Jonathan Juravich
at the West Salon

Saturday, October, 24th @ 9:00-10:00a

Jonathan Juravich
at the West Salon

Saturday, October, 24th @ 9:00-10:00a

Tim Bogatz, Art Ed Radio (A Podcast for Art Teachers) - The Art of Education University

The Art of Education presents: Framed
Proposal Description - TBD

Location: Schaumburg E
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: TBD

Eryn Blaser, Middle School Art Educator, IAEA President Elect - Orland Junior High School, District 135

Beyond the Embroidery Hoop Explorative Journey
This hands-on workshop will take you through the processes of creating different types of art works that focus on the skills and techniques of Textile/Fiber Arts.  We will explore techniques  of  sewing,  embroidery, weaving, knotting , braiding, using items from nature, and  fabric application and manipulation . You will see how your students and you can explore and work with these materials to create pieces that showcase a story of self, exploration and celebrate each other through these different Textile/Fiber Arts techniques and processes. Participants will learn about different contemporary mixed media fiber artists, learn ways to these works of art to be  displayed individually or  as a class that showcases a narrative of each individual artists  in a unique and interactive way, and ways these materials and processes can be used to create lessons that introduce concepts of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.

Location: Schaumburg F
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop

Joan Mills, Retired Art Educator - North East Region
with Anne Becker and Laura Milas

Prelimited to Unlimited
Prelimited to Unlimited is a hands-on workshop exploring how creative constraints can generate expansive outcomes. Participants create a small, four-page, 5 x 5 inch handmade book using only one magazine as their source for all text and imagery. Through cutting, layering, and recombining found materials—along with the addition of pen, colored pencil, and paint—participants transform pre-existing content into new visual narratives. Pages are bound using a simple needle and linen thread technique. Emphasizing experimentation over perfection, the workshop demonstrates how limitation can foster focus, resourcefulness, and imaginative thinking, turning restricted materials into unlimited creative possibilities.

Location: Schaumburg G
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop

Jennifer Baker, Elementary Educator - Bloomington District 87

Elementary Projects that Kids Love!
Come to this workshop and leave with examples and lessons ready to teach next week. I will present at least 3 projects, start to finish, that my kids love. Kindergarten "Not a Box" sculpture: book-based lesson that leverages play and choice to give students a chance to turn a small box into anything but just a box.  Rainbow clay wall hanging: Air-dry or ceramic clay can be used to create a rainbow, then a handle is added with beads for a bit of fun.  Treehouse Designers: Students design a 2D treehouse in this twist on architecture using popsicle sticks, scraps of paper/fabric/ribbon. Extra time at the end of our session? Bonus lessons will be taught!

Location: Schaumburg H
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: Elementary K-2
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop

Jenny Raia, Elementary Art Teacher, D97 Art Department Chair - Oak Park, IL

Sew Good! Stitching Techniques for the Elementary Art Room
Don't be afraid to sew with kids- they love it! We'll begin by looking at artist connections to inspire exciting stitching projects. I'll share ideas for sourcing materials and managing supplies for teaching sewing techniques from grades K-5 and beyond. We will create 2-3 tried and tested hands-on projects, both functional and decorative, that you can take back to your art room to share with your students.

Location: Innovation
Capacity: 20 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: Intermediate 3-5
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop

Frank Bush, Retired Art Educator - Henry-Senachwine High School
with Courtney Pointer

Uke can do it!
Participants will observe and follow along with presenters learning how to assemble and decorate a one of a kind Ukulele from a basic kit.  This lesson idea can integrate across diciplines in visual, music & industrial arts.

