KAEA/NAEA

I strongly encourage you to join your state's professional Art Education organization. If you are in Kansas, that would be the Kansas Art Education Association! I've been involved with KAEA since my sophomore year of college, and on the board since my junior year. I served as Student Representative and now I'm webmaster.
Through my involvement with KAEA, I've been able to network within my state, find resources I can go to with problems or questions, received a ton of encouragement from veteran Art teachers, and enjoyed member benefits like having my students' artwork entered in the Sargent Art competition at the YAM show, gotten awesome advocacy materials, and been able to nominate a local organization for an award to get them recognition for supporting Art Education.

The other member benefit that I look forward to EVERY year, is the Fall Professional Development conference. The annual conference is a great chance to meet colleagues from across the state, attend workshops, hear speakers, and help to honor outstanding educators. I always come back from the conference reenergized and ready to take new knowledge into the classroom.

Not in Kansas? Look up your state organization here: http://www.arteducators.org/community/state-associ