TAEA Leadership

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Ricia Kerber (Commercial Exhibits Director), Christine Grafe (Vice-President Elect Youth Art Month), Betsy Murphy (Secretary), Jami Bevans (President Elect), Mel Basham (President), Sara Chapman (Executive Director), Suzanne Greene (Past President), Gretchen Bell (Vice-President Youth Art Month), Chris Cooper (Vice-President Membership), Pam Arnold (Vice-President Elect Membership), Paul Kretchmer (Treasurer)
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EXECUTIVE BOARD

	President 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!
	President Elect 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.
	Past President Suzanne Greene What I Love About TAEA: Fellowship of like minded people is what drew me into TAEA. Everyone is willing to help each other and share their talents, skills, and lessons with all art teachers through Conference, Regional Conferences, and In-Services. You never feel alone because you have your TAEA family to reach out to when you need help. I was helped and now want to give back. I love the excitement that happens when art teachers work together, have fun together, and learn together. We all advocate for our programs and TAEA is here to help all do this.
	Vice-President Membership 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.
	Vice-President Elect Membership Pam Arnold What I Love About TAEA: I love TAEA because the members are positive, creative, and energetic! We are always eager to share new ideas with each other because we want the best for our art students.
	Vice-President Youth Art Month 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 Youth Art Month Christine Grafe What I Love About TAEA: There is so much to love about TAEA! I love all the learning and friendship I've enjoyed through the many years I've been a member. I love the inspiration I gain from being around other like minded people. But most of all I love being part of and giving back to an organization that does so much to enhance the field of art education through leadership, enrichment, advocacy, and fellowship with the most dedicated professionals I've had the privilege to know! TAEA ROCKS!!!
	Secretary 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.
	Treasurer 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.
	Executive Director 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.

LIAISONS
	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?
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
	Junior VASE State Director Suzanne Greene What I Love About TAEA: Fellowship of like minded people is what drew me into TAEA. Everyone is willing to help each other and share their talents, skills, and lessons with all art teachers through Conference, Regional Conferences, and In-Services. You never feel alone because you have your TAEA family to reach out to when you need help. I was helped and now want to give back. I love the excitement that happens when art teachers work together, have fun together, and learn together. We all advocate for our programs and TAEA is here to help all do this.	TEAM State Director Mary Tavares What I Love About TAEA: TAEA has become a very important part of my life as an art educator. It has helped me grow as an elementary art teacher and as a leader in the art community. It has helped me become more confident amongst my peers. I love the support that I feel when I talk to other members.
	High School State Event Director Karri Clark What I Love About TAEA: I love being part of an organization designed to nurture teaching skills and creative as well as intellectual growth. We have the unique opportunity to work alongside art educators who hold a variety of strong artistic and leadership qualities and ability to create a lasting love of art for our students. TAEA will take you on a journey of lifelong learning.	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 DIVISION CHAIRS
	Elementary Division Jen Holsinger-raybourn Division Info	Elementary Division Elect Sarah Kersh Division Info What I Love About TAEA: I love that I am part of a community of passionate, driven, and innovative art educators. Being able to collaborate with and get encouragement from each other makes me better at what I do.
	Middle School Jr High Division Rhonda Goff Division Info What I Love About TAEA: Being a member of TAEA since my 4th or 5th year of teaching, I have collected invaluable advice, knowledge, motivation, and friendships. I simply cannot imagine my teaching career without it. Yes, I have local friendships with local art teachers in my community and district; however, the personal and professional connections I have garnered through TAEA have allowed me to reach a level of art education competence that is immeasurable without the collaboration and teaching of this organization. Above all, TAEA has helped me always remember why we are here! Thank you TAEA!!	Middle School Jr High Division Elect Sara Massey Division Info What I Love About TAEA: Being connected to a community of fellow Art Educators. This is not an organization that is on paper. It is active, creative, and very present. I am amazed at the constant motivation and innovation of all members and am excited to be a part of this association.
	High School Division Sarah Waggoner Division Info	High School Division Elect Sarah Pagona Division Info What I Love About TAEA: I love that TAEA brings together passionate and creative teachers, gives them tools for improving instruction, opportunities for leadership development, and events for their students to shine, all while still conducting business like a family! Through art we are building a better future!
	Higher Education Division Sherry Snowden Division Info What I Love About TAEA: It is rewarding to be a part of the excitement that fills the space when two or more of us gather. I love the fact that we share a common passion for art and go to exceptional lengths to serve, and teach art, as an entity that enriches lives. From sharing all that TAEA, has to offer, we grow together personally and professionally, as a community, in preparing artists, teachers and leaders that will serve future generations.	Higher Education Division Elect Kathie Walker-Millar Division Info
	Student Division Israel Gonzalez Division Info What I Love About TAEA: TAEA is a group that not only promotes art education, but leadership as well. I always felt like I could do more, and TAEA has given me the opportunity to serve students like myself and to become the leader I want to be.	Supervision/Administration Division Michaelann Kelley Division Info What I Love About TAEA: I can network with many divergent-thinking people from all over the state of Texas, yet we all converge around our passion for the the visual arts. So basically, my TAEA colleagues push my thinking about art curriculum and instruction, which in turn benefits the art students of Aldine.
