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PAEA names WASD a 2024 Outstanding Visual Arts Community

Williamsport Area School District ›  |  Posted on

Seated from left is Laurel Denham, Curtin Intermediate; Carrie Bosch, Williamsport Area Middle School; Chelsea Cramer, Cochran Primary; Kevin Werner, Williamsport Area High School (WAHS); Dr. Andrea McDonough, WAHS; Kelly Fisher, WAHS art alumna and Penns Valley art educator; and Emily Armstrong, WAHS. Standing from left is Julie Hammond, Lycoming Valley Intermediate; Sandy Corson, Jackson Primary; and Lori Moore, Hepburn-Lycoming Primary. Not pictured: Josh Larson, WAHS.

The Williamsport Area School District (WASD) has been recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Visual Arts Community from the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) for its commitment to visual arts education. This is the fifth time the district has received the designation since 2019.

Districts that receive the endorsement demonstrate the importance of their visual arts programs by meeting the following criteria:

  • Rigorous and inclusive programs: Arts programs demonstrate rigor using standards-based curriculum taught at every level by highly qualified and certified arts educators.
  • Highly accessible programs: Art programs are offered to all students at every level of education with a sustainable budget for the visual arts.
  • Highly visible programs: Schools and districts identify their programmatic accomplishments, curriculum for all levels, art staff, mission statements, and arts events using their school websites and social media.

“It is a tremendous honor for WASD to be recognized once again by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association as an Outstanding Visual Arts Community,” said Dr. Andrea McDonough, the district’s K-12 art department coordinator. “Our K-12 team of art educators consistently demonstrates their ability to step in, step out and step back. They step into the shoes of their students and stakeholders to support diverse needs each day. They step out and ask questions about curriculum, creativity and processes to build sustainable programs. We all step back and recognize our experiences, passions and connections to the profession through reflection and personal artistic practice. I cannot thank our K-12 Millionaire student artists, parents, administrators, board of directors and community partners enough for supporting visual arts education in our region. It’s a great day to be a Millionaire artist educator.”

Schools providing these opportunities equip students with visual literacy, according to PAEA. Visual literacy constitutes the new thinking and learning skills of a digital age and a creative economy. These are the types of cognitive skills young people will need to find their place in a globally competitive workforce.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector is a $699 billion industry, which represents 4.3% of the nation’s gross domestic product — a larger share of the economy than transportation and agriculture. The nonprofit arts industry alone generates $135 billion in economic activity annually (spending by organizations and their audiences) that supports 4.1 million jobs and generates $22.3 billion in government revenue, according to Americans for the Arts.

Technology innovations such as big data, data analytics and visualization will simply increase the importance of visual and spatial learning skills.

“Our visual arts program continues to provide opportunities to our students that encourages individual growth and creativity,” said Kristin Takach, secondary curriculum director and K-12 unified arts supervisor. “We are better as a school community for the efforts of this team.”