About Us
We are a group of Vermont art educators dedicated to promoting the essential role the arts play in fully educating our students.
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We support and promote our profession by providing discipline specific professional development for our peers at our Fall Conference and workshops throughout the year. We support excellence in art education by recognizing a Vermont Art Educator of the Year in conjunction with The National Art Education Association.
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VAEA advocates for art education by exhibiting student work. We host a biennial Youth Art Month (YAM) Exhibit at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier and other sites throughout the State.
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The Vermont Art Teachers Association is an affiliate of the National Art Education Association NAEA and our memberships are linked. We participate in initiatives and attend National leadership meetings to keep informed of issues that affect our field. VAEA members present at the National Education Conferences and have been recognized with National Art Education awards. Our members use the NAEA member benefits of free Digication accounts and Artsonia portfolios.
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As stated in our By-law, we are governed by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Our monthly meetings are open to any members. We welcome and need participation on our board and committees to ensure an active community that supports meaningful and vibrant art education in Vermont.
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​Read our By-Laws HERE.
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Board Members
Melissa Kristensen - President
Melissa has been a member of VAEA for over 20 years and decided it was about time she took on a leadership role and is looking forward to retirement in June 2026. Melissa teaches at Poultney High School and is National Board Certified. When she is not happily creating chaos with her students she loves to paint, throw clay on the wheel, and travel.
Kimberley Desjardins - Past President
Kim Desjardins is an elementary art teacher and artist working and creating in Fairfax. Her art education experience incudes being a teaching artist through the Vermont Arts Council, Inclusive Arts Vermont, Burlington City Arts, and has taught upcoming art educators at the University of Vermont. She has led many art integration opportunities including collaborative units at Integrated Arts Academy. She explores many media and is currently poking wool repeatedly in some felting endeavors! You can follow her on instagram @bfacreativekids and @bright.spirit.creative.
Rebecca Gove - President Elect
I am Rebecca Gove and in my twentieth year of teaching art. I started my career in Arizona and during that time was on the Arizona art education board co-chairing in the Exhibitor role. I received my master’s of education from Northern Arizona University and was honored to be named Art Educator of the year while living there. I then taught in Blacksburg Virginia for six years and enjoyed doing community art projects with my students. I grew up in New England and was excited to land in Vermont eight years ago. I taught one year at Grand Isle School and I am now at Hinesburg Community School. I love all New England professional sports especially the Red Sox. I enjoy biking, walking, snowshoeing, knitting and my favorite medium is collage.
Suzannah Gravel - Treasurer
With a distinguished tenure at Woodstock Union High School, my dedication lies in nurturing a vibrant learning environment where intellect and creativity flourish. At the forefront of integrating technology and project-based learning, I empower students to explore and excel in various artistic disciplines, including Painting, Drawing, and Graphic Design. My commitment extends beyond the classroom to the community, where I champion innovation and leadership through the arts. As an adjunct professor, I've contributed to curriculum enhancement, fostering student success in digital and visual arts. My approach to education is rooted in a belief that the arts are a conduit for developing critical thinkers and conscientious citizens.
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Abbie Bowker - Secretary
Abbie Bowker, a visual art teacher at Champlain Valley Union High School in the Champlain Valley School District, is one of four finalists for the 2023 Vermont Teacher of the Year through the Vermont Agency of Education.
“It is my goal to educate the field and the public on the benefits of cognitive choice in education, the power of harnessing student interest, and identifying values and systems that align with and help support student choice and voice.”
Kate Robinson - Secretary Elect
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Meghan Dohery- ED&I Chair
Meghan Doherty is an elementary art teacher at Proctor Elementary and West Rutland School. She is a mixed media and fiber artist in the woods of Shrewsbury. She is passionate about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and has been studying it for over 10 years. She is often found exploring natural spaces, hunting for mushrooms, and snuggling her cats.
Julie Carino - Outreach Chair
Julie Carino has been teaching in one form or another for the past 25 years. She is currently a public school art teacher in Pennsylvania. She teaches using the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) philosophy, giving young artists full choice in their creative choices (materials, techniques and subject).
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- Media Communication Chair
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