial Exhibits Director), Jenny Lucas (Secretary)
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EXECUTIVE BOARD

	President Walter Holland What I Love About TAEA: The Texas Art Education Association is a community promoting artists, Art Education, and artist educators through programs designed to give each of us life long support through artistic opportunities and training.
	President Elect Linh Nguyen What I Love About TAEA: TAEA provides us the opportunity to connect, collaborate and cherish in each other's love and passion for art. When we talk about the human connection, it is through art that we are able to transcend into a world of visual communication, passed down from generation to generation. Florence Dibell Bartlett once said, "The art of the craftsman is the bonds between the peoples of the world." TAEA allows us to come together as a unified group to advocate and provide the best for our art teachers and student artists. TAEA is an art teacher's dream and avenue for success!
	Past President Jami Bevans What I Love About TAEA: I truly admire the way TAEA has advocated for the visual arts. I love the generosity of our art teachers who give of their time, share their ideas and best practices, and embrace changes in technology so that we may all grow in our artistic pursuits. TAEA helps connect art teachers from all areas of Texas and beyond, making us more than just an organization, making us a family.
	Vice-President Membership Gretchen Bell What I Love About TAEA: Meeting people who share the same passion for Art Education that I do. It is truly amazing how much talent Texas Art Educators have, and I love all of the opportunities we get to collaborate and learn from each other to develop our craft and become the best advocates for our students.
	Vice-President Elect Membership Myron Stennett What I Love About TAEA: Our membership is what I love about TAEA! The people are great. I also love the learning opportunities and experiences. TAEA is an organization that values professional growth and development. I have growth so much as an educator and leader. Mostly, the friendships I have developed through the years are invaluable.
	Vice-President Youth Art Month Tiffany Silverthorne What I Love About TAEA: Membership in TAEA has helped me form lifelong relationships with a network of people who have been, and are, willing to help me grow personally and professionally. Our organization listens to our members and is always willing to go above and beyond to help all involved in art education. Our organization is on the forefront of change as the demands of our profession grow and change. The continued support of our leadership has helped me find, keep, and grow in my passion for quality art education.
	Vice-President Elect Youth Art Month Angela Coffey What I Love About TAEA: What I love about TAEA is the constant fostering of growth for students and educators! There's a certain level of intentionality behind everything TAEA does to help promote excellence in visual arts! We have better educators because of TAEA which leads to students getting the optimal learning experience! I am so proud to be a part of such an impactful organization!
	Secretary Jenny Lucas What I Love About TAEA: I love TAEA because it facilitates art educators' connections to other art educators and to community arts partners, which serves to increase our visibility and strengthen our voice for advocacy.
	Treasurer Lisa Saenz-Saldivar What I Love About TAEA: I love the passion that TAEA spreads to educate and advocate for visual arts. I love that, through networking, I have met so many wonderful like-minded people. Mostly I love that over the years, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow as an art educator and leader. I have immense gratitude to be a part of TAEA.
	Executive Director / NAEA Liaison Sara Chapman What I Love About TAEA: TAEA feels like "home" where professional art educators gather to exchange ideas, dialogue, and solve the issues of the world. It creates a safety net to hold members close to mentor, grow, and provide resources when needed. It offers nourishment for those that are hungry for professional development or networking. It holds out helping hands for new comers who want and need guidance. TAEA is a place to have fun, to grow professionally, to make new art friends and find the newest art materials and equipment on the market. TAEA helps makes its members great educators. Don't you want to join our art education home?
	Commercial Exhibits Director Ricia Kerber What I Love About TAEA: I have always taught in schools where I have been the sole art teacher, so TAEA is my connection to other teachers. TAEA is the place in which I collaborated for new ideas and techniques for my classroom.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - STATE DIVISION CHAIRS
	Elementary Division Kelley McGee More Info What I Love About TAEA: My favorite thing about TAEA is the people. The relationships, networking, and partnerships in TAEA are such a powerful resource to art educators across the state. I am so thankful for each educator I have met through our amazing association. There are so many opportunities for growth and connection to artists that I wouldn't have the opportunity of knowing outside of TAEA. We are better together, and I am thankful for everything TAEA has to offer.	Elementary Division Elect Keahi Brown More Info
	Middle School Jr High Division Isaac Thomas More Info What I Love About TAEA: I look forward every year to meeting other art educators who inspire, share ideas and experiences. The support given to art educators is amazing. Everyone is open to sharing advocacy ideas, ways to strengthen what we already do or improve areas we might feel weak in. It's exciting to learn new perspectives from educators from all over the state. The bonds created around a passion for art is so energizing and makes me excited for conference every year.	Middle School Jr High Division Elect Robbyne Teel More Info What I Love About TAEA: I love how supportive and encouraging everyone is. We are able to rely upon each other to gain new projects, techniques, and lasting friendships. I look forward to seeing everyone each year because it feels like a family!