	Supervision/Administration Division Elect Stacia Gower Division Info What I Love About TAEA: TAEA is my go to resource for research, information, support, and inspiration. When I was in the classroom I was the "Lone Ranger" most of the time, and it was my TAEA cohorts and the fall conferences that connected me to a state-wide net of like minded educators. As an arts administrator I continually look to my TAEA cohorts for information, support, and guidance. Truly, I LOVE everything about our professional organization!	Museum Division Emily Cayton Division Info What I Love About TAEA: TAEA is a community of art lovers with contagious enthusiasm. The leaders and members of TAEA continuously inspire me and push me to do my best work. I love the nurturing spirit of the organization, and I feel so thankful to be part of this amazing group of educators!
	Museum Division Elect Denise Gonzalez Division Info What I Love About TAEA: I love that I can recommend TAEA as a reputable source for best practices and trends in our field for students, teachers, and museum educators. As a museum educator, I value the collaborative nature between educators of all types!	Retired Art Educators Donna Andrich Division Info
	Retired Art Educators Janice Wiggins Division Info What I Love About TAEA: The main thing I hear from teachers is that conference reinvigorates their commitment to teaching. As a retired teacher / administrator, it helps inspire me to continue my mission to educate through the arts. In my teaching career in the inner-city, I found so many opportunities for my "kids" to broaden their expectations because of their education in the arts.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
	Advocacy Tim Lowke What I Love About TAEA: TAEA connects art educators from across the state in the continual improvement of our discipline for excellence in learning — no matter if your audience is public school students, museum visitor, or pre-service teacher. I love that we collaborate, advocate, learn, demonstrate, make art, and in the process enjoy and appreciate the experience and our colleagues. Each member is engaged in our focus to advocate, grow, lead, and serve to leave art education better than we found it. TAEA is a vibrant and amazing community!	Private School Chair Elizabeth Zepeda
	Awards Shaun Lane What I Love About TAEA: I love that TAEA is an organization that gives HUGE returns on my personal investments. Since joining, it has been made abundantly clear that the organization is willing to give back what I put in, and then some! It definitely embodies the expression, "you get out what you put in." I actively searched for mentors, and was met with open arms and wonderful support! I made myself available for networking opportunities, and now I feel as though I am connected with colleagues all over this great state! When I needed opportunities to grow my leadership potential, the organization made this possible. Having joined while doing my undergrad, TAEA has literally been a part of my entire art education career, and I feel as though I am truly making a difference in my classroom as well as the art education theatre in Texas as a whole!	Community-Based Chair 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.
	2019 Conference Co-Chair - Galveston Sarah Kersh What I Love About TAEA: I love that I am part of a community of passionate, driven, and innovative art educators. Being able to collaborate with and get encouragement from each other makes me better at what I do.	2019 Conference Co-Chair - Galveston Cheryl Evans What I Love About TAEA: Art, energy, enthusiasm, unlimited opportunity for learning, laughter, friends, shared stories, shared history, accept-me-as-I-am art family . . . TAEA - MY TRIBE.
	2019 Conference Co-Chair - Galveston Thomas Avinger What I Love About TAEA: TAEA gives me the opportunity to share successes, passions, methods and fellowship with my colleagues. Being around other gifted educators that "live to create" always recharges my batteries and keeps me focused on my goal of inspiring my love of the arts in my students.	2019 Conference Co-Chair - Galveston Alyssa Wagner What I Love About TAEA: I love being able to be around like minded people and people who share the same passion about art education as I do. The members of TAEA are so passionate about what they do and the students they do it for. I am proud to have made many lasting friendships throughout the years I've been involved in TAEA. I look forward to the times we share and I always come away feeling like I've grown as a teacher, artist, and professional.
	Credentials Kathy Hendrick	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 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.
	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.
AFFILIATES
	Distinguished Fellows Dr. Tina Farrell
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
	Region 1 Representative James Miller Region Info What I Love About TAEA: TAEA is that it empowers each region in Texas to advocate the visual arts year round. Students have the opportunity to exhibit art at the state level through TASA/TASB State exhibits, Capital YAM exhibits, and Gold Seal Exhibits. They may participate in state competitions through TEAM/VASE and celebrate their creativity through YAM/Big Art day events.	Region 2 Representative Alejandra Pena Region Info What I Love About TAEA: TAEA gives its members the opportunity to build a professional network of colleague who share the same passion for art education. As we learn from each other we become stronger advocates for our art students and programs in our schools.