Location: Knowledge
Capacity: 20 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Cross-Curricular

Choose Your Own Community Adventure at the West Salon

April Macatangay, HS Art Educator - Glenbard North HS, Dist 87, Carol Stream, IL
with Mohit Makwana, Max Sczech, and Camila Astudillo

They Actually Can! Student-Led NAHS
You too can have a student-led chapter of NAHS or Art Club! In this session students will show you how they organize, plan, and execute a year-long, student-run chapter of NAHS and Art Club. From planning weekly meetings, hosting community service projects, induction ceremonies, club community building, to presenting at IAEA- hear it straight from the source. Not only is it impactful for your exec board, student-led clubs inspire members to pursue leadership roles and help your students create the kind of club they have always wanted.  As a sponsor, learn how to teach students how to teach, lead, plan, and how to pass the torch so that they can dream the dream and live it too!

Jonathan Korotko, College Admissions Counselor - School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Portfolio Prep 101
Applying to art school usually means providing images of artwork in the form of a portfolio. This session is geared towards helping your students get started with the process, as well as editing their portfolios and going beyond what's expected when working on an assignment. SAIC Admissions Counselors give you the inside scoop on how to approach the portfolio prep process. Examples of merit scholarship portfolios will be provided.

Tim Abel, Assistant Professor, Art Teacher Education - Illinois State University
with Jennifer Bergmark

Student & Alumni Salon
The goal of this salon will be to connect pre-service students currently in art teacher education programs,  alumni and first-year teachers from across the state.  We hope to create a space to share about experiences from the field and concerns about teaching, while also celebrating and reaffirming connections as new, current and future practitioners. 

All are welcome, but conversations will be geared towards pre-service students (still in coursework as well as currently doing final teaching for licensure), recent graduates and first-year teachers.

Alicia Kopec, Visual Arts Content Specialist and ILAEA EDI Liaison - Chicago Public Schools, Department of Arts Education

Let the Artists Be Your Guide: Culturally Responsive Lesson/Activities Share
Join this fast-paced, speed-dating style session to gather lesson ideas and activities inspired by contemporary, diverse artists. You will learn about a variety of examples with practical entry points for developing culturally responsive lessons. Multiple presenters will share for 6 minutes as attendees rotate among the presentations. Do you have an example or idea of your own? Bring it to share as part of our resource share presentation!   

Hosted by the IAEA EDI Committee

Jonathan Grice, Director of Fine Arts - Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Professional Learning Communities 101
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) can sometimes feel unclear, unproductive, or disconnected from the realities of the art room. This session explores PLCs through the lens of an art educator who has struggled to find meaning, productivity, and authentic collaboration in the process. Participants will reflect on common challenges, explore practical structures and strategies, and leave with ideas to help PLC time feel more purposeful, relevant, and beneficial for art teachers.
Presenter Preview Link:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a3R80qyS854ieHjj4as3QZOq1UHLaCu8?usp=sharing

Kathryn Sowinski, Doctoral Student - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
with Carrie Carlson, Eva Coker, and Johnson Wor

Trauma-Informed Art Education
This session explores trauma-informed teaching practices in K–12, higher education, and community-based art education settings. Presenters will discuss how creating supportive and emotionally safe learning environments can help learners feel respected, connected, and engaged in the artmaking process. The session will examine practical strategies such as choice-making, relationship building, reflective practice, and responsive instruction while considering how trauma and stress may influence participation, behavior, confidence, and creative expression. Examples from school, university, and community art settings will demonstrate how art educators can foster meaningful experiences that support wellbeing, connection, and learning across the lifespan.

Location: Schaumburg A
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: SEL (Social Emotional Learning)

Josh Shearer, Art for All, IAEA - Anna CCSD 37
with Andrew Schneider

POWER to the Art Room: Effective Advocacy for Your Classroom and Our State
Art educators are some of the most passionate advocates for creativity, equity, and student opportunity in the world! However, many teachers are unsure where to begin when it comes to influencing policy and creating meaningful change. In this interactive session, you will learn practical advocacy strategies that can strengthen your classrooms, support the arts across Illinois, and amplify the voice of visual art education at the local and state levels.