	High School Division Christopher Weeden More Info What I Love About TAEA: What I love the most about TAEA is how it is an organization that is built on advocacy: Advocating for students, teachers, and the importance and value of the visual arts in education in Texas. I've met some of the best people through TAEA that have mentored me, supported me, and helped me grow into a better educator through collaboration and continued learning. I look forward to continuing the tradition!	High School Division Elect Ryan Rimmer More Info What I Love About TAEA: The opportunity that TAEA gives for all of us to instantly connect to a large network of fellow art educators. The collaboration, support, motivation, and inspiration that everyone provides is an invaluable resource for all of us.
	Private School Division Elizabeth Zepeda More Info	Private School Division Elect Lisa Urban
	Supervision / Administration Division Sandra Newton More Info What I Love About TAEA: I love that TAEA is a supportive, passionate, intelligent, professional, insightful, hard-working, knowledgeable, collaborative, energetic, and innovative network of incredible people that make us all better educators, administrators, and artists. Thank you TAEA! I am so thankful to be a part of this amazing professional organization.	Supervision / Administration Division Elect Laura Grundler More Info
	Museum Division Kathryn Mitchell More Info What I Love About TAEA: I have learned from sessions and gotten lots of ideas from attending them, but it is hard to top getting to be around so many great art educators. I love the friendships and support you get from colleagues at TAEA.	Museum Division Elect Noel Bella Merriam-Gourley More Info
	Higher Education Division Lilia Cabrera More Info What I Love About TAEA: I love that TAEA offers opportunities for the art educator from all levels. The many committees within the organization allow artists to network with members from different regions throughout Texas, which in turn become much greater collaborations. TAEA offers opportunities for growth within the organization, as well. The detail that's enhanced my art teaching career the most, has been the lifelong friendships that I have built due to my involvement in TAEA. There is always room for growth and opportunity in our careers, and TAEA helps with these goals.	Higher Education Division Elect Kathy Brown More Info What I Love About TAEA: As a Texas transplant, TAEA has been such a welcoming community. I enjoy attending the annual conference and exchanging best practices and scholarship with committed, dynamic educators. Moreover, TAEA extends intellectual, advocacy and artistic fellowship opportunities between K-12 and post-secondary art educators from across the state and I am honored to be a part of this salient visual art pedagogical collective.
	Student Division Jose Hernandez More Info What I Love About TAEA: What I love about TAEA the most is its continuous commitment and dedication to empowering new generations of young artists.	Student Division Elect Chloe Morrell More Info
	Retired Art Educators Division Kathy Hendrick More Info What I Love About TAEA: TAEA fosters a strong sense of family among its members, and because of that I have formed lifelong friendships with other art teachers from all over the state. Teaching in a small, rural district I was the only art teacher on my campus, and after I attended my first TAEA conference I knew I had found "my people". TAEA provided a link to other art teachers, information on innovations and ideas, and programs to help me create a quality art program for my students. As a retired art educator, I also love that TAEA has programs that keep me involved in art education and enable me to give back to an organization that has given so much to me.	Retired Art Educators Division Elect Debbie Nicholas More Info What I Love About TAEA: What I love about TAEA is the opportunity to connect with art educators from across the state of Texas. The support, inspiration, and friendships from fellow members inspires me throughout the school year.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - VASE STATE DIRECTORS
	Junior VASE State Director Larry West What I Love About TAEA: I love TAEA for the ability to share ideas and see "best practices" by great people that are STUDENT CENTERED. Being involved with TAEA is like the right hand of being an Art Educator in TEXAS and beyond!	TEAM State Director Tracey Hall What I Love About TAEA: I love being part of a supportive passionate group of people who do what we do for the students! A group who promotes the arts where every student can be successful. A group that is full of new ideas, encourages, and supports every member!