	Region 3 Representative Jamie Sainz Region Info What I Love About TAEA: The ability to network with other art educators across the state through TAEA. Everyone is so helpful, supportive and willing to share ideas with each other. It is a wonderful support system for all art educators. TAEA brings opportunities to our students that they would not otherwise have. Our students have thrived as they while trying to achieve one of the sought after State VASE Spots.	Region 4 Representative Sarah Hartman Region Info 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!
	Region 5 Representative Jennifer Restauri Dickinson Region Info	Region 6 Representative Lisa L. Miller Region Info What I Love About TAEA: For the past 18 years TAEA has provided me with an instant "Tribe" or pack of like-minded individuals who support me through the best of times and the worst of times. They "get" my stories about life in the classroom because they are in the same classroom; just in a different location. Being the only art teacher in my district was difficult until I discovered TAEA because that supportive network was missing, and I am thankful on a daily, and sometimes hourly basis for the existence of TAEA and the wonderful folks who created the organization and continue to help it grow and flourish.
	Region 8 Representative Debbie Nicholas Region 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.	Region 9 Representative Christie Andrews Region Info What I Love About TAEA: The things I value most about TAEA are the connections I make with other art educators in our state and the opportunities TAEA provides for my students. Through my new connections, I am encouraged, refreshed, aware, taught . . . all things that in turn allow me to develop as an educator. My students have grown and thrived as they work towards a coveted State VASE spot each year. I love watching them set goals, challenge themselves, and gain confidence.
	Region 10 Representative Ryan Rimmer Region 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.	Region 11 Representative Steffie Brouillette Region Info What I Love About TAEA: Where do I begin? I've been attending state conferences since 1995 (in 3 different states), and I can honestly say TEXAS does it the best!! TAEA brings like-minded individuals together to share, commiserate, educate, inspire, motivate, and talk about our passion: ART!! No one else understands art teachers like other art teachers. Who else gets toilet paper rolls, empty yogurt containers, discontinued rubber stamps, and magazines dumped at their door every week??
	Region 12 Representative Shawn Knuckles Region Info 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.	Region 13 Representative Angie Bell Region Info
	Region 14 Representative Sharon Baird Region Info What I Love About TAEA: I love to learn about art from my fellow art educators! It is so empowering to be able to spend time with each other at conference and the programs TAEA sponsors reaches out and lifts up our students and each other year round.	Region 16 Representative Megan Harris Region Info What I Love About TAEA: I love TAEA, because the organization does so much to celebrate the artistic accomplishments of students. Several years of participating in VASE has taught me that students are capable of making deep and meaningful art with a high level of skill. The high levels of concept, design and technique displayed at the Regional and State VASE Competitions inspires me to improve as a teacher and help my students reach their highest potential. When students and teachers have opportunities to come together to exchange ideas and celebrate each other's work, student's lives are enriched and often transformed. As art educators, we have the opportunity to change student's lives, and I believe TAEA is our great partner in this mission!
	Region 17 Representative Donna Webb Region Info	Region 18 Representative Sylvia Davis Region Info
	Region 19 Representative Amanda Narvaez Region Info What I Love About TAEA: What I love about TAEA is the sense of camaraderie it instills into each of its members by celebrating differences and connecting through the arts. Teachers come together to support, guide and inspire one another creating a system of professional art lovers. TAEA also gives plenty of opportunities for students to become more involved in the arts in the form of exhibitions and galleries. It looks to promote a sense of pride and respect for what is sometimes seen as unnecessary in education and switch mentalities in order to give us the future artists of the world.	Region 20 Representative Maureen Doebbler Region Info
LOCAL ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS
	Brazos Valley AEA Lauren Harris What I Love About TAEA: To me TAEA is an art family. We help each other succeed inside the classroom, and have opportunities to achieve success as educators outside the classroom. I have grown so much as a professional and an artist because of the dedication TAEA's members have to new members. Networking, collaboration, and celebration of the arts is what TAEA does best!	McKinney AEA Shannon Kessler
	Richardson AEA Christina Van Hamersveld	Round Rock AEA Kim Block
	Round Rock AEA Cristina Mann	San Antonio AEA Stephanie Mararac
	Texas Panhandle AEA Denise Olson	Texas Panhandle AEA Shawn Kennedy
EDITORIAL STAFF
	2019 Trends Co-Editor Sean Justice What I Love About TAEA: As a new transplant to Texas, I love the warm welcome I've received from artists and art educators. The statewide community is powerfully in tune with each other, supportive, and deeply committed to art and innovation. I'm excited to join this rich and varied conversation, and thrilled to be in Texas!	2019 Trends Co-Editor Rina Little
	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?	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!