Presented by Josh Shearer, Andrew Schneider of Arts Alliance Illinois, this session will explore how you can effectively communicate with state legislators, and community stakeholders. You will engage in hands-on advocacy activities, examine real-world success stories, and leave with ready-to-use tools for building support for the arts in your schools and communities.

Whether you are a first-year teacher or a seasoned leader, this session will empower you to turn your passion for art education into action and help shape a stronger future

Location: Schaumburg B
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Advocacy

Morgan Mittelbrun, Instructional Designer, K-12 certified Art Teacher - Everspring, Inc.,Chicago, IL

Introducing Rotoscoping in the Art Room: Bridging Fine Art and Motion Graphics
Rotoscoping is a unique animation technique that combines traditional drawing skills with digital media, allowing artists to create expressive animations by tracing over video footage frame by frame. In this session, high school art educators will explore how rotoscoping can serve as a bridge between fine art and motion graphics while helping students develop skills in observation, storytelling, movement, and visual communication. Through demonstrations and classroom examples, participants will learn how students can transform original video recordings into dynamic animated artworks using accessible digital tools and creative workflows. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use project ideas, lesson resources, and assessment strategies for integrating rotoscoping into Media Arts curricula while engaging students in a meaningful blend of traditional artistic practice and contemporary digital storytelling.

Location: Schaumburg C
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Media Arts

Eric Kallenborn, HS Art Educator - Oak Lawn Community High School

Making it Up as We Go: How Improv Techniques Can Transform Your Art Classroom
Are you looking for ways to break the ice, foster a culture of creative risk-taking, and jumpstart the brainstorming process in your studio? Welcome to the ultimate mashup of theater and visual arts. In this interactive workshop, a Second City-trained art educator will show you how to leverage the core tenets of improvisation to transform your classroom dynamics.

Through a series of fast-paced, low-stakes games, you’ll discover how to build genuine peer connection and collaboration from day one. More than just a community builder, you will learn how to use improv to conquer the fear of the blank canvas, dismantle creative blocks, and inspire innovative new ideas for student creations. Come ready to laugh, move, and leave with a practical toolkit of exercises you can implement on Monday to build a braver, more connected art room.

Location: Schaumburg D
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Classroom Management & Strategies

Alicia Kopec, Visual Arts Content Specialist - Department of Arts Education, Chicago Public Schools

Building Belonging Through Equity: Simple Steps to Make Your Lessons Culturally Responsive and Relevant Using Contemporary Artists
Learn about easy, successful strategies to make your lessons more inclusive and culturally responsive for a greater impact on all learners. This session will highlight how teachers have made changes to their curriculum centered around contemporary artists to build belonging in their classrooms. Various age-level approaches and results will be shared, along with connections to the new Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Standards.

Hosted by the IAEA EDI Committee

Location: Schaumburg A
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)

Michael Jon Skura, Fine Arts Department Chair of Oswego High School, Advocacy Advisor, Past IAEA President - Oswego High School, Oswego, SD 308

The Art of Calm: Mastering the Teacher’s Nervous System and How it Effects Your Classroom Management
Learn the Art of Calm: Mastering the Teacher’s Nervous System. We will learn the primary tool in the art room, understanding co-regulation, why art teachers burnout, real-time regulation techniques, setting up structural calm, and lastly crafting your own plan.

Location: Schaumburg B
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Classroom Management & Strategies

Audrey Tutty, Preservice - Illinois State University - Normal, IL
with Felix Rodriguez Suero

Thriving in the Art Teacher Education Program: A Sidekick to Preservice Educators
Learning to be an art educator involves engaging with content knowledge, studying teaching pedagogies, and managing other coursework. All of which is important when teaching begins, but staying on task can become a barrier to success. This session explores a tool for enhancing preservice art teachers' education. I, a senior art education student, with the help of my mentor created The Art Educator’s Toolkit as an honors project. It covers everything an art educator would need to know, all in one place. Preservice students can use this resource with their classes to practice lesson planning, study for the content exam, and learn tips. New teachers can use it to refresh their knowledge of pedagogies, instructional techniques, and teaching acronyms. This session shares how this project came to life and how to best use this resource in your continuous educational journey. By attending, you’ll also be able to provide feedback on my art educators’ guide before it’s published.

