Derby showcases student art as district expands STEAM instruction

Natalie Brown, department chair for art, and students presented the board with examples of K–12 artwork and a report on Youth Art Month and the district’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) efforts.

Brown described alignment work across elementary PLCs and said each school is sharing projects that scaffold art skills across grades. The high school reported Scholastics Art Awards and regional recognitions; a student portfolio earned a Silver Key for the South Central Region. Brown invited trustees to the district’s K-building open house on May 7 and noted a high school exhibit at the Derby Library with a reception on April 17.

Student speaker Grace said art fosters “problem solving, fine motor skills, creative thinking, and healthy self expression,” and urged continued access to arts instruction. Board members asked whether STEAM had reduced time spent on art standards. Brown and district staff said the curriculum mapping preserves required art instruction while using a second weekly contact to add project-based STEAM experiences; the district’s intent is that roughly half of the expanded time continues to meet art standards and half integrates other disciplines.

Brown also described advanced courses, a functioning darkroom for black-and-white photography, AP portfolio work and enrollment in advanced clay and mixed-media classes. Trustees praised the visibility of student work and district efforts to maintain continuity from elementary through high school.

Ending — Staff and teachers said they will continue to monitor standards alignment and invite trustees to the May 7 open house and the Derby Library exhibit on April 17.