Professional PD 2026

Art Teacher Professional Development Day 2026

TEACHING THROUGH MAKING

Teaching Through Making invites K–12 art educators to explore how hands-on, multi-medium artmaking can deepen student engagement and learning. Through practical demonstrations and guided exploration, participants will experiment with a range of materials and processes adaptable across grade levels. The session emphasizes creative problem-solving, choice-based instruction, and meaningful connections between process and concept. Educators will leave with fresh strategies, classroom-ready ideas, and renewed inspiration for teaching through active making.  

Participants will have opportunities to: 

  • Apply hands-on, process-based approaches to foster creative thinking and problem-solving.
  • Integrate multi-medium artmaking strategies that support diverse learning styles and grade levels.

Tenets: Engaged, Supported, and Challenged

Date & Time: Monday, April 20, 2026 (8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) 

Target Audience: Art teachers PreK-12

Location: Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey (461 E. Mitchell Street, Petoskey MI 49770)

Fees: No fees for CharEm teachers. Fee for teachers outside of CharEm

Registration and 6 SCECHs available through Char-Em ISD.

Registration for homeschool and non Char-Em ISD teachers is Thursday, April 10, 2026

AGENDA

8 - 8:30  Welcome

8:30 - 10:45 Teaching Through Making Keynote and Activities

BREAK

11:00 - 11:30 Lunch

11:30 - 11:55   Soundbath

12:00 - 1:20 Breakout Session #1

1:30 - 2:50  Breakout Session #2 

3:00 - 3:30 Survey, Questions and Giveaway

Breakout Offerings: Participants will select two

  • Clay Jewelry, Jim Beckering
  • Encaustic, Gretchen Dorian
  • Natural Dye in a Jar, Jasmine Petrie
  • Gelli Plate Printing, Shanna Robinson

Keynote Presenter Bios:

Anne Morningstar, Professor of Art and Design, North Central Michigan College, 231-439-6377, amorningstar@ncmich.edu

Anne Morningstar is Professor of Design at North Central Michigan College. She graduated with a Master of Science in Telecommunications – New Media from Indiana University, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation – Time-Based Media from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Morningstar is a Freelance Designer, Animator, and Interdisciplinary Artist, working nationally; her work has been exhibited in galleries, juried shows, traveling exhibitions, and film festivals. Learn to create a creative with artist and Professor, Anne Morningstar. Building a complete artist or designer must begin with a thoughtful approach to the classroom. Join Morningstar as she demystifies the relationship between teaching and learning and demonstrates how you, too, can develop a customized curriculum tailored to students.

 

Breakout Session Leader Bios:

Jim Beckering, Boyne City High School Teacher, jbeckering@boyne.k12.mi.us
Jim Beckering is in his twenty-fourth year of teaching art for Boyne City Public Schools. He brings a lifelong love for the arts to this professional development day. Jim believes students' futures and teachers' attitudes and emotions can be molded in a positive direction through shared experiences. In his breakout sessions he will bring a combination of nature and human interactions through drawing still lifes that explore tension and balance. Multiple techniques and media will be explored.

Gretchen Dorian, Artist, ggdorian@gmail.com
Gretchen Dorian has been an important artist in the Northern Michigan Photography scene for more than 20 years. Her distinctive approach to photography is evident throughout her past and present work. Although Dorian spent her college studies exploring the New England countryside, it was upon her return to Detroit and the waterfront of her early years, that her passion for water, clouds, and any kind of boat became the heart of her work. Gretchen Dorian is never far from the water. Even in winter, she can be found offshore or on the frozen bays and lakes of the Midwest.

Jasmine Petrie, Artist, jasminelacetextiles@gmail.com
Jasmine Lace Petrie of Howl at the Loom is a lifelong resident of Northern Michigan and has been practicing natural dyes for over a decade. She has taught many fiber art workshops in the area and has studied facets of natural dye under Shanna Robinson, India Flint, Elin Noble, and Irit Dulman. Jasmine is also an avid weaver and constantly seeks to express her enthusiasm for local fiber arts by supporting local businesses and organizations.

Shanna Robinson, Artist, shannagrobinson@gmail.com
Shanna Robinson earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Textiles from Eastern Michigan University. She has been making art from whatever material expresses her purpose for more than 30 years. Working in textiles, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking, she creates a varied body of work connected by a love of the natural world. Robinson is Professor of Art at North Central Michigan College, where she teaches art history, textiles and design.