Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1349911
"I have wanted to be an art teacher since I first understood what a "job" is," says Paige Gustafson. The daughter of a soldier-turned-educator father and a professional artist mother, you could say that Gustafson was born to teach art. Step into her classroom in Laramie, and you'll see that it's much like Paige herself: organized and professional, all the while radiating with the creativity and color that inspires her students to explore and embrace art. Gustafson embodies strength. A competitive powerlifter, her physical strength is eclipsed only by her passion for serving students. "Because of art's accessibility to other subjects, it is often the setting that fosters the lightbulb moment in understanding material in other content areas. Art is of vital importance in developing a child's motor and critical problem- solving skills, and spatial reasoning. Art encourages exploration while developing tactile awareness, all while laying a foundation for self-directed learning," Gustafson told WEA News. "Art class provides a haven for students who struggle emotionally and behaviorally so they have an outlet to productively release their anger, frustrations, and fears. Gustafson attributes much of her students' success and her own to the collaboration she enjoys with other educators in her district. "I am lucky in Albany County to have a strong, K-12 aligned group of art teachers. We get along, support one another, and work well together to ensure that all students in the district have access to a robust art curriculum." WEA News caught up with Wyoming Art Education Association's 2021 Elementary Art Educator of the Year, Paige Gustafson. An active WEA member, Paige, shared with us her insights about everything from the benefits of arts education for students to the best way for fellow education employees and community members to support the whole child. "A big part of teaching art is pushing stakeholders to understand that art is not a "fluff" subject." The education of By: Amanda Turner Paige Gustafson poses with students. 2020. 8