EDITOR'S LETTER: FALL 2026

Frank at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Emerging Artist Program in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Installation by Brianna Stehling Santacruz and sculpture by Amanda Langer. Photo by Angela Morgan Photography.

By the time you read this fall issue, a new school year will be underway, bringing with it another opportunity to engage our students in the world of art. What better way to do this than getting to know your students? During the first few weeks, our time is spent on establishing a positive and welcoming classroom culture that promotes individuality and community. I have found that the best way to get students excited about creating is to let them explore ideas, experiment with media, and try different processes through collage or zines. Remove the expectations for producing great art and just let them have fun.

As you may already know, SchoolArts went digital a year ago. However, we continue to print two convention issues each year—a fall issue and a spring issue—consisting of a compilation of digitally published articles that provide real-life examples from art rooms and art programs across the country. You will read about cultivating a reflective practice to tackling artist’s block, unlocking unlimited abilities through creativity to strengthening connections through advocacy, and so much more.

In the early childhood lesson, “Even Bigger Than Us: Imaginative Portraiture Inspired by Mickalene Thomas,” Sue Liedke introduces her pre-kindergarten students to the works by this artist. In awe, students brainstorm on how to create their own personal version of what a female portrait looks like today. Using craft and nontraditional materials, such as sparkles, gems, patterned paper, and fabric scraps, silk flowers, broken jewelry parts, and seashells, they collaboratively define their heroine.

Ariel Kay’s lesson, “The TAB Studio,” explores how the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) model provides students with the freedom and ownership to create work that is meaningful to them. Through teamwork, students become highly engaged in collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

At the high school level, my article “Steamroller Printmaking” explores the art of printmaking through a nontraditional process using a three-foot roller to produce a series of black and white, large-scale woodcut prints on Okawara paper. We created multiple stations—from LEGO printing and linoleum painting to a display of students’ multicolor prints—to invite the community to engage with and experience the printmaking process.

I wish you the best school year ever! I would love to read about how you create excitement in your art room this year. Drop me a line at fjuarez@schoolartsmagazine.com.

SchoolArts magazine is written by art educators for art educators. Consider submitting an article for 2026–2027. See our writers guidelines at SchoolArts.com/WritersGuidelines.