HOPE IS OPTIMISTIC DISCONTENT. 
EVERY ACT OF LEADERSHIP IS AN ACT OF OPTIMISM.
​
GRATITUDE REQUIRES CONTENTMENT. PASSION REQUIRES DISCONTENT."
Photo by Alicia Savage

A little about MY INTENT

            I consider myself a dreamer, but one that also has her feet planted firmly on the ground. I often find myself reflecting on my teaching practices and dreaming of new lessons and possibilities for students to explore.  I am very excited to be sharing my thoughts and reflections in the field of art education with you. I hope that whatever I decide to share here will be helpful or inspiring to other artist educators, if not also amusing at times. 

As I look around at the world of education, I see moments and practices that could benefit from some reflection. I have been told that I am a natural reflective practitioner so this comes somewhat easily to me. As I contemplate the state of education, and apply it through my lens and practice of art education, I see things (some little, some big)  that give me feelings of dissatisfaction -- of discontent. But the fact that I also approach them with the mindset that things can change, that we each can grow and make a difference, meets this discontent with a hopeful optimism. I look for the helpers that help dreams take flight.

Will you dream with me ?

About

WEBSITE
This website was created to help art teachers navigate visual art standards and using them to write curriculum.  The website helps share resources and methods curated and created by Michelle Ridlen and other arts teachers implementing the 2014 National Visual Arts Standards (NVAS). These correlate with states such as Missouri that have adopted standards which utilize the four artistic processes of Create, Present, Respond, and Connect.
MICHELLE RIDLEN
Michelle Ridlen is an artist educator and educational consultant. She has taught visual arts for over eighteen years, to students at each level from elementary to high school. She was the 2016 National Western Division Supervision Administration Art Educator of the Year as well as the 2015 Missouri National Supervision Administration Art Educator of the Year. In addition to teaching, Michelle served as a state level Fine Arts work group leader and helped write the Missouri Fine Arts Learning Standards that were adopted in 2019. Michelle has presented locally as well as nationally and provided training to teachers on instructional methods, curriculum, and assessment. Michelle loves being able to connect with educators to provide professional development that is immediately useful in their daily practice.

More about Michelle...
PRESENTATIONS & TRAININGS
Michelle is available for consultations, presentations, and trainings. Please contact her using the form below or by email at optdiscontent@gmail. com
*All presentations and trainings are customized to the group and teachers that are receiving the training. ​
Possible topics include:
  • Introduction to the newly revised Missouri Fine Arts Learning Standards
    On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, the Missouri State Board of Education approved new Grade Level Expectations in Music, Visual Art, Theater, and Dance along with expectations in the new and rising discipline of Media Arts. The New Missouri Arts Learning Expectations signal a big change for how teachers will approach teaching, curriculum and assessment in the arts. Learn about the GLE structure, shifts in visual arts learning, how to unpack the language of the new standards, and experience what learning through these new standards can look like. 
 
  • Writing Fine Arts Curriculum
    Use the Understanding by Design framework to learn how to write Fine Arts curriculum. Develop units using inquiry-based themes with authentic, performance-based assessments. Collaborate to create scaffolded lessons that lead students to successful demonstration of their artistic skills.

  • Meaning Making & Choice in Unit Development
    Students respond better to learning that is driven by their own curiosity and questions. How can we write an aligned, guaranteed, and viable curriculum that allows for student choice and autonomy?  Experience art making that is driven by meaning while also addressing the new visual arts standards.  
    ​
  • Other Topics as Requested
THANK YOU
I want to thank all the amazing educators I work with on a daily basis -- writing curriculum, visiting classrooms, discussing what is going on with our students and in the lives of teachers. The amount of skill and talent and passion I see in you is incredible and motivates me to do more. I am so lucky to be able to work with you and be inspired by what you are doing with kids.

I also want to thank Dan Rockwell, of Leadership Freak, where I gathered gumption and inspiration from his post here.
​I dream big, and without taking steps toward the future, change can not happen. The quote above is from him and inspires me to continue to grow as a leader.

Inspiration comes from a number of sources, and I am surrounded by many. Countless teachers and artists who continue to do amazing things will no doubt continue to spark thoughts and reflections that I feel confident you will find inspiring too.