Our Threads of Leadership: Conversations in Art Education podcast invites you to join us in reflective conversations with art educators and creative leaders who are shaping the future of the field. In this episode, we sit down with Jeanie Guilbert, the National Art Education Association (NAEA) Middle Level Division Director, to explore a leadership journey rooted in curiosity, advocacy, community, and a deep commitment to access. Jeanie shares how a path that began in fashion design and elementary art education led her into middle level teaching, higher education, state committees, gifted arts programming, and national leadership. Along the way, she reflects on the moments that taught her to step into the conversation, from seeking more relevant professional learning for art educators to building community partnerships, following policy decisions, and learning how to advocate for every student. She also discusses servant leadership as a practice of bringing people with you, the importance of seeing leadership through “empathy glasses,” and murals as an image of collective voice, reminding us that leadership is less about hierarchy and more about listening, representation, and making space for others to think beyond.

Hosted by Dr. Abi Paytoe Gbayee and Dr. Yichien Cooper, this podcast is part of our collaborative research project Leadership in Threads: A Fiber and AI-Enhanced Exploration. Through intimate dialogue, the series stitches together stories of leadership journeys, personal values, and creative processes from elected art education leaders across NAEA.

Resources Mentioned:

• National Art Education Association (NAEA): ⁠arteducators.org⁠

• NAEA Middle Level Division: https://www.arteducators.org/community/divisions-and-regions/

• Virginia Department of Education Fine Arts: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/fine-arts

• University of Mary Washington College of Education: https://education.umw.edu/

• Canstruction: https://www.canstruction.org/

• Declaration of Learning: https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2013/01/library-signs-declaration-of-learning/

• Arts Education Alliance: https://www.arteducators.org/advocacy/arts-education-alliance/

• Mural Arts Philadelphia: https://www.muralarts.org/

• Bisa Butler: https://www.bisabutler.com/

A special thanks goes out to Emilie Cooper for the episode art design and Ben Cooper for the into and outro music. Your contributions have elevated this work immensely.

This podcast was originally recorded November 2, 2025.