Saturday

PDF of the program will be available shortly.

*Schedule is subject to change

Act 48 Credit Information

Most sessions qualify for Act 48 credit. If a session does not qualify for Act 48 credit, it will be indicated in the session description. Conference participants will receive an email after the conference with links to google forms they must complete to receive Act 48 credit. All forms must be completed by October 31, 2025. PAEA will report the hours to PDE in November, 2025. Please contact Jill Anders at directorofprogramming@paea.org if you have Act 48 questions.

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Registration - Grand Station Foyer

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM - Exhibition Hall - Grand Station III & IV

8:30 - 9:20 AM - Breakout Sessions

Cultivating Place and Practice: Rhoneymeade and the Rhoneymeade Fest as Embodied Arts and Cultural Storytelling - Brighton I

Ann Holt / Erica Quinn

This session shares experiences at the annual Rhoneymeade Fest—an interdisciplinary arts gathering rooted in the historic Rhoneymeade in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Drawing on its unique synthesis of local arts collaborations connected to land, art, and community, we examine the festival’s role in connecting local histories to global contemporary creative practices.

Keywords: Arts, Culture, Global, Community, Rhoneymeade Fest

Making Crafts Engage Students, Teach Skills, and Enhance Classroom Culture. How and Why. - Brighton II

Marita Fitzpatrick

Presenting an array of Crafts lessons and resources adaptable for all ages and skill levels. Learn about contemporary Crafts artists whose work is dynamic and relevant to students. Gain understanding of brain science associated with Crafts’ practical skill acquisition and process oriented routines.

Keywords: Crafts, Culture, Brain, Skills, Classroom Management

Become an ArtEffect Ambassador/Introduce Your Students to the LJM Center for Unsung Hero Project - Brighton III

Michele Rodich

Learn how to become an ArtEFFECT Ambassador to engage your students in a choice based art project. Sponsored by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, this presentation will focus on the application process, free professional development workshops, funds for materials and a stipend for completing the capstone fellowship program.

Keywords: Choice-Based Art, Storytelling, Capstone, Engagement, Heroes

8:30 - 9:50 AM - Panel Discussion

Voices of the Art Room: Q&A Panel Discussion with Art in Special Education Leaders - Brighton IV

Margo Wunder / Lauren Stichter

Join special education Art educators for a dynamic Q&A about making Art accessible to all students. Panelists will share adaptive strategies, classroom experiences and creative insights. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or pre-service, this discussiuon offers practical tips and inspiration for fostering inclusive, equitable and engaging Art experiences.

Keywords: Special Education, Trauma-informed, Inclusive Practices, Disability, Accommodations, Differentiation, Modifications, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy, Classroom Management

8:30 - 10:20 AM - Ticketed Workshops

Story Quilt Collage: Creating Narratives Through Multi-Media Collage - $5 - Woodlawn

Andrea Klein

Introduce elementary students to Faith Ringgold’s Story Quilts to inspire the creation of narrative, mutli-media collages. The first part of this session will include a presentation of this highly successful and engaging art project. The second part will consist of time for participants to create their own narrative collage.

Keywords: Faith Ringgold, Narrative Art, Multi-media Collage, Elementary Education, Cultural Appreciation

Layered Narratives: Telling Stories Through Tunnel Books in the Art Room - $5 - Hall of Fame

Leslie Grace

In this hands-on session, participants will create tunnel books while exploring how visual storytelling deepens narrative, literacy, and personal voice in the art classroom.

Keywords: Narrative, Tunnel Books, Storytelling, Student Voice, Visual Literacy

Drawing Inspiration: Transforming Art Through Collage and Sketchbook Exploration - free of charge - Grand Station III-IV (Vendor Hall)

Haley Parker, The Art of Education

Historical artworks serve as a launchpad for creative expression in this hands-on workshop. Attendees will deconstruct and reimagine an artwork using collage and drawing techniques, then reflect on their transformation.

Keywords: Artistic Voice, Creative Process, Historical Influence, Classroom Integration

9:30 - 10:20 AM - Breakout Sessions

Homeschooling as Relational Pedagogy: Love, Study, and the Imaginary as Practice - Brighton II

David Herman Jr.

This session explores homeschooling as a transformative, relational pedagogy between father and son. Grounded in care, imagination, and dialogical learning, it offers art educators strategies to support neurodiverse learners through experiential, arts-based curricula. Attendees will gain insights into humanizing education by honoring both child and educator as co-learners.

Keywords: Neurodiversity, Homeschooling, Experiential Inquiry, Imagination, Relational Pedagogy

Looking for an Adventure? Storytelling Twists and Turns - Brighton III

Jessica McElhaney

This session of creative adventure will be communicated through animation and digital illustration. Visual storytelling will be shown through different styles of illustration and animation using various software and applications. Come join us on these twists and turns of storytelling adventures, creating original heroes or artistic fantasy!

