Art Works for Teachers
Episodes
166 episodes
Inside the Mind of a Creative Pioneer
Fredricka Reisman has spent decades championing creativity in education... and she learned from the best. In this conversation with Susan, she shares her personal mentorship with Dr. E. Paul Torrance, the origins of the RDCA assessment tool, an...
Empowering Every Learner: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Arts Education
When students struggle to show what they know, it’s often not a lack of learning, it’s a barrier in how we teach or assess. In this episode, Susan sits down with Dr. Rhoda Bernard to explore how accessible arts education helps students build id...
Yes, Creativity Has an ROI (And Here's How to Show It)
Everyone says creativity matters... but can you actually prove it moves the needle? In this episode, creative leadership expert Michael Ackerbauer is with us to unpack the measurable impact of creativity in schools, teams, and classrooms. If yo...
More Alike than Different: Teaching Empathy Through Arts and Inclusion
“Why don’t people like me?” It’s a question no child should have to ask, and one that stuck with our guest Kirsti Lewis for years. In this conversation, she and Susan talk about how the arts can open doors to empathy, inclusion, and real connec...
STEAM That Speaks: Using the Arts to Solve Real-World Problems
Students shine when learning feels connected... and the results are remarkable. In this episode of Art Works for Teachers, Sally Baker takes us into Georgia classrooms where students tackle real-world challenges in creative ways. From protectin...
The Trust Recession
In today’s digital world, even a friend’s post might not be what it seems. As AI-generated content floods our feeds, Susan explores the growing skepticism shaping how we view truth, connection, and credibility online. This honest conversation d...
The Science of Dreaming Big
Think the future is something we have to invent? Think again. Astrobiofuturist Billy Almon shows us how nature’s own designs hold the keys to dreaming big, adapting fast, and thriving through change. This one will leave you rethinking what’s po...
Small Actions, Big Change: The Shift Schools Can't Afford to Miss
Sometimes the smallest shifts make the biggest difference. Stand Tall Steve Bollar shares how simple, consistent actions can transform school culture... and why leaders - and teachers - can’t afford to ignore them.
Authentic Leadership: How Humor and Humanity Build Stronger Schools
Teaching and leading can be messy... but also full of joy. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Tracey Severns about how humor, vulnerability, and storytelling can strengthen relationships, boost creativity, and make school culture more positive, ...
Brainstorming without Bias: Tools for the Next Generation of Creators
Great ideas don’t come from the loudest voice in the room. In this episode, creativity expert Birna Birgisdóttir shares how teachers can design brainstorming that lifts every student’s voice and sparks deeper creativity.
Creativity in Action: Turning Ideas into Results
Creativity takes shape when we take action, navigate doubt, and practice trusting our ideas. In this episode, Dr. Zorana Pringle explores how emotions, persistence, and practical strategies shape the creative process, offering educators actiona...
When Struggle Becomes Strength
Our students’ future depends on more than test scores. Stanford's Jo Boaler is with us to reveal why struggle is the secret ingredient for deeper learning... and why now is the time to change how we teach.
Are You Solving the Wrong Problem?
What if the reason your lessons (or your students’ projects) fall flat isn’t the solution, but the problem itself? We're explore why defining the right problem is the secret to creative breakthroughs and how something as simple as draw...
Every Day is a School Day
Teacher communication shapes how lessons land, how parents engage, and how colleagues collaborate. This week, Susan and Paul unpack proven techniques from advertising that help educators cut through jargon, build empathy, and make every message...
Evolution or Revolution? A New Path for Creativity in Schools
Big changes in education often fail because they come in like a revolution... loud, disruptive, and exhausting. Cyndi Burnett invites us to think differently: what if the secret to lasting creativity in schools is small, evolutionary shifts tha...
The Secret Ingredient to Student Creativity
If you’re ready to finally see creativity as a teachable, practical skill (and discover the simple shift that could change the way your students think, solve problems, and innovate), you can’t afford to miss this conversation.
Future-Proofing Students: Teaching Creativity for an Uncertain World
The future is full of unknowns, so how do we prepare students for challenges we can’t yet see? April Michele, Executive Director of Future Problem Solving, is with us to share how a six-step model is equipping students with creativity, critical...
The Mindset Flip: How to Truly Become the Leader You Want to Be
In a world that values "human doings" over "human beings," this episode challenges the traditional focus on achievement in education. Susan introduces the Be, Do, Have model, a powerful framework for educators to shift their mindset and truly b...
Education at the Edge: Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty
There’s a growing sense among educators that something fundamental isn’t working... but most of us don’t have the time, space, or support to name what’s really going on. In this powerful conversation, we explore how community, clarity, and a wi...
The Brave Art of Teaching
What does it really take to lead creative work under pressure and how do we help students do the same? In this episode, we unpack the rhythms and risks of creativity, the emotional labor behind teaching, and how to foster true bravery (not just...
Can Testing and Creativity Coexist?
Is it possible to honor both creativity and accountability in today’s test-driven schools? In this episode, Harvard psychometrician Dr. Andrew Ho joins Susan to unpack what test scores really mean and how educators can use data without sacrific...
Jumpstart Creative Thinking from Day One
Ever notice how your best ideas come when you’re short on time? This episode flips the script on creativity and shows why setting limits can actually lead to better thinking—for you and your students. If you’re planning for back...
Creativity Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
Too many kids think they’re “bad at art” when really, they just haven’t been shown how to trust their own taste. Illustrator Andy J. Pizza unpacks how neurodiversity, guilty pleasures, and personal struggle can fuel breakthrough creativity... a...
Now What? Funding for When Funding Disappears
With major funding shifts underway, many educators are asking, “What now?” In this vital episode, Susan shares practical, creative ways to move forward... without panic. Discover where funding still exists and how to build lasting support throu...
Build Systems that Stick: Stop Chasing the Next Big Thing
Tired of chasing the latest tech trend only to see it fade? In this episode, Jeff Bradbury shares how he went from orchestra conductor to edtech leader, and why real school transformation happens not through tools, but through purpose-...