850 size student load. 60 minute classes. Two buildings. Teaching full time between the two, but not seeing all the students at either school. They have a former Spanish teacher teaching art to over 100 kids at School #1. They’ve got a music teacher teaching art to 30 kids at School #2. Both the Spanish and Music teacher have never taught art before. I’m a first year teacher, principals have asked me to provide curriculum material and coach the other teachers. I got Union involved, they had HR communicate to principals to back off. One did, the other didn’t. Admin isn’t providing any resources to the Music/Spanish teachers. HR & Admin are attempting to make me the solution for a preventable staffing error. I’m done. I did a fantastic job advocating for myself and my students’ experience. Got told that I was “bad for workplace culture” from one principal, because I told him I wouldn’t be giving up one of my planning hours or sending lesson plans to help out the other teacher.

When I was hired I was told that I wouldn’t be sharing a classroom at either school, only to be told 1 day before school started that I’d be sharing both rooms. I was also told a certified art teacher (from somewhere else in the district) would be covering the extra classes. They told the Spanish teacher she’d be teaching art 3 days before school started, they told the music teacher the first day of school she’d be teaching art. What a joke. This is NOT what I signed up for. Imagine being a first year teacher and going to admin stating you won’t be doing things not contractually required of you because your struggling and need to focus on your own students, and then admin’s response is to tell you that you aren’t being a team player and are a concern for the building culture.

I’m attempting to take medical leave or all my sick days to attend intensive outpatient therapy before resigning. Concerned about losing my health insurance that I need to seek treatment for the physical/mental state this job has put on me. Please tell me it isn’t always like this! Please tell me that leaving mid contract so I don’t harm myself, won’t ruin my chances of being a teacher in the future. I can’t believe I almost let this place take my life from me, I certainly don’t want it to take my entire teaching career either.

Hey y’all! I’m an Art Ed student, and I’m new to this subreddit. I’m in my senior internship for college at a high school. I’ve done both HS and Elm. I have a few questions!

1: What do you recommend for new art teachers to have? I’ve seen talks about portfolios, but what about the best classroom supplies or places with teacher discounts for supplies?

2: Is it worth it to move counties for jobs? I’m studying at UCF in Florida. Yes, Florida does have lots of schools, and Orlando is an art hotspot! Lived in FL my whole life, don’t plan on moving out of state, but Orange county is hell with the living expenses and traffic (From Palm Beach originally).

3: I realized YESTERDAY (been in internship for 2 months now) that I graduated highschool when the current seniors were the incoming freshman class. So now I’m worried if I teach HS, I won’t be taken seriously. I don’t hold myself to the “I’m the professional” standard, I’m very relaxed in my teaching methods, and students respond well to that.

4: Literally ANY tips and tricks are SOOOO welcome. Resources, advice, anything! I’m 21, just getting started, and desperately reaching out to classmates, teachers, and now y’all!

Hi all! I’m a sophomore in college getting my degree in K-12 Art Ed. No matter where life takes me I know I want to be involved in education— it’s not the education part of my degree that’s making me worry, most of the time it’s the art part.

I love all of my professors here, admire them, and even hope to be in their positions one day… but taking 3 studio courses a semester is sort of draining the soul out of me. I’ve been pretty unhappy with my art since I started college. I don’t think any of it looks “bad”, but i want to have my own unique style, something that I can look at and feel like it represents me as an artist, but it’s hard with my studios. In my studios I have to do everything a particular way, which isn’t bad, but with the workload I can’t find the time to make my own art outside of class. So then I can’t work on developing what I want my art to look like, and then I go to my studios and make art that doesn’t look how I want it to, and then I’m just pooped all around.

All this to say— In the field, do you still actually have the energy and time to make art? Is all this stressing over my artwork in my studios going to really affect me in the long run, or do I just need to let it cook?🥲

Hi everyone, I have a Bachelor's in Liberal Studies, and I have an AA in digital art. I was trying to get credentialed as an Art Teacher, but no one in my area wanted to be my mentor teacher. I am leaning towards teaching at the college level, even if it's part-time. Due to a disability, I cannot drive, and public transportation in my area is not ideal. Is there an online MFA program that you all recommend? I am also willing to do a low-residency program, as well as an out-of-state program. Any advice is appreciated!

Hi everyone! I’m currently in my last classes for art education before I start student teaching next semester! I am wondering what lesson plans or lesson ideas you guys might have for diversity or pluralism? It can be any grade level. For my class I am supposed to come up with a lesson plan that is surrounding diversity and I’m feeling stumped trying to come up with an idea that kids will gain insight from and enjoy.