Saratoga Elementary School art teacher continues lessons during pandemic

MORRIS – The COVID-19 pandemic has created immense hurdles for art educators. Saratoga Elementary School art instructor Monica Gabehart deserves recognition for her commitment to art education and desire to continue to exercise her students’ creativity under extraordinary circumstances.

A year ago, Gabehart could not have imagined all the struggles she would face this school year. Because of the pandemic, Saratoga Elementary School has opted for a hybrid teaching model. Additionally, Gabehart’s art room has been replaced with a rolling cart.

“We are half-days in person and I am on a cart going into each classroom,” Gabehart said. “I have three classes in the morning, grades kindergarten through fifth grade, and then go remote in the afternoons.”

Gabehart has been forced to reinvent how she manages her art room and has turned to technology to help reach students learning from home. Gabehart is “learning to make videos for remote learners,” she said.

Gabehart is using an online art education platform called Artsonia to communicate with families, share student art and maintain digital student art portfolios.

“I am giving feedback on Artsonia for the first time, and I think that is a wonderful way that parents can actually see how their students are doing and the comments that I make that they might never hear when I am talking with students here at school,” Gabehart said. “They can now read [my feedback] and see [the art] at home and find out [their children’s] strengths and weaknesses.”

Artsonia helps thousands of teachers in more than 100 countries worldwide reach students electronically while creating online student art portfolios. Parents and relatives can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork.

“Our mission at Artsonia is to bring communities together to celebrate children’s artistic expressions,” said Jim Meyers, CEO and co-founder of the company. “It has been amazing to watch teachers like Monica – who are passionate about the process of creating, recognizing and cherishing student art – persevere during a time when the arts are being vastly overlooked.”

Art education equips students with fundamental skills they need throughout their lives. It aids in the essential development of problem-solving skills, decision-making, motor skills, creativity and cultural understanding. Gabehart’s student have truly benefited from her classes this school year.

When asked why it is important to teach art education in schools, Gabehart said, “I think it is so important to use the other side of the brain to give balance and an outlet for creativity that may not be touched any other way.”

About Artsonia

Artsonia is the world’s largest online collection of student art and a destination for thousands of art educators in more than 100 countries worldwide. The website has curated a growing collection of 80 million pieces of student art. Artsonia works with teachers to create online school art galleries and student art portfolios. Parents and relatives can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork. As part of its mission, Artsonia donates 20% of merchandise revenue directly back to local classrooms and has given back more than $11 million to local classrooms since 2000.

A 2018 Common Sense Education Top Pick for Learning, Artsonia inspires students and promotes the sharing of art with its weekly Artist of the Week campaign and online gift shop – all while helping to fund local school art programs.

To learn more, visit artsonia.com.