The Creative Conversations

Paula Liz is a lifelong artist and educator of over 15 years. She has worked with numerous school districts and national organizations seeking to become more equitable and inclusive in their classroom practice through art education. Today, she discusses equitable creativity in the classroom.

Austin Gruber is a lighting and set director who passes down the creative love of set design to students through teaching. In this episode, he outlines the necessities of fostering an innovative culture of risk-taking.

Shannon Moran is the Director of National Programs at Urban Arts, a nonprofit that teaches digital game design as a pathway to college and career. She discusses the importance of arts integration as an experience that prepares students for creative futures. https://urbanarts.org/https://ease.urbanarts.org/

Music teacher Joshua Valdez shares his experience as a first-year teacher during the pandemic. Creativity is a prerequisite for resilience, transforming challenges into reflective opportunity.

Mechanical engineer Steve Coakley discusses the creative process of solving mechanical challenges. An openness to the unknown and the motivation to discover solutions are the hallmark qualities of an innovative engineer.

Meg Gruber discusses the inherent creativity in the daily shifting demands of an Occupational Therapist. Authentic support combines creative responses to the three tenets of her work: person, occupation, and environment.

Tempe Montessori School director Lauren Bolar discusses how the Montessori pedagogy structures an ideal learning environment for intrinsic curiosity, leading to creative exploration and life-long learning.

I am changing the podcast schedule to continue providing meaningful dialogue with interdisciplinary perspectives in the long term. Mark your calendars every first of every month for a new episode release, or click subscribe ;)

Mike Hart shares pivotal childhood experiences that supported his creativity and led to his career as an Industrial Designer. We compare classroom creativity to the creative demands of the professional sector.

ELA teacher Mia Itri discusses the importance of curating a safe space for creative work. When students feel comfortable taking risks, they can navigate the vulnerability of creativity.

Science teacher Jennifer MacColl shares her experience building scientific thinkers who confidently engage in the creative process. Her approach fosters a physical and cultural environment that inspires.

Special Education teacher Laura Carr emphasizes significant considerations when working with special needs students and creativity. Creativity can blossom within structure, building students' confidence.

Ayleen Smith is an ELA teacher who highlights the value of the iterative process in creative work. Most acts of creativity are born out of a response to what came before. Developing a critical understanding of history arms students and creatives with tools of expression.

Spanish Teacher Chance Hamblin discusses the relationship between vulnerability and creativity. Creativity is a means of self-expression that motivates meaningful learning.

Hi, let me introduce myself. I’m Jessica Hart, the host of The Creative Conversation. I am an artist and educator based out of Tempe, AZ, and I am very passionate about creativity. I started this podcast as a component of my graduate studies capstone research, but my commitment to authentic creativity in the classroom began much earlier. My career started as a studio artist. I mostly paint things but have since ventured into a more multi-media practice. It was really only after leaving school when the learning was not contained in a classroom, that I experienced contemporary art as a cross-disciplinary pursuit. Then, after taking a chance on an after-school art teaching position, I was hooked. Specifically, there was this magic moment where a room full of tough teenage boys broke into song, singing Lorde’s Royals, while constructing cardboard sneakers. They were just so focused and in flow that I could just stand back and marvel at their energy. That energy was nothing short of inspiring and honestly easily competes even with my most prolific evenings in the studio. So, I quickly pivoted my career to an education focus and started teaching in the public school system. Contrary to the after-school art high that led me to teach full-time, it didn’t take long to realize that students were simply not confident in the ambiguity of creativity. They were easily frustrated and just wanted the quickest path to success. I mean, who could blame them? They are a product of the education system we have constructed for them. This frustration led me to the TAB approach, a teaching method that stands for Teaching Artistic Behavior and focuses on the habits of artists instead of the technical skills. TAB teaching is really cool. As a teacher, you get to witness students really grow in their creativity and intrinsic curiosity. The more I leaned into this pedagogy, the more I wanted to share. This drive eventually led me to pursue my master’s in art education, where you will find me now, starting a podcast about interdisciplinary creativity. I will honestly talk anyone’s ear off who will listen about the value of creativity. Why not record it? I want to spur creative dialogue that builds bridges between content areas. I want to define creativity in a context that works for the entire education complex, and I want to share my experience as an art educator in transforming classrooms into environments of student innovation and discovery, and most of all joy. So, what can you expect from this project? Every two weeks you will find a new episode, interviewing a fellow educator or professional who has something to share. They will make art, talk about creativity, and we will suggest practical approaches in the classroom that can serve our students. If you teach, tune in during your prep (I’ll try to make the episode under 50 minutes). Otherwise, join the discussion anyway, subscribe to The Creative Conversation, and maybe even go create and advocate in your community!    

Welcome to The Creative Conversation, a podcast that explores interdisciplinary creativity with an anchor in art education. I'm Jessica Hart, an artist educator who passionately believes creativity is critical in the classroom, communities, and the world at large. Join me as I discuss creativity with educators and professionals from various disciplines, and explore art education's role in building creative learners.