Amanda A. Batson M.A.

Amanda Batson received her BFA in Visual Art Studies at The University of North Texas in 2009 and possesses an Early Childhood-12 art education certification. In 2011, Amanda completed her MA in Art Education at The University of Texas at Austin, where she researched and wrote her thesis based on the impact on the participants of the Talking Mural© exchange that took place in 2010 with the organization Let Art Talk©. Because of this work, she became the recipient of The John Anson Kittredge Foundation Education Grant. In addition to her work with Let Art Talk©, as Head of Research, she currently holds the position as the Student Chapter President for The National Art Education Association (NAEA). She has spent time at The Denver Art Museum as an intern in the education department. Beyond advocating for art education and the work of Let Art Talk© as a presenter at the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) and the NAEA annual conferences, Amanda was awarded the TAEA Outstanding Student of Art Education award. Amanda is also dedicated to visual art through her mixed media studio practice and has been shown in many galleries in Texas.

As an art educator I believe in the development of the whole person through art. The art of teaching is providing your students with various tools that they need to grow as individuals.  Students should receive a holistic learning experience that is perpetually focused on their personal development and growth and development as artists and learners.

The classroom needs to be a safe haven where students can voice their ideas. It is important for educators to value students’ ideas and incorporate them into learning experiences. Most importantly, discovery of knowledge and an exploration in our multicultural world should be nourished in the classroom. To credit my professor– “the art room should be a dynamic location within the world—a place where meaningful art learning and world understanding take shape” (Bolin, pg. 5).

My philosophy of teaching is not much different than the values I believe necessary in my current leadership position–allowing for fun and the exchange of ideas to ensure success.  As a the current National Art Education Association’s Student Chapter President-Elect I will do my absolute best to listen and consider others’ ideas, needs, and thoughts.

I look forward to the challenges of leadership and feel that I will be able to face them head on with confidence and excitement.  I value the outstanding work happening in the student chapters across our nation.  Their advocacy efforts and passion should be well represented and congratulated.  I hope to be a beacon of inspiration for other chapters, young and old, by providing them with my experience and heartfelt encouragement to be leaders on their campuses and in the classroom.  My belief in the power of art to educate to better serve our future drives me towards this position.

Bolin, P. (1999). Teaching art as if the world mattered. Art Education, (7), 04-05.