Without art, the world would be bland, stripped of all color and creativity. There would be no paintings to cover bare walls, no illustrations in books, and no designs on the clothes we wear each day. Without art, the world would be lacking a prominent form of communication and a crucial medium for character development. As an art educator, it is my job to assist students in expressing themselves and adding to a world that is enriched with art in various forms. I am responsible for inspiring children in ways that build empathy and intrapersonal awareness. A world without creative individuals would be both dull and ineffective, therefore it is essential to encourage children to make their own art and leave their own imprint on the world. The visual arts play a role in the educational system that cannot be replaced. 

       One of the main purposes of an art educator is to lead students toward finding their inner creativity and providing them the means necessary to communicate it. It is my job to give all children who enter my classroom tools that can be used to express their opinions, feelings, and passions. A paintbrush is merely a utensil between an artist’s inspiration and their paint, the same way in which a teacher is a utensil between a child’s creativity and their masterpiece. As an art educator I serve as a source of information, a guide for learning meant to assist students as their skill sets evolve. I will provide students with knowledge of existent art, usage of tools, and artistic processes without deciding for them the final outcome of their original work. Students must be given criteria that is rigorous and yields many possible solutions. 

       As I teach students the mechanics that coincide with creating art, I will be intentional about my lesson content and the central themes that I portray. Art is valuable to a child’s education because when lessons go deeper than the process, it develops them as an individuals who are empathetic, kind, and inventive. Art is the purest form of expression with the absence of words; it is an outlet that cultivates personal growth and improved problem-solving skills. These two things together are crucial in our current climate as it is ever-changing and in need of people who can use unconventional, artistic techniques to adapt and create change. Individuals who partake in art have the potential to better the world and further its capacity to function in an improved fashion. As an art teacher, it is my purpose to not only improve my students’ artistic skills but prepare them for the outside world. After leaving my classroom, they will have a strong foundation on which to build themselves as irreplaceable participants in the community. 

       The pedagogies, strategies, and methodologies surrounding education are constantly changing as neuroscience evolves and as leaders in the field make new discoveries. It is important to continually pursue updated methods of instruction that correspond with proven findings. As I spend time in this field, I will be open to new ways of thinking in order to be the best teacher for my students. The world is dependent on our youth, and it is my responsibility to search out the most current knowledge so that I can better equip young learners with ingenuity that will assist them past my classroom. My role as a teacher is to produce not only artists, but problem solvers, ambassadors of kindness, and leaders.