We are excited to announce the details for the Sixth Annual Student Art Contest sponsored by WEA member Benefits and the WEA Member Benefits Foundation.

This year's theme is Be You. Building people up through artistic expression.

Attached is a flyer you can share with other art teachers, public educators, school guidance counselors, psychologists, and social workers who may work with students who many benefit from the therapeutic process of creating art.

The general information about the contest is included on the flyer and more details can be found online at weabenefits.com/studentartcontest.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the WEA  Art Contest Contact at artcontest@weafoundation.org

Greetings Art Teachers,
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It is with great pleasure that I share with you the 2021 Youth Art Month Regional Shows. Click on the link below, and then click on your region in the navigation to see the work. You will notice that the artworks that have the yellow badges next to them are the state exhibit qualifiers. The State Exhibit has been updated and is posted below! Students who win state awards have been identified in the virtual state show. A prize package will be directly sent to their homes. If you did not provide their full address, their prize package will be sent to your school. 
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This year, all certificates (state and regional) will be digital. Links to the printable certificates are located below. A beautiful Youth Art Month Proclamation letter from the Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers will be mailed to each of your students. 

I want to thank each of our Regional Vice Presidents: Andrea Worthey, Mandy Zdrale, Quenton Brown, Jill Fortin and Sarah Fredrickson for spending numerous hours uploading the artwork for their regional shows and a HUGE thank you to Sarah Fredrickson for putting it all together. I also wish to thank Dani Graf, WAEA Treasurer for helping behind the scenes with making phone calls for donations, etc and to the WAEA President, Devon Calvert for providing encouragement throughout this crazy time. 

Thank you ALL for participating in this event!

Please share this link.....everywhere!
2021 YAM WAEA Virtual Exhibit


Sincerely,
Beth Dobberstein
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Youth Art Month Chair

​Salena graduated in 2005 from UW-River Falls with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education.  Her teaching career started in 2006 in Eagle River at the Northland Pines School District as a long term substitute teaching K-5 art at three elementary schools.  “My first teaching experience taught me to be super organized and to plan ahead.  Traveling to three different schools was a challenging experience, but it also allowed me to feel connected to so many students and staff members.”  Salena would stay the following year at Northland Pines as a paraprofessional for Title 1, and continue subbing in neighboring school districts.  

In 2011, she was hired at the Minocqua J1 School District as the K-8 art teacher, teaching over 650
students a week. In addition to teaching, she was the costume director for the drama department, taught community education classes after school, and coached middle school track and field.  Every spring she would showcase 1,200 works of art in conjunction with the school's STEAM night. “I loved working at MJ1!  It was wonderful to teach in the community where my family was.  Teaching middle school was a new experience for me, but taught me to embrace their goofy, awkwardness. Transitioning between kindergarten one hour, to 8th grade the next, definitely makes you flexible and appreciate each age!”
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In 2016, after a big move across the state, Salena is currently teaching at the RIver Falls School District at Westside Elementary School.  Salena says, “It is wonderful being back in the Western region of the state.  I am blessed to be a part of the River Falls School District.  The school district and community have a love of the arts that is reflected throughout this beautiful little town.  Teaching at Westside has been a wonderful experience; it is where I belong.  When I am teaching, I feel in my element.  My hope is that I can create relationships with students that will last a lifetime.”

Good morning, Art Educators! We have posted our 2020 Vision Conference Brochure as well as a link to the conference website.** We are excited to announce that the Wisconsin Art Education Association will be collaborating with all of the fantastic art education associations listed above! There will be many sessions for project ideas and techniques provided by vendors as well - just not set up at the big long tables we know and love.

This is a unique opportunity for professional development, personal networking, and exercising your teaching and learning muscles to gain new knowledge and experiences - all safely from your desk at home or school!
Registration will be open in September for all members.

**The website will not be fully accessible to the public until registration opens on September 15th.