MEMBERSHIP
Become part of the largest professional organization established by visual arts educators for visual arts educators! When you join or renew your NAEA membership you also become a VAEA member. Your dues give you professional benefits and support Art Education in Vermont.
The National Art Education Association (NAEA) and their State affiliates like VAEA (The Vermont Art Educators Association) advance visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding. NAEA supports visual arts educators to bolster your teaching, your career, and your creativity. NAEA resources, benefits, and opportunities are continuously created in direct response to the timely needs of art educators and your students.
The Benefits of Membership Include:
Professional Development: Access timely learning resources including the National Visual Arts Standards that support teaching and learning as well as FREE access to Virtual Art Educators monthly webinars and all webinar archives.
Connectivity: Join the conversation with Collaborate, an interactive, dynamic online professional space, available exclusively to NAEA members. Share information and resources, gain inspiration, and make connections—anytime, anywhere...
Subscriptions: FREE subscriptions to the premier Journal of Art Education and NAEA News—a $72 VALUE!
Leadership: Join Issues Groups and Editorial Boards, serve as a National Convention Proposal Reviewer, participate in international travel/research delegations, be elected to serve on the Board of Directors, apply for the School for Art Leaders, and more!
Discounts: Participate in the NAEA National Convention – submit a presentation proposal, purchase new books and advocacy merchandise, discounted premiere publications, such as the Studies in Art Education, and more—all at a discounted rate! Also, learn about discounts on a variety of insurance programs including Professional Liability Insurance, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Auto & Home Insurance, and Additional Plans & Benefits through Forrest T. Jones & Company offsite link.
Recognition: Gain eligibility for national recognition through awards, grants, and a National Art Honor Society Chapter!
Advocacy: Resources for advocating the importance of visual arts education are at your fingertips!
Board Members
Melissa Kristensen - President Elect
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 President Elect. Since the current president had to do her Art Methods classes under Melissa, it is appropriate that Lisa now gets to teach her. 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 and travel.
Kimberley Desjardins - 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 - Treasurer
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.
April Hallock - Treasurer-Elect
April Hallock is the art educator and studio facilitator at Waits River Valley School in East Corinth in eastern central Vermont. She’s been loving her career of teaching art to elementary and middle school artists since 2008 and volunteering with VTAE/VAEA since 2018. April enjoys experimenting with a variety of media, especially in e-textiles, bookmaking, and printmaking. Let April know if you need any assistance signing up for any of VTAE/VAEA's wonderful workshops!
Cindy Camber - Secretary
Cindy has been a member of VAEA since 2011. Cindy acquired her Master's in Education from Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona and a Bachelor's in Fine Art from Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. She currently teaches art to grades 8-12 at Hazen Union School in Hardwick, and for VTVLC (Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative). Cindy feels fortunate to have also taught art at Lyndon Institute for 10 years, as well as at The John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, Germany. A native Wisconsinite, Cindy is a world traveler, having lived in several U.S. states, as well as Germany and Ireland. Cindy is passionate about art history, and experiencing the excitement of seeing a master work of art in real life!
Frances Willard - Secretary Elect
Frances Willard is an art teacher at the Browns River Middle School in Jericho, Vermont. Frannie has been in education for the last twenty years, teaching in K-12 programs in Vermont and North Carolina. She received her Master’s Degree in Art Education from Boston University and her Bachelor's degree in Art from West Virginia Wesleyan College. Frannie loves being surrounded by the beautiful Vermont landscape and wildlife, hiking with her dog, cooking for friends and family, and traveling to new places to learn and be inspired. Frannie works with a variety of art media, but her favorites are clay, watercolor, and photography.
Rebecca Carleton - YAM Chair
Rebecca (Rebbie) Carleton has been teaching art to pre-K through Grade 12 Vermont Art Students since 1981.She has been an itinerant art teacher, arts administrator, gallery curator and public school art educator. NAEA selected her as the Eastern Region Arts Educator in 2014 and she was the 2004 Vermont Educator and a finalist for the 2004 Vermont Teacher Of the Year. She has been committed to promoting art education with VAEA in many positions, most recently as the VT representative to NAEA leadership initiatives and as Youth Month Chair.
Lorien Leyden - Webmaster / Social Media
Lorien Leyden is a high school art teacher in Burlington. She received her Masters of Art & Design Education at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Lorien loves drawing, printing, clay, fiber arts, and most art making techniques. She lives in South Burlington with her partner and daughter and two cats!