GOALS:

The goals of the ISAE are to promote art education through professional development, service, advament of knowledge, and leadership in the independent school setting.  This can only be accomplished through communication and relationships built between independent school educators and the NAEA.  Many independent school educators are not members of their state art education association or even members of NAEA.  The ISAE will serve as a driving force to recruit membership to the state and national level of the NAEA for the continued advancement of our profession.  In the independent schools, there can be disparities in what is taught among schools and the standards they follow.  By aligning with the NAEA and holding state conferences and national meetings, the ISAE will assess problems unique to independent schools and work to find solutions.  In addition, we will bring to light exemplary practices in independent schools and work to share those successes.  In particular, the ISAE will examine advocacy for the arts through the independent school sector.  Further, the ISAE will work with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) at the state and national level to act as a liaison between the NAIS and the NAEA for the continued advancement of art education in the independent school.

PURPOSE:

The purposes of the Independent School Art Education Interest Group shall be to encourage active involvement of independent school art educators by:

1. Promoting sound methods and philosophies of art education.

2. Providing opportunities for development of relationships among independent school educators within each state and as a nation.

3. Creating professional development opportunities specifically for independent school art educators.

4. Encouraging participation in state and national art education conferences.

5. Supporting strong working relationships within each school between art teachers and administrators.

6. Promoting and facilitating lesson sharing, curriculum discussions and group study of the problems that confront those involved in arts education in independent schools.

7. Educating our members on job negotiation and job security.

8. Creating positive relationships among independent school art educators through networking and regional conferences designed specifically for independent schools.

9. Developing the leadership potential of each independent school art instructor to better advocate for the arts in his or her community.

10. Educating on marketing the arts to the school community.

11. Maintaining regional and national contacts with other groups of arts educators and others whose objectives coincide with those in NAEA.

12. Securing cooperation of legislative, state, county officials, administrators and foundations in establishing conditions that shall render the efforts of arts educators more effective.

13. Circulating information and keeping members informed of the significant developments in the field of arts education.

14. Adhering to a policy that does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin. 

*Constitution and Bylaws drafted by Rebecca A. Stone-Danahy, submitted to the NAEA August 29, 2007