Why: Did you know that there are no paid art teachers in ISD elementary schools? Deeply dedicated volunteers provide arts programming as much as possible, with countless hours of unpaid support from PTAs and parents. But there is no sequential and scaffolded learning across classrooms or schools, and instruction consistency often correlates to the general wealth of the school population. Simultaneously, economic opportunity for small businesses, especially those who work in the arts, is drying up and under continuous threat from lack of funding. Gig work does not a sustainable arts career make.

What: In 2025, Art Commons decided to try to improve this situation. We applied for and received a grant from 4Culture to pilot an in-school Teaching Artist Residency program in three ISD elementary schools that show the highest need for arts curriculum. Two grades in each school will participate in the pilot program. By partnering with ISD, PTAs, the Art Docent Program, and the Issaquah Schools Foundation, this project will ensure that more students can experience the creative, social, and emotional benefits of arts learning.

The Teaching Artist Residency pilot program will bring sequential, scaffolded arts curriculum to about 500 students next year, and also create three meaningful part time arts jobs in our community.

Why this matters: Arts instruction supports how students learn, grow, and connect—both academically and socially.

• Builds essential learning behaviors: Creating art develops discipline, repetition, patience, experimentation, and a growth mindset—skills that support learning across subjects.

• Strengthens social‑emotional development: Arts engagement supports empathy, self‑expression, emotional regulation, and confidence.

• Improves focus and wellbeing: Arts learning has been shown to increase attention, engagement, and overall quality of life for students.

• Creates equitable access: When arts education happens during the school day, all students benefit—not only those with access to extracurricular programs.

• Supports lifelong outcomes: Process‑based artistic learning impacts students far beyond elementary school, influencing academic success, mental health, and overall wellbeing.

Here are some of the amazing program benefits we are looking forward to:

• Teaching artists will deliver sequential, year‑long lessons aligned with Washington State Arts Learning Standards and Arts SEL standards

• Instruction happens during the school day, reaching all students—not only those with access to extracurricular programs

• Teaching artists collaborate closely with the school and classroom community, building relationships through art-making.

• Art Commons covers supplies for participating grades, freeing some PTA funds to support arts learning school‑wide

This is a multi-impact program:

• Students gain hands‑on arts experiences that build skills like experimentation, persistence, and creative problem‑solving

• Teaching artists receive fair compensation, training, and a stable, year‑long placement

• The Art Docent Program benefits from trained, paid artists who provide consistency, expertise, and support to the many dedicated docents who will continue to serve across the district

• School communities gain a more equitable, sustainable model for arts education

Through this pilot, Art Commons is working toward a future where every child—regardless of school, income, or background—has access to meaningful arts learning that supports lifelong creativity and health.

Timeline: Below is what we know so far of our timeline. Everything here is subject to shifting around some, as we work collaboratively to ensure this process is as efficient and productive as possible, and tailored to the needs of our eventual partner schools.

February-May 2026: Work closely with school and PTA communities to identify the three schools

May-July 2026: Application process for teaching artists

August-September 2026: Teaching artist training

October 2026 - May 2027: Teaching artists in classrooms

Are you ready to do this?! We couldn’t be more excited!

If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to us at any time! We need people on our team to help make this incredible effort succeed for ISD students!