Over thirty schools enjoy our full program, they receive enough large prints and research information for each classroom to have an art presentation once per month for eight months. The art presenters, now referred to as art docent volunteers are recruited from within the school, and are mostly parent volunteers from the community who have taken specific training from the Interurban Center for the Arts. On occasion, we have grandparents and community members who have taken training and been asked to present the art class. The art docents have learned basic art concepts to teach the children. They have also learned how to present an art project that will reinforce what they have discussed with the children. The basic classes are presented by the Interurban Center at no cost to the school or the art docents.
The program fee is $150 per year or $75 to be an affiliate. This is sometimes provided by the school budget, or sometimes by the parent teacher association.
The school receives enough prints and researched packets to present eight classes throughout the school year by each art docent. There must be at least four art docents committed to the program before the school will be considered for the program and space must be available.
A letter of agreement is signed by the school principal, the art docent chairman, and the Interurban Center director. This letter includes the responsibilities the school, the art docents, and the Center have assumed. There are no additional fees for the program, provided all materials are returned in good condition at the end of the school year. There are penalties for lost or damaged materials.
The prints must remain in the school. The packets can go home with the art docents for them to study and prepare their lesson plan. Then, packets are returned to the school. Beginning in 2005-06 we are working on a team concept by grade level with a focus on Essential Academic Learning Requirements as developed by Washington State.
Experience has taught us that people in our program take a responsible role in maintaining the materials, and seldom are materials permanently lost or seriously damaged.
Classes are observed by the Interurban Center for the Art's staff. Time is coordinated between the art chairman, the Interurban Center and the teachers with administrative approval.
Observations are necessary for funding and to improve the program. Teachers are also required to return a short questionnaire each year expressing their experience with the art docent in their classroom.
