​My name is Bridget Kudrle.  I have been teaching elementary art in the Sun Prairie Area School District for the last 10 years and have been teaching for a total of 17 years.  I currently serve as the Teaching, Learning, and Equity Committee representative for my amazing and dedicated K-5 art team.  In this role, I help guide the art curriculum and professional learning opportunities.  I am also a Cooperating Teacher for UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, and Concordia University.  Working with pre-service teachers is one of the highlights of my career because my students and I learn so much through collaboration with these college students.

My goal as an art educator is to teach children to interpret, engage, and express themselves in the visual culture that surrounds them daily.  All children will not grow up to be professional artists but the creativity and problem-solving skills learned through artmaking are valued in all career paths.  About 2 years ago, I took a leap of faith after researching the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behaviors) pedagogy for a year.  Students learn to think creatively, develop problem-solving skills, and aspire to be lifelong learners and supporters of the arts in the space I re-named the Art LAB (Learning Artistic Behaviors).  Students are naturally curious and thrive with hands-on learning in this studio space.  They have voice, choice, and agency over their learning. 

Prior to living in Wisconsin, I taught high school art in Los Angeles for 7 years.  I earned my BFA at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and my Masters of Education in Cross-Cultural Teaching from National University in California.  I am a Texas native, wife, and mother of two incredible children.

You're Invited to the 8th Annual Watertown Art Walk on May 29th, 2018

The art walk has over 30 stops in an eight block distance in downtown Watertown. During the art walk there is a Chalk the Walk event which is free for all to participate - just sign up for a square. And most exciting.... our first Watertown Paint Out! which is a plein air event that is open to anyone and is free! I have attached all of the info here. We would love to have you attend the walk or even participate in the walk..... or even bring your students to participate!

Please feel free to share this information with anyone you know!

The Watertown Art Walk Page
https://watertownart.weebly.com/watertown-art-walk.html

Facebook Event Links Below:

Paint Out Link  
https://www.facebook.com/events/1387306628082424/

Art Walk Link
https://www.facebook.com/events/2083640308548466/

If you have questions about this event contact Jana Strobel.

​Art Teacher of the Month – May 2018

Hi, I’m Gee Gee Jannene in Janesville.  I have been teaching art in the School District of Janesville for over ten years.  For the last six year I have embraced the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) choice-based student-centered art studio approach to teaching. I first graduated from UW-Stout with an Industrial Design concentration.  In my BC (before children) life I was a graphic designer, an interior decorator; first commercially, then residentially…and then a co-owner of a small retail fiber arts business.  While taking a break from the business world to raise our two sons I started volunteering at school, and as they say, the rest is history.  I truly feel that all of my prior experiences have brought me to this place that I was meant to be.   

Like many teachers, I have been involved with various “extras” including student council and TAG (Talented and Gifted).  I current serve as our district representative for a regional Arts Advocacy Committee, teacher representative for our Janesville Education Foundation, teacher representative for a newly-formed community art committee, AriseNow, co-lead our after-school Coding Club under an art platform, serve as the STEAM site coordinator, First Lego League robotics co-coach, and serve as the lead for our Arts Integration team. Last summer I completed Arts Integration Teacher Trainer certification through the Kennedy Center of the Arts.  After many months of creating and planning, this month I am excited to present my 3-hour teacher workshop titled Count the Circle; Color the Clock: Connecting Math with Art for the Visual Learner.