Art teachers make a statewide splash

Our own Caleb Burchett and Molly Sell were a hit at the KAEA Conference in Louisville.

CCPS art teachers Caleb Burchett and Molly Sell were a huge hit at the Kentucky Art Education Association (KAEA) Conference in Louisville, presenting on the increasingly popular choice-based approach to art education.

Burchett (Shearer Elementary) and Sell (Baker Intermediate) shared their great work in Teaching of Artistic Behavior (TAB), a philosophy that places students at the center of the creative process.

The pair were asked to lead the session because of the success of TAB in their own classrooms.

“Our goal was to not only inspire but also provide practical, informed guidance to other art educators regarding the significant benefits and successful implementation of the TAB approach," said Burchett. "It is driven by teachers who believe that students are the true artists and that lessons should be planned in a choice-based direction."

Their session struck a chord with the audience. "Our session included a robust, productive conversation about the core principles of TAB and the most effective strategies for incorporating its choice-based methods," Burchett said.

In addition, Kentucky TAB, established last year by Burchett and Sell (and a branch of the international Tab, Inc.), grew by 15 members after the duo's presentation.

Clearly, Burchett and Sell are representing CCPS with expertise, a distinction that we value as a district. They not only lead beyond our borders, but they return to Clark County with more to offer students.

“Being able to attend and present at these sort of conferences provides invaluable opportunities to gather insights from other art teachers, support other programs’ successes, and challenge ourselves with new vendor materials and offerings,” Sell said.

Burchett echoed the benefit of networking. “It was incredibly exciting and inspiring to connect with and have meaningful dialogue with other dedicated professionals in our field,” he said. “I left the conference feeling highly motivated and professionally renewed.”

The weekend ended with a personal milestone for Burchett, whose piece Ghost Deer earned first place in the 2D category of the conference's Teacher Art Show. In a venue filled with high-level creatives, the honor was especially sweet.

“The competition was exceptionally strong this year, so I was certainly not expecting to place," Burchett said. "It was incredibly validating and a powerful reminder of the importance of continuing my own artistic practice alongside my teaching.”

Sell echoed the importance of modeling creativity for students. “It is so important that our students know we are artists ourselves and practice what we teach,” she said.

With fresh ideas and new professional connections, both teachers returned from Louisville ready to infuse their classrooms with renewed energy, bringing even more creative opportunities to the talented young artists of Clark County.