The August Mailbag: Gen Z Teachers, Cardboard Questions, and Back-to-School Hacks
Art Ed Radio
Should teachers be expected to work for free? What do you do with a pile of leftover cardboard? And which artist would you quietly leave out of your curriculum? In the August Mailbag, Art Ed Radio host Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn, AOEU's Director of Community Engagement, to tackle listener questions that are right on time for the start of the school year. They dig into the growing conversation around Gen Z teachers refusing unpaid labor--and why the system, not the teachers, is the real problem--plus give practical, honest advice to a first-year teacher drowning in cardboard...
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2026 Summer Art Ed NOW Conference Preview
Art Ed Radio
The Art Ed Now Conference is just around the corner, and Art Ed Radio host Tim Bogatz is kicking things off with a special live-recorded episode straight from the Art of Ed Community. He's joined by community host Jen Leban to preview everything happening at this year's conference, from the Friday Kickoff to a full weekend of sessions designed to inspire, equip, and energize everyone as you head back to the classroom this fall. Tim and Jen share their most-anticipated sessions and the can't-miss featured presentation from artist and illustrator Oliver Jeffers (The Day the Crayons...
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More Hot Takes for the Summer
Art Ed Radio
It's that time of year again — the Art Ed Radio Hot Takes episode is back! Host Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn for their second annual deep dive into the art education opinions that spark debate, clarify thinking, and maybe make a few people a little salty. With strong opinions from the Art of Ed Community, Tim and Amanda react to hot takes on everything from whether markers deserve a place in the art room, to whether paint-and-sip counts as real art, to the case for a little bit of cookie cutter art in your curriculum. Whether you agree, disagree, or land somewhere in the middle,...
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Why Art is the Most Important Class
Art Ed Radio
On this episode of Art Ed Radio, host Tim Bogatz sits down with high school art teacher Chris Hodge, who brings nearly 25 years of classroom experience and a myriad of insights. Hodge shares the teaching philosophy at the heart of everything he does: giving students meaningful choice and nurturing genuine curiosity. He opens up about his lifelong relationship with artmaking and his dedication to continuing to create. Tim and Hodge also dig into the realities of maintaining a personal art practice while teaching full-time (including late-night drawing sessions). Hodge shares...
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The July Mailbag: Inspiring Supplies, Summer Doomscrolling, and Setting Boundaries
Art Ed Radio
It's time, once again, to open up the mailbag! In this monthly Q&A episode of Art Ed Radio, host Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn, to answer your most pressing questions about the world of art education. This month's topics run the gamut: from a quest for new art supplies to thoughtful questions about navigating the first year of teaching—including how to work with administrators, build community with colleagues, and protect your work-life balance. Tim and Amanda also tackle the summer curriculum planning struggle, weigh in on whether summer sketchbook challenges are actually worth...
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Creating Time for Creating Art
Art Ed Radio
In this episode of Art Ed Radio, host Tim Bogatz is joined by returning guest Sarah Krajewski, a self-described "multipotentialite" and all-around amazing educator. Sarah talks about how art helps her connect to her own sense of purpose and joy, and the benefits that come with consistent artmaking. She shares her concept of "joy sketches" as an accessible, low-pressure way for any teacher to keep making art, even on the busiest or most exhausting of days. Tim and Sarah also dig into the real barriers that get between art teachers and their own creativity: not just time, but energy....
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Making the Most of Your Summer
Art Ed Radio
Summer is here, and Art Ed Radio host Tim Bogatz sits down with K–8 art teacher Jessica Stuver to talk about what teachers really need when the school year ends. Jessica reflects on wrapping up her 15th year of teaching while also being real about the exhaustion that comes with the territory. She and Tim dig into the question every educator faces: is there pressure to have a "productive" summer, and how do you balance true rest with the pull to keep working? Whether you're the type to go-go-go or finally give yourself permission to slow down, Jessica's honest perspective on summer...
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Where Do You Discover New Artists?
Art Ed Radio
In this episode of Art Ed Radio, host Tim Bogatz sits down with Kelly Hatton, curriculum designer for FLEX and PRO at The Art of Education, and they dive into the wonderful world of teaching art history. Kelly opens up about how she went from relying on whatever art prints were left in the supply closet to intentionally curating her artistic awareness through museum memberships, artist talks, and a carefully cultivated Instagram feed. She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the team at AOE decides which artist bios to develop for FLEX, from responding to what teachers are actively...
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Austin Kleon and His New Book, Don't Call it Art
Art Ed Radio
On this week's Art Ed Radio, host Tim Bogatz sits down with bestselling author Austin Kleon! Austin is a writer, artist, and creative thinker behind Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work, and Keep Going, and his brand-new book, Don't Call It Art: 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again, is out now. In this episode, Austin unpacks his deceptively simple "algebraic equation" for unlocking creative play (time + space + materials = play) and explains why losing even one of those elements is enough to make any artist feel stuck. He and Tim also explore how to fight perfectionism, why copying is actually...
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The June Mailbag: Differentiation, Creative Ruts, and Students Who Keep You Guessing
Art Ed Radio
Welcome to the June mailbag episode of Art Ed Radio! Host Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn, AOE's Director of Community Engagement, to dive into listener questions that are hitting close to home for art teachers heading into summer. From navigating classrooms with wildly different skill levels to making the case to administration that your booming ceramics program needs more support, it's a fun and interesting conversation. They also tackle the difference between burnout and creative stagnation, why that distinction matters, as well as suggestions for working with talented students who just...
info_outlineIn today's episode, Tim sits down with Joel Scholten, K–12 art educator, social media creator, and Art of Education FLEX Standards Manager, to talk about teaching elementary art, finding connection through social media, and rediscovering the joy in our creative practice.
Joel shares how Instagram and TikTok have helped him connect with other art teachers, refine his instructional scaffolding, and discover contemporary artists that boost student engagement. He also previews his Art Ed NOW Conference presentation, walks through a powerful negative space watercolor lesson, and drops a budget-saving classroom hack you won't want to miss. He also closes the show with some words of wisdom on how the joy of teaching and creating for yourself can make you a better, more energized educator.
Resources and Links
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- Join the Art of Ed Community
- Follow Joel on Instagram
- Register for the Art Ed NOW Conference!
- Check out AOE's FLEX Curriculum