Location: Schaumburg C
Audience Level: Preservice & Higher Education
Category: Classroom Management & Strategies

Karen Popovich, HS Art Teacher - Metea Valley High School, Indian Prairie School District 204

Implementing an Inclusionary Peer Partner Art Course
This session will highlight successful outcomes from implementing a Peer Partner Inclusionary Art Course. The studio-based course explores a variety of art mediums and processes while providing meaningful art opportunities for students who may not otherwise have access through traditional inclusion practices.

Participants will learn about art studio logistics, lesson ideas, classroom management strategies, peer partner training, and celebrating student work through art shows. Examples of the peer partner application and selection process will also be shared.

Presenters will discuss the many factors that contributed to the course’s success, as well as valuable lessons learned during the first year of implementation. At the heart of the course was building a strong sense of community in a supportive, creative environment, and we look forward to sharing how we made that possible.

Location: Schaumburg D
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Classroom Management & Strategies

We invite attendees to celebrate this year’s student award winners and the honored teachers who make these creative experiences possible.

Honored Teachers:

2025-2026 Student Art Show Teacher List:
Aaron Cummins, Aaron Kolkay, Ailysh Cooper, Alicia York, Amber Akes, Bonny Ramirez, Carolyn Zolecki, Christopher Morris, Colleen Grigg, Daniel Whipple, Dorothy Ramey, Elizabeth Farnesi, Eryn Blaser, Grahame Wilkin, Heather Stanich, Heidi O’Hanley, Hillary Andrlik, Irene Lapapa, Jack Clifford, Jilian Reints, Katherine Lindgren, Kelly Eggleston, Kelly Sabatini, Kerry Parrish, Laura Allan, Laura Steele-Fritsch, Laurel Scigouski, Lauren Nielsen, Linda Williams, Lisa Cook, Lisa Molitor, Margaret Kuchan, Marisa Kirsch, Michael Freitag, Michael Jon Skura, Michelle Patch, Nick Vogt, Nina Angelillo, Nyssa Grzyb, Randy Craig, Robyn Butler, Sara Deneal, Sherri Kushner, Theresa Mcgee, Theresa Fontana

2025 Student Video & Animation Showcase Teacher List:
Jack Clifford, Jill Lagerstam, Liese Hearth, Linda Williams, Margaret Seymour, Theresa McGee

Jonathan Juravich, Elementary Art Teacher / 2023 NAEA Teacher of the Year - Columbus, Ohio

Tiny Art Shows: Big Impact
Proposal Description - TBD

Location: Schaumburg E
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop
Presenter Preview Link:  https://

Julie Davis, BLICK Art Materials - Galesburg, IL - Senior Educational Developer

Depth Perception
How do artists create the illusion of distance? It’s a little bit of a magic trick to be able to alter a viewer’s perception of visual space. 

 “Go deep” into strategies for creating that visual “push” that makes objects appear to recede. The techniques learned will be a valuable resource for understanding how artists through the centuries have planned and executed depth.

Tools of perspective, repetition, line, color, and value can be applied to any media. In this Blick Art Materials Workshop, we’ll combine and illustrate these tools in the pages of a simple tunnel book.

Location: Schaumburg F
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: Middle / Jr High 6-8
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop
Presenter Preview Link:  https://www.dickblick.com/lesson-plans/depth-perception/

Keelin McMurtagh, Admissions Counselor - Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Exploring Typography: As a Main Character!
This hands-on workshop will explore ways to challenge your students to integrate type as a central driver of concept, not just a supporting element. We will explore a variety of lessons and materials that will allow your students to develop sophisticated composition filled with unifying text, image and information.