	High School VASE State Director Chris Cooper What I Love About TAEA: I love being a part of the TAEA family. No place else can I find such a positive, supportive group of creatives who never fail to inspire me, and who all share a mission: tirelessly sharing and advocating for Visual Arts across our state, and faithfully inspiring the creative potential of our next generation.	State VASE Director Amy Semifero What I Love About TAEA: I love how being a member of TAEA allows me to continue to hone my craft as an art educator and leader. Participation in this organization has given me the knowledge necessary to give my students the most relevant art experiences possible. By encouraging my students to participate in VASE, their artistic efforts and creative solutions are recognized on both the regional and state level which also builds their confidence and love for the visual arts.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
	Advocacy Betsy Murphy What I Love About TAEA: What I love about TAEA is how our members use the power of art to bring people together. In every corner of Texas, our members are promoting art programs in countless ways. In classrooms, museums, community spaces, as well as on-line venues, students and community members bear witness to the transformative efforts of Texas art educators.	Awards Shawn Knuckles What I Love About TAEA: I love picking out new sessions to go and experience at conference. I love new ideas and the excitement that all the teachers have meeting each other. I love sharing ideas with other art teachers around Texas.
	Book Study Chair Melanie Blair McCook More Info What I Love About TAEA: I love TAEA � it's a place where I can connect, reflect, and inspire with my fellow creative makers!	Community Art Committee Jenny Lucas More Info What I Love About TAEA: I love TAEA because it facilitates art educators' connections to other art educators and to community arts partners, which serves to increase our visibility and strengthen our voice for advocacy.
	Credentials Kathy Hendrick What I Love About TAEA: TAEA fosters a strong sense of family among its members, and because of that I have formed lifelong friendships with other art teachers from all over the state. Teaching in a small, rural district I was the only art teacher on my campus, and after I attended my first TAEA conference I knew I had found "my people". TAEA provided a link to other art teachers, information on innovations and ideas, and programs to help me create a quality art program for my students. As a retired art educator, I also love that TAEA has programs that keep me involved in art education and enable me to give back to an organization that has given so much to me.	Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee Chair Carolyn Scalan What I Love About TAEA: I am Carolyn Scalan, a PK-5th art educator in Round Rock ISD. I have been a member of TAEA since my first year of teaching in 1999. To me, TAEA was my family and I was active even during my years off as a mother because TAEA continued to fuel my passion for art education and my need for connection with other art educators. As chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee of TAEA, I believe our work is never finished, and that we can always grow. We want all our members to truly feel included and to have equitable opportunities to participate and succeed.
	Historian Danielle Pontus What I Love About TAEA: I love how TAEA brings people together no matter age or location! I have so many surrogate family members through TAEA, members that live nowhere near me, but when we meet up, it's as if no time has passed. TAEA is an organization where your voice is heard and where you are supported; and in return, you are able to support and mentor new members. I love my TAEA family!	Membership Showcase Rj Christensen What I Love About TAEA: Friendship, Motivation, and a Structure for Success and Excellence — When I started TAEA I was blown away by the phenomenal state conference with professional development that actually pertained to my teaching. Over the years I've found an extensive support group of fellow art teachers and mentors who support my dreams and offer motivation when needed. Age, gender, race, and faith differences are set aside in TAEA. No matter who you are, you are appreciated. After all these years of getting, it's my turn to start giving back to this incredibly influential organization that has played such a strong role in who I am today and the success of my students.
	National Art Honor Society Jessica Jones Gonzales What I Love About TAEA: For me, TAEA is about opportunities: to grow, learn, connect, and collaborate with my colleagues. TAEA is such a rich community of individuals, all so willing to take another member by the hand and share. I am passionate about TAEA and so excited to be a part of this vibrant collection of educators.	Parliamentarian Sarah Hartman What I Love About TAEA: The connections and relationships built with art educators through TAEA. This is an invaluable resource for all art educators that encourages personal and professional growth!
