*Abi feels it is important to note her actual favorite quote is "ask forgiveness, not permission," but also would like to note she does in fact know her audience and realizes this is probably not appropriate. Her second favorite quote is "we live in a rainbow of chaos" by Paul Cezanne. Alas, that also is not probably the best quote for this setting. Clearly picking quotes is not her strong suite.

When Abi is not hyperfixating on the right quote, so as not to not send folks running and screaming, she teaches art education as an Assistant Professor at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. She loves to spend time with her two elusive teens, three dogs, and the bearded dragon, Tutti Buddhist. 

Abi spent 18 years in the classroom, teaching K-8, K-12, K-6, and 6-8 before she moved up to teach the college age kids. Abi graduated with her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wyoming. As a side note for the curious, a M.A. and a Ph.D., both completed part-time with kids, landed her firmly in grade 29 before she finished. Technically the M.A. in Educational Leadership was completed while Abi was having kids, Geela attended her first graduate class at seven days old, and David made it to his first graduate class at four days old.  Abi wanted to make sure she set them on the path to a good education early. 

Other hats Abi wears occasionally include being one of the TAB Storytellers podcast co-hosts, the NAEA Pacific Region Vice President, the Chair of the UNC Professional Education Council, the Higher Education Rep for the Colorado Art Education Association, the faculty advisor to the UNC Art Education Club and Preservice Chapter, and a planning committee member for the TAB CO annual conference. She also does workshops, provides professional development, works on standards committees, occasionally conducts research, reviews policies and organizational bylaws for fun, belongs to all of the NAEA interest groups, and spends a lot of time on zoom calls in her car while waiting at soccer practice. 

In her massive amounts of spare time, Abi has almost completely renovated and remodeled her entire house in Greeley, Colorado. Her deepest hopes and wildest dreams include making time in the near future to take more road trips and break out the paddle boards again. 

Leah grew up in Denver, CO. Growing up Leah was raised and influenced by a community of people that supported her single mom, including her grandfather and god-parents as well as a large extended adopted family. Leah grew up in a family of artists including potters, architects, flute teachers, jewelers, and painters. 

It was junior year when Leah knew what she wanted to do after high school. The mix between a non-so great art teacher and a really amazing history teacher, Leah knew she wanted to teach art! Leah went to Fort Lewis, Durango, CO and graduated with her BFA in 2005. Leah's art teaching journey started when Leah was presented with the opportunity to complete her student teaching at Denver School of the Arts. Leah started teaching high school full time in 2007 at Mahpiya Luta (formerly Red Cloud Indian School) in Pine Ridge, SD. Leah found home at Mahpiya Luta and taught until 2012. Leah is still in contact and has working relationships with former students who have pursued art. 

In 2013, Leah took a hiatus from teaching to finish up her Master of Art Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Simultaneously, Leah also was a graduate assistant at Chadron State College while also working on a Master of Education Administration. In the fall of 2013, Leah moved to Fort Washakie, WY to teach grades 7-12 at Fort Washakie Middle/High School on the Wind River Reservation. 3 years later, Leah shifted her practice to TAB to teach grades K-3 and discovered that she had always been what we now call a choice-based art educator. This K-3 position including teaching 250 kindergarteners at an all-kinder center.

In 2018, Leah and her family moved up to Anchorage, AK for a job offer. Leah accepted a position as a Fine Arts Curriculum Coordinator. In a small world moment, at one of the districts leadership meetings a professor from Chardon State College presented on a program through ASD to grow leaders through the CSC online education program. Leah already had half her credits for the education admin degree from CSC, dating back to 2013, so in the spring of 2022 she finished the education admin certificate and was soon promoted to Assistant Director of Fine Arts. 

Leah's upbringing with extended adopted family from Pine Ridge and experience teaching on both the Pine Ridge and Wind River Reservations ingrained the responsibility in her to teach through culturally sustaining (responsive) education and uplift the voices of marginalized groups as an ally. Leah is dedicated to art education that is inclusive, culturally appropriate, choice-based through Universal Design Learning, and provides a safe space for students to develop a love for art. 

Currently Leah is the president of AAEA, EDI Laison for NAEA for the state of Alaska, sits on the equity committee for the Alaska State Arts Data Project, runs Scholastic Art for the State of Alaska through YEA as president, and tries to have fun in the downtime.