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Related arts teachers highlight growth in STEM, manufacturing and student art awards
Summary
Related-arts staff described growing enrollment in STEM and manufacturing courses, new equipment (laser engravers), community partnerships (Crestwood Creators) and multiple student awards and exhibitions; teachers urged more feeder programs and elementary/middle school art staffing.
At the Crestwood School District work session, related‑arts staff presented program highlights and urged investment in earlier arts instruction to broaden access.
Anthony Morris, who introduced the related‑arts overview, said the department has seen increasing enrollment in STEM and manufacturing courses because students “have an interest in learning about family consumer science, art, STEM, and manufacturing.” He described hands‑on course work — bridge building, laser engraving, robotics and furniture projects — and said lab resources (including two new laser engravers) have supported cross‑class projects and partnerships with a program called Crestwood Creators.
Art teacher Crystal Love described a strong year of student recognition: multiple students were invited to juried exhibits, several won awards at regional shows, and two students — Molly Simco and Pacy Clower — were selected for an artist‑spotlight program and will have interviews aired on local public media. “My students are having a very successful year. They’re very motivated and they have been active since the beginning of the year,” Love said.
Teachers and board members discussed gaps in district feeder programming: with only one high‑school art teacher, staff said many students enter high school with limited prior art instruction. That led to a request for additional elementary and middle‑school art positions and for clarity on the scope of an elementary arts class recently announced for the district.
Board members acknowledged both the achievements and limitations, and requested proposals on how to strengthen elementary arts and music as the district budgets for the coming year. Staff said some expansion proposals will be considered alongside recurring program funding decisions in the budget cycle.
The related‑arts presentation and Q&A underscored both program momentum and capacity constraints: staff recommended exploring feeder programs and additional K–8 art staffing to give students earlier exposure and stronger preparation for high‑school arts pathways.