Keywords: Digital, Animation, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Storytelling

10:00 - 10:25 AM - Breakout Session

Youth Art Month (YAM) Exhibit and Flag Design Contest, Information Session - Brighton IV

Andrea Keefe

Would you like to showcase your K-12 students’ artwork in our Youth Art Month Exhibit? Are you interested in having your students design the 2025 Flag Design for our state? Please join us for this brief session to learn more.

Keywords: State Student Art Exhibition and Advocacy

10:30 - 11:20 AM - Featured Speaker - Donald Warhola - Grand Station I & II

Donald G. Warhola is Vice President of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and its Liaison to The Andy Warhol Museum, where he works in the education department as a Warhola family historian. He serves as a board member on the Foundation’s Board of Directors as well as Chairman of its Audit Committee.

A nephew of Andy Warhol, Warhola is the son of his middle brother, the late John Warhola. In 1986, after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Computer Science and Business, Warhola traveled to New York City to work for his uncle to install a network computer system for Andy Warhol Enterprises, Inc.

Warhola earned a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, and he worked in community mental health for 10 years as a child and adolescent therapist. Currently, Warhola works with children who have special mental health needs.

Warhola lives in Cranberry Township, PA, with his wife Jarka and son Andrew.

11:30 - 11:55 AM - Region Meetings

Regions 1 & 5 - Brighton I

Regions 2 & 3 - Hall of Fame

Regions 4 & 6 - Brighton IV

Regions 7 & 10 - Brighton II

Regions 8 & 9 - Brighton III

Regions 11 & 12 - Woodlawn

12:00 - 12:25 PM - Division Meetings

Elementary - Brighton I

Middle Level - Brighton II

Secondary - Brighton III

Higher Education / Administration - Brighton IV

Museum - Woodlawn

Preservice / Emeritus - Hall of Fame

12:30 - 1:00 PM - lunch break

Lunch is on your own. Please enjoy packed items at your leisure in conference spaces or scope out the local fare. Or visit our vendor hall to see the exciting new products and offers from our partners!

1:00 - 1:25 PM - Breakout Sessions

LOL Every Day - The Joys of Student Titles and Contagious Imagination - Brighton I

Berdine Leinbach

Need a smile and increased hope for humanity? Come gain tips on inspiring creative titles/stories that help students reveal their hearts. Experience using questions to invite more imagination into your curriculum. Fun titles/stories will be shared. Participants will do free hands-on creating as part of the session.

Keywords: Titles, Joy, Present, Imagination, Voice

Books with Purpose: A Collaborative Model for Student Publishing Projects - Brighton II

Patrick McLane

High school illustration/design, and print production students team up to create children's books and coloring books for nonprofit organizations. This session explores how collaborative, real-world projects build technical skills, foster creativity, and connect students to community impact through art, storytelling, and service learning.

Keywords: Collaboration, Student-Created, Community Engagement, Children’s Books, Service Learning

The Interplay of Movement, Cultural Expression, and Artistic Practice: Reinventing Ojingido Masquerade Performance - Brighton III

Adebola Adalumo

The study examines how motion, and cultural performance impact creative processes, bridging ancestral heritage with contemporary art. Drawing on Linda Martin Alcoff’s critical race theory and Peter M. Hall’s sociological insights, it examines how personal, racial, and cultural identities shape artistic expression

Keywords: Kinetic Sculpture, Yoruba Masquerade, Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Identity, Decolonial Art Education

Picture Perfect: Best Practices for Photographing and Uploading Student Artwork to Artsonia - Brighton IV

Chelsea Cramer

Whether you're new to Artsonia or looking to refine your current process, this session will help you create a "picture perfect" digital gallery that highlights student creativity and engages families. Learn how to capture high-quality images, streamline your workflow, and ensure student work is showcased in the best possible light.

Keywords: Digital Portfolios, Photography, Artsonia, Student Artwork, Community

1:00 - 2:50 PM - Ticketed Workshops

Junkfood Appliqué: Engaging High Schoolers in Visual Culture Analysis through Reflection, and Deliberate, Mindful Craft - $10 - Woodlawn

CJ Matz

Participants will explore Junkfood Appliqué, a project designed to engage students in discussions about visual culture and identity. Using felt, Mod Podge, paint, and embroidery thread, attendees will learn sewing techniques to craft mindful “junk food” replicas that reflect the cultural significance of and personal connections to everyday packaged goods.

