Volunteer art docent program underway
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News from Polson Schools
POLSON — The Art Docent Program is a volunteer-based art history program that allows students to become immersed in art through classroom instruction. The “backbone” of the program is the art docents. Docent, in this context, means teacher or classroom guide that promotes learning. In this program, a docent is a volunteer that is trained to present art related information and lessons in the classroom. We are extremely fortunate to have this program again at Linderman Elementary for all of our students.
Our docent trainer is Edna Lemm; she has been leading the program at Linderman since 2017. Edna is an incredibly talented artist and teacher that’s been involved in our schools since 2002, when she began the art docent program at Cherry Valley Elementary. The program is designed as a supplement to the great art that is already being done at Linderman. Edna conducts a series of workshops where she teaches our volunteer docents the art projects in a step-by-step process. These workshops are usually a half day commitment where the docents create the lesson they will present in conjunction with the classroom teachers at a scheduled date.
We feature Native American artists to expose our students to locals along with tribal members all across the USA and Canada. The featured artists we will showcase in February-March are Starr Hardridge and Ernst Marceau. Ernst, a Blackfeet Tribal member, grew up in Browning, and Starr is an Oklahoma Muscogee Tribal member. Last year we featured Allen Knows His Gun, a Crow from Billings, and George Littlechild, a Plains Cree who lives in Alberta, Canada.
This year’s volunteer docents are: Karen Gunderson, Breanne Utgaard, Felicia Gill, Sharon Thompson, Lakota Thompson, Marlena Looper, Susan McCormick, Nancy Hemphill, Lorilee Kasnitz, Tyanna Smith, Tina Tootell, Kate Condon, Katie Walter, Linda Brownell, Layne Paddock, Shannon Nunlist, Trish Rodrigue, Lindsay Godfrey, Tanya Patrick, Chelsea Kleinmeyer, Vina Little Owl, Cat Hogenson, Amanda Hardin, Shawnalee Cook, Stephanie Eickmeyer, Erika Weber, Nikki McKinsey, Summer Goddard, Whisper Camel-Means,Krista Gage, Josie Lies, Megan Pope, Heather Whisman.
The Polson School District is grateful for the volunteer docents and Edna Lemm for their time and talents. Our students and staff benefit greatly from the commitment and dedication of these generous community volunteers. We need additional docents in our program this year, so if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer art docent, please contact Tom DiGiallonardo by email at tdigiallonardo@polson.k12.mt.us, or by phone at 406-883-6355 ext 601.