Location: Schaumburg G
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Design

Denise Johnson, Elementary Art Teacher - Joliet 86 School District, Joliet, IL
with Martha Summers-Romero and Rene Fitz-Henley

Let's Eat!
Enjoy an exciting hands-on workshop experience making a 3D Food Truck. We will be covering Graphic Design content from Menu Design to Food Truck Design to 3D Food Samples created from model magic.  Scaffolded lessons will be shared for grades 3-5 that can be used in the classroom with technology integration. This lesson could even be expanded to middle school.

Materials, lesson template will be provided for Multi-Media lesson.

Location: Innovation
Capacity: 20 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: Intermediate 3-5
Category: Design

Stephanie Piper, Elementary Art Educator - Christa McAuliffe Elementary, District 140, Tinley Park, IL
with Dawn McMahan

Seeing Double: Creating  Optical Illusions with Thaumatropes and Agamographs
Discover the magic of motion and visual perception in this interactive, hands-on workshop exploring thaumatropes and agamographs. Participants will create optical illusions while learning how these artworks use movement, perspective, and the brain’s ability to blend images to create surprising visual effects. Through simple materials and creative experimentation, attendees will design one spinning thaumatrope and one agamograph that combines art, science, and early animation techniques. This engaging workshop encourages creativity, problem-solving, and cross-curricular connections, making it perfect for anyone interested in the fascinating world of illusion art.

Location: Schaumburg H
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop

Tyler Smith, HS Art Educator - Plainfield South High School

Spray the Clay: Contemporary Ceramic Surfaces with Velvet Sprayz
Expand ceramic surface possibilities using Velvet Sprayz aerosol underglazes to achieve layered color, gradients, and crisp graphic edges without specialized spray equipment. Participants will explore resist strategies including wax, masking tape, and pre-made stencils applied to bisque tiles. Emphasis is placed on repeatable classroom methods that balance experimentation with control. Attendees will test layering approaches combining aerosol underglaze with brushed underglaze/engobe to build complex surfaces adaptable to any clay body. Technical considerations include overspray control, sequencing layers, and scalable classroom setup.

Location: Knowledge
Capacity: 20 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Studio Practice / Workshop
Presenter Preview Link:  https://www.tyleredmundsmith.com/

Julie Rovge, HS Art Educator - Central High School in Burlington

Creating Safety, Connection, and Resilience Through Art
Join us for an engaging and supportive workshop exploring how expressive arts can foster emotional well-being, resilience, and healing. This experience introduces trauma-informed creative practices that can be used with youth in a variety of settings. Through hands-on art activities, reflection, and discussion, participants will learn how to create emotionally safe spaces that honor choice, empowerment, and individual strengths.

Location: Schaumburg E
Capacity: 30 participants
Fee: $25.00
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: SEL (Social Emotional Learning)

Ellie Henderson, Middle School Art Teacher - James Giles School

From Chaos to Confidence: What Actually Works in the Middle School Art Room
This session offers practical, real-world strategies for building a successful middle school art classroom. Attendees will explore what actually works in daily practice, including effective routines, student engagement strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid. The presentation will also highlight how student choice, contemporary artist connections, and meaningful student experiences—such as classroom exhibitions—can increase motivation and deepen learning.

Location: Schaumburg A
Audience Level: Middle / Jr High 6-8
Category: Classroom Management & Strategies

Gerry James, Teacher: Fine Arts Division Chair (Administrator) & Student: Doctoral Student - Lyons Township High School District 204
with Erin Garrity-Duffey

Mapping the Space Between Mind and Machine: Generative AI, Creativity, and Assessment in the High School Art Classroom
What happens when generative AI becomes part of the creative process in a high school visual arts classroom? This session shares emerging findings from a doctoral research study exploring how students use generative AI as a reflective and creative partner during artmaking. Presenters will discuss the study design, classroom implementation, student artwork, AI conversation data, and evaluator perspectives connected to creativity, assessment, motivation, and artistic growth. Attendees will be invited to consider how AI may challenge traditional assumptions about authorship, originality, feedback, and evaluation in art education. Rather than framing AI as either a threat or a solution, this session offers a grounded look at how art educators can thoughtfully examine its role in student learning, creative decision-making, and assessment practice.