Keywords: Visual Culture, Visual Literacy, Textiles, Craft, Secondary

Get CRANKIE with Linear Storytelling - $5 - Hall of Fame

Katy DeMent

Crankies are scrolling panorama theaters, an artform often accompanied by sound and light. Crankies are traditionally manually powered, interactive, creative, and linear – perfect storytelling devices. Participants will enjoy the physical aspects of the materials and the processes unique to this artform as we illustrate and perform our favorite tales.

Keywords: Crankie, Scroll, Panorama, Linear, Storytelling

Artists’ Celebration Cupcakes - free of charge - Grand Station III-IV (Vendor Hall)

Blick Art Materials

Cake is synonymous with celebration, and cake creation is an art form itself. In this vendor workshop, we’ll design non-edible cupcakes for artists throughout the ages. More than an interpretation or mirroring of their style, these assemblages serve as a tribute—a way to say “thank you”.

Keywords: Painting, Sculpture, Art History, Museums, Mixed Media

Fragments of a Story: Crafting Glass Narratives - $5 - Grand Station Foyer

Dilann Harris, Pittsburgh Glass Center

Create a mini mosaic using colorful glass while exploring the power of visual storytelling. This hands-on session invites participants to express personal or classroom narratives through mosaic art. No experience is necessary. Just bring curiosity and creativity. Leave with a unique artwork and ideas for integrating narrative into your teaching practice.

Keywords: Hands-on, Narrative art, Glass mosaic, Storytelling, Art education

1:30 - 1:55 PM - Breakout Session

Narrative-Driven Student-Led Installation Art in Schools - Brighton I

Shelby James / Kerri Villani

Explore a secondary Honors Art project where students visit museums, develop a collaborative installation, and transform school spaces through storytelling and public presentation.

Keywords: Museum, Installation

Communication Tools and Practices to Promote Inclusion, Confidence and Independence in the Art Room - Brighton II

Tara Drissel

Communication can be complicated, particular for students of differing ages, needs and abilities. Focusing on self-talk, creating tools, designing presentations and differentiated education, this session will attempt to help educators consider small changes that may aid students and ourselves in communicating needs, wants and feelings in a safe, helpful way.

Keywords: Communication, Self confidence, Disability, Self Talk

Art Explorers: Engaging Gallery Interpretation for Kids and Families - Brighton III

Leigh Dale / Rosalie Hooper

How do we engage our littlest museum visitors? We share an overview of self-facilitated gallery activities, including bilingual kids’ labels, activity guides and gallery games. This presentation offers a clear-eyed view of the successes and challenges of such offers and possibilities for application in other educational settings.

Keywords: Interpretation, Families, Children, Labels, Self-guided, Play, Gallery

Stories Matter: Walking a Mile In [One] Another’s Shoes, A Lesson in Art and Empathy - Brighton IV

Michael Bricker

As we continue to attempt to both reach and empower students in an increasingly digital and less personal world, the importance of building relationships within our classrooms has reached a critical tipping point. This collaborative and cross-curricular lesson presents multiple opportunities for real life connections and meaningful, critical dialogue and creation.

Keywords: Narratives, Storytelling, SEL, Walkamile, Empathymatters

2:00 - 3:20 PM - Panel Session

PAEA Fellows 2.0 - Resilience: Then & Now - Brighton II

Meg Barney / Clyde McGeary / Sarah Tambucci / Amy Anderson / Jackie Thomas / Marcy Bogdanich

The PAEA Fellows panel discussions are catalyzing events. Our stories support, nourish, and revitalize our shared commitment to Art Education. Resilience is developed through intentional practices and by building a strong support network. Join us as we convene to offer support and strategies for overcoming challenges as an art educator.

Keywords: Resilience, Community, Professionalism, Advocacy, Student Engagement

2:00 - 2:50 AM - Breakout Sessions

Artist Virgil Cantini’s Mosaic Tunnel and the Stories It Tells about the City of Pittsburgh - Brighton I

Laura Ricketts

This dramatic story of a work of abstract public art from 1964 informs about a locally famous artist and his practice, the City of Pittsburgh during a transitional time of urban redevelopment, and the successful recent fight to save and reinterpret the artwork.

Keywords: Mosaic, Abstract, Urban Redevelopment, Advocacy

Art Across the Lifespan: Cultivating Creative Well-Being with the 4Cs Framework - Brighton III

MaryJo Rosania-Harvie

Learn how the 4Cs—Connection, Curiosity, Catharsis, and Confidence—can support creative and emotional well-being in the art classroom. This session introduces a flexible framework for designing reflective, student-centered experiences and includes connections to Fred Rogers’ Six Fundamentals of Learning and Growing to foster lifelong creativity and personal growth.