	Private Schools Megan McEntire What I Love About TAEA: I first encountered TAEA as a newly full time teacher in 2005. The generosity of members made me feel at home immediately. I have always enjoyed the way VASE fits into my curriculum and has the power to reach every child. I love that my involvement has changed over the years, and that there is room to stretch and challenge myself.	Social Committee Chair Paul Kretchmer What I Love About TAEA: I love that at the heart of our mission you find the student. Our advocacy, our pedagogy, our expertise, our passion, our vision, and our beliefs . . . with all of these we encourage, enrich, and educate the young artist. The second thing I love about TAEA is its community of artist-educators. Whether it is colleagues in my home district, friends and TAEA members across the state, or virtual relationships via things like the online book study . . . I connect to a diverse, caring, highly-educated community. Finally, I love the underlying service implied in our membership. I appreciate all that I have gained by my participation in this organization, and I really love that TAEA offers me tangible ways to give back and pay-forward.
	Technology Dr. Kari Murphy What I Love About TAEA: I love the creativity of TAEA and the friendships I have gained over the years of serving with TAEA members. I work in the IT world of K-12 education. Serving in TAEA always me to dabble and grow creatively when I feel boxed in with the wires and cables.	Conference Facilitator Mel Basham What I Love About TAEA: What I love about TAEA is the opportunity to meet and collaborate with so many dedicated, passionate art educators. Each member is advocating and educating others on the importance of art in all Texas educational programs. Rural, urban, suburban - we support one another and are all part of our like-minded and determined TAEA Team. We know art education is essential to human development!
AFFILIATES
	Distinguished Fellows Dr. Tina Farrell
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
	Region 1 Representative Cristina Correa Region Info	Region 2 Representative Alejandra Pena Region Info
	Region 3 Representative Jamie Sainz Region Info	Region 4 Representative Jessica Green Region Info
	Region 5 Representative Kelsey Thibodeaux Region Info	Region 6 Representative Lisa L. Miller Region Info
	Region 7 Representative Wayne Gaddis Region Info	Region 8 Representative Carrie Slay Region Info
	Region 10 Representative Leanne Rainey Region Info	Region 11 Representative Dallas Williams Region Info
	Region 12 Representative Shawn Knuckles Region Info	Region 13 Representative Amber Forgey Region Info
	Region 14 Representative Brady Sloane Region Info	Region 16 Representative Adrienne Hurtt Region Info
	Region 17 Representative Suzanne Strother Region Info	Region 18 Representative Jesus Valeriano Region Info
	Region 20 Representative Ambra Hernandez Region Info
LOCAL ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS
	Brazos Valley AEA Nathan Vogt	McKinney AEA Shannon Kessler
	Richardson AEA Hilary Paine	Round Rock AEA Cristina Mann
	Round Rock AEA Carolyn Scalan	Texas Panhandle AEA Shawn Kennedy
	Texas Panhandle AEA Denise Olson
EDITORIAL STAFF
	2022 Trends Co-Editor Andres Peralta	2022 Trends Co-Editor Dawn Stienecker
	Graphic Designer Gabriel Flores What I Love About TAEA: TAEA is the epitome of advocacy and collaboration among art educators across the state of Texas. So much work goes on behind the scenes to provide support and plan events for teachers to strengthen their voice through networking and professional development. I am proud to be a member of TAEA and always look forward to our annual events, as they continue to grow bigger each year.	Photographer Danielle Pontus What I Love About TAEA: I love how TAEA brings people together no matter age or location! I have so many surrogate family members through TAEA, members that live nowhere near me, but when we meet up, it's as if no time has passed. TAEA is an organization where your voice is heard and where you are supported; and in return, you are able to support and mentor new members. I love my TAEA family!
	TAEA STAR Editor Sara Chapman What I Love About TAEA: TAEA feels like "home" where professional art educators gather to exchange ideas, dialogue, and solve the issues of the world. It creates a safety net to hold members close to mentor, grow, and provide resources when needed. It offers nourishment for those that are hungry for professional development or networking. It holds out helping hands for new comers who want and need guidance. TAEA is a place to have fun, to grow professionally, to make new art friends and find the newest art materials and equipment on the market. TAEA helps makes its members great educators. Don't you want to join our art education home?