The coronavirus pandemic has created immense hurdles for art educators. Rye Country Day School art instructor Lauren Behar deserves recognition for her commitment to art education and desire to continue to exercise her students’ creativity under extraordinary
circumstances.
A year ago, Behar could not have imagined all the struggles she would face this school year. Rye Country Day School opted for a hybrid teaching model this year, so a portion of her students are learning from home. Behar’s remaining students are learning in-person while wearing masks and distancing. Additionally, her art room has been replaced with a rolling cart.
“I can’t really have the children make messes in art the way they used to,” Behar said. “Many rooms don’t have sinks, and kids can’t wear smocks, so I have avoided using clay and any paint other than watercolors. They work in sketchbooks and all small scale since they
only have their desks.”
Behar has been forced to reinvent how she manages her art room and has turned to technology to stay organized and reach students learning remotely. “I have had to master many platforms of technology this year, including Zoom, Haiku, Seesaw, and of course Artsonia,”
Behar said. Behar is utilizing an online art education platform called Artsonia.com—the world’s largest collection of online student
art portfolios—to collect assignments, display student artwork and maintain digital student art portfolios.
“Artsonia has been the best,” she said. “Since I only see students once every 5 weeks, it has been a wonderful way to review and assess their final products.” Artsonia helps thousands of teachers in more than 100 countries worldwide reach students electronically while creating online student art portfolios. Parents and relatives can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the
artwork. As part of its mission, Artsonia donates 20% of merchandise revenue directly back to local classrooms and has given back more than $11 million to local classrooms since 2000.
“Our mission at Artsonia is to bring communities together to celebrate children’s artistic expressions,” said Jim Meyers, CEO and co-founder of the company. “It has been amazing to watch teachers like Lauren—who are passionate about the process of creating, recognizing and cherishing student art—persevere during a time when the arts are being vastly overlooked.”
Art education equips students with fundamental skills they need throughout their lives. It aids in the essential development of problem-solving skills, decision-making, motor skills, creativity and cultural understanding. Behar’s students have been creating art to relieve
stress and enjoy themselves.
“Art provides stress relief in these most stressful times,” Behar said. “It has been a great pleasure and gift to be teaching art during this pandemic. Students tell me all the time that art is their favorite subject, and I feel their enthusiasm when they have art. Any happiness
and joy is a treasure to be embraced amidst these difficult times.” (Submitted)