Keywords: Art and Wellness, Learning and Growing, Social-Emotional Learning, Creative Development, Lifelong Learning

Decoding Data to Prioritize the Whole Child - Brighton IV

Desiree Matia / Andrea McDonough

This session will demystify data from the art classroom to apply intentionally to the Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) process. With Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as the entry point, we will share strategies and experiences analyzing academic and behavioral data to better support all students in our classroom.

Keywords: MTSS, Data, SEL, Advocacy, Action Research

3:00 - 3:50 PM - Breakout Sessions

Designing Identity: Telling Our Stories Through Symbols, Shape, and Style with Everyday Basic Materials - Brighton I

Lisbeth Bucci

Discover how students can explore identity, voice & culture through accessible 2D design inspired by Roberto Lugo. This FREE hands-on session uses simple materials to guide attendees through a reflective process adaptable for any grade. Leave with a ready-to-use activity connecting personal narrative to contemporary art and design.

Keywords: Identity, Narrative Art, Student Voice & Choice, Design Thinking, Roberto Lugo

Co-Creating Art Curriculum Towards Racial Justice in a Professional Learning Community - Brighton III

Marie Huard / Jennifer Peters / Francine McCollum / Jillette Smith

Join four art educators as they reflect on their experiences engaging with stories by contemporary Black artists as a Professional Learning Community and with the elementary students in their classes. Come ready to talk about art together and craft questions to potentially support conversations about race with your classes.

Keywords: Racial Justice, Professional Learning Community, Contemporary Art

Students' Identities Reflected in Arts-Integrated Elements of Art and Narrative - Brighton IV

Mindy Nguyen-Balli

This session will use art images that reflect and celebrate students' identities and experiences. We will explore how the elements of art connect with the elements of narrative to tell personal stories. Participants will bring their own identities and experiences to interact with the visual images.

Keywords: Arts-integration; Identity; Elements of Art; Narrative; Asset-based

3:00 - 4:50 PM - Ticketed Workshop

Dual Gesture: Collaborative Narrative through Ambidextrous Drawing - free of charge - Woodlawn

Sunnylee Mowery

This workshop introduces Dual Gesture, a collaborative drawing project rooted in a unique practice called ambidextrous drawing—a method where students use both hands simultaneously to respond silently to a partner’s marks. Participants will explore how shared, nonverbal mark-making can generate a powerful form of visual narrative that blurs the boundaries between individual expression and collective voice.

Keywords: Collaboration, Ambidextrous, Dialogue, Neuroplasticity, Interactive

Incorporate STEAM into Sculpture by Creating a Steampunk Entomology Mash-Up Insect - $10 - Hall of Fame

Michele Rodich

Engage your students in this cross-curricular sculpture lesson which uses inspiration from Louise Bourgeois (large-scale sculptures) and mashes up the Steampunk genre (Industrial Revolution) with Entomology (the study of insects) using discarded metal or plastic objects, air dry clay, wire, or any other recyclable material.

Keywords: Sculpture, Hands-On, Steampunk, Entomology, Upcycled Art

3:30 - 4:50 PM - Panel Discussion

Preservice Research Panel: Sharing New Stories in Art Education - Brighton II

Eric Anthony Berdis

Opportunities for students have always been foundational in art education—fostering relationships with materials, classrooms, and the world. This panel offers PAEA preservice art educators a space to share research and pedagogy through 7–10-minute talks, exploring themes of storytelling, world-building, and emerging understandings that shape and inform their teaching practices.

Keywords: Art Based-Research, Undergraduate Stories, Teaching and Pedagogy

4:00 - 4:50 PM - Breakout Sessions

Knit Now! Reasons for Including Fiber Arts in a Survey Arts Course. - Brighton I

Alison Marzuoli

Engaging in fiber arts- knitting, weaving, sewing, crochet, connects us with others and relaxes our bodies and minds. These pasttimes are more than crafts, they are tools to well-being. Learn how engaging in fiber arts creates well-being, the unit I created for my students, and their experiences.

Keywords: Fiber Arts, Well-being, Weaving, Knitting

Elaborating The Narrative Of A Personal, Meaningful Photograph With Collage/Assemblage/Sculpture - Brighton III

Linda Popp

Creating a meaningful narrative with materials and techniques facilitates students using collections in order to express personal authentic stories and ideas. The process will engage learners and the products will be as unique as each individual artist. Empower your students to learn about themselves and their world through their art-making.

Keywords: Narrative, Collage, Assemblage, Sculpture, Found Objects

6:30 - 9:00 PM - PAEA Art Show: Closing Reception - Ceramic Supply Pittsburgh

Join us in celebrating your fellow artist/art teachers who exhibited their work in this year's art show displayed in conjunction with the conference. Transportation is on your own and there is free parking!

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