I have been working as an artist, Clay Sculptor since 1984 and an art educator since 1985. I am finishing my MA in Art Education w/ Teaching Licensure in December 2019 and will graduate in May 2020. I have over 34+ year's teaching experience working with students K-12, the learning disabled, and senior citizens. When I moved to Laguna Pueblo from Denver, Colorado, I soon realized there were no art education programs in the curriculum in the schools in Laguna Pueblo and many reservation schools in New Mexico.
I was very surprised because on the reservations that are near me within a 60 miles radius, Acoma and To’hajiilee, they have some of the best artists that produce the most creative, beautiful, and refined pieces of artwork. Pottery, jewelry, weavings, moccasins, etc. are all made by these indigenous peoples of these communities. Why is “art” not part of the school curriculum when it is obvious that it is part of the community and the “economy” of these communities?
I immediately went back to school at UNM to work on an MA in Art Education w/ Teaching Licensure. My previous degree was in Early Childhood Education, the Headstart and ECE programs are doing great on the Laguna and Acoma Pueblos, so my focus needed to be on art education. I am already seeking funding to support the art education programs I plan to bring into these communities.
I love working in the classroom, unfortunately, there is no funding to support art education in these communities because they are federally funded programs. New Mexico funds elementary schools at the state level, however, because they are federally funded they are exempt. My goal is to secure funding to implement art education programs or pass legislation which requires the teaching of American Indian history, culture, and civil government in the public schools of New Mexico. If passed, it will be a requirement in the New Mexico school’s curriculum, and the state will be required to fund these much-needed programs.
Students Painting Pottery
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