Location: Schaumburg B
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Assessment

Venise Keys, Dean of Core Art - Art In Motion Creative Arts School - Chicago, IL

An Art Teacher's Guide to Creative Wellness
What happens when art teachers are given permission to nurture themselves as deeply as they nurture everyone else? This learning experience invites educators into a conversation about creative wellness as a pathway toward joy, sustainability, and authentic self-expression in the art room and beyond. Together, we’ll explore how visiting galleries, connecting with artists, engaging local art communities, staying inspired by contemporary art, and reclaiming our identities as artists can transform burnout into belonging. Grounded in mindfulness, culturally responsive teaching, and lived experience, this session offers reflective practices and practical strategies to help educators reconnect with creativity, trust the process, and build meaningful, restorative teaching lives rooted in curiosity, care, and collective growth.

Location: Schaumburg C
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Advocacy
Presenter Preview Link:  https://www.lashonfouche.com/

Ann Ossey, HS Art Educator - Wauconda High School. Wauconda, Illinois
with Mary Plazak

Leveraging the Arts for Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching
How can visual arts educators create more meaningful, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences for all students? Drawing on our work with the Connected Arts Networks (CAN) and inspired by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s Five Pursuits—identity, skills, intellect, criticality, and joy—we will share practical strategies for designing culturally responsive, student-centered visual arts instruction. Participants will explore classroom examples, reflect on their own practices, and leave with actionable ideas for incorporating the Five Pursuits into upcoming lessons to support student engagement, artistic growth, and social-emotional learning.

Location: Schaumburg D
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)

Josh Shearer, Middle School Art Teacher - Anna CCSD 37

All My Exes Live in Texas and have access to Visual Art Design and Media Education
This session will delve into past advocacy approaches, other state's policies and how they got there,  and develop a solid plan moving forward until we as a state provide all students with the education they deserve.

Location: Schaumburg A
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Advocacy

Kathryn Sowinski, Doctoral Student - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
with Carrie Carlson, Eva Coker, and Johnson Wor

Using Research to Improve Teaching
How can art educators use research to strengthen their practice? Educators from K–12 schools, higher education, and community arts settings share how practitioner research has informed and transformed their teaching. Participants will be guided through the research process step by step, gaining tools to investigate questions arising from their own educational contexts.

Location: Schaumburg B
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Assessment

Izzi Buikus, MS Art Educator, Instructional Coach - Artfully Edcuate

Everything Succ's, But You Are Loved: Felting for Stress, Play, and Regulation
Educators and students alike are navigating rising levels of stress, overstimulation, and emotional exhaustion. This hands-on session explores how art making can support nervous system regulation, reflection, and resilience through needle felting. Participants will create a small felted succulent while learning about the brain science behind repetitive art processes, emotional regulation, and sensory-based creative practices.  Felting becomes a metaphor for transformation, patience, and growth under pressure. Participants will leave with practical strategies for integrating low-cost wellness-centered art experiences into classrooms, studios, and community programs.

Location: Schaumburg C
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
Presenter Preview Link:  https://www.artfullyeducate.com

Morgan Mittelbrun, Instructional Designer, K-12 certified Art Teacher - Everspring, Inc., Chicago, IL

Introducing Motion Graphics in the Art Classroom
Motion graphics are everywhere—from movie title sequences and streaming platforms to social media, advertising, and digital storytelling. This session introduces high school art educators to the fundamentals of motion graphics and provides practical strategies for incorporating animation and motion design into Media Arts curricula. Through demonstrations and classroom examples, participants will explore key concepts such as visual hierarchy, typography, composition, timing, movement, and storytelling while discovering how students can transform original artwork, photographs, and graphic designs into engaging animated projects. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use project ideas, lesson resources, and assessment strategies that connect traditional art skills with contemporary digital media practices while fostering creativity, visual communication, and career awareness in today's motion-driven world.

Location: Schaumburg D
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Media Arts

Joanna Angelopoulos, MS Art Educator - Winston Campus Middle School-District 15, Palatine, IL

Illuminated Intent: Using Design Thinking to Transform Artistic Decision-Making
How do we move students beyond simply creating art to creating with purpose? This interactive workshop explores how design thinking can deepen artistic decision-making and strengthen student ownership of the creative process. Using the middle school lesson Illuminated Intent as a catalyst, participants will examine how empathy, reflection, ideation, prototyping, and revision can transform artmaking into meaningful visual communication. Through hands-on activities, collaborative discussion, and lesson exploration, educators will experience the design thinking process firsthand while analyzing how artistic intent drives creative choices. Participants will investigate how students develop ideas, define purpose, make symbolic decisions, and communicate meaning through visual language. The session emphasizes creativity as intentional problem-solving rather than simply producing a final product.

Location: Schaumburg A
Audience Level: Middle / Jr High 6-8
Category: STEAM
Presenter Preview Link:  https://www.instagram.com/smockroom_art/

Dr. Kelly Gross, Associate Professor of Visual Arts Education - Northern Illinois University
with Godwin Amuzu, Alex Acevedo, Oli Hoeye, Noemi Hernandez, Grace Leeth, and Edith Prais-Lewis

Circles of Care: Youth, Digital Art, and Community Engagement in an After-School Program
This presentation examines Circles of Care, a community-based digital art program developed through a partnership between Northern Illinois University and the BARB City after-school program serving middle school youth. Guided by themes of care, agency, and belonging, the program engaged participants in collaborative digital artmaking experiences that connected personal identity, community, and social relationships. Youth created a community-inspired digital quilt using Procreate, designed accessible architecture and public spaces within Minecraft, and developed a collectively authored card game using Canva that explored identity, connection, and community values. Across projects, students worked as artists, designers, and co-creators, using digital technologies to share perspectives, imagine more inclusive environments, and strengthen relationships with one another. The presentation highlights student work, instructional strategies, and reflections on how collaborative digital artmakin

Location: Schaumburg B
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: Media Arts

Michelle Zappia-Eickmeier, HS Art Teacher - Bartlett High School, School District U-46

How I Accidentally Brought a National Geographic Photographer to School
Discover how one interest survey and a single email led to an unforgettable opportunity for students and educators alike. This session chronicles the two-and-a-half-month journey of bringing National Geographic photographer and conservationist Ami Vitale to our school to present on conservation through photography and storytelling. Attendees will explore the planning process from my initial outreach to Vital Impacts through the challenges of executing this event on a tiny budget. All while learning how photography and visual storytelling can spark student curiosity, empathy, and engagement. Through demonstrations, planning resources, and firsthand experiences, participants will leave with practical tools and inspiration for cultivating the next generation of visual storytellers and environmental stewards.

Location: Schaumburg C
Audience Level: High School 9-12
Category: Cross-Curricular

Brad Olson, Associate Professor, Art Education - Eastern Illinois University

What AI Thinks Art Looks Like
What can we learn about art history when artificial intelligence image generators are asked to create "forgeries" of fine artworks? This session will take you on a virtual tour of a museum populated by these forgeries, and demonstrate how generative AI tools remix patterns from massive datasets of existing images across art and visual culture. In doing so, the resulting images might teach us about visual culture, stereotypes, artistic canons, and collective ideas about art reflected and distored in the dataset.  In each gallery, we will explore a series of AI-generated “artworks” and discuss how these tools flatten, mimic, and sometimes distort art historical knoweldge of artistic movements, identities and issues. Teachers will leave with practical classroom discussion prompts and lesson ideas that help students critically investigate AI imagery rather than passively consume it.

Location: Schaumburg D
Audience Level: All Levels
Category: STEAM

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