Art Docent Program

Horace Mann PTSA recognizes the critical need for art education in our children’s
development. To further this development, the PTSA sponsors an art docent program
that supports a volunteer team of nearly 40 dedicated parents who teach art in the
classrooms at Horace Mann. The sponsoring funds purchase art supplies, training, lesson
plans and many special art programs for Horace Mann Elementary.

---Horace Mann has a fantastic art/science room full of art supplies and reference
materials. We even have our very own kiln for ceramics projects.

---Each year, experienced docents provide art training for new docents.

---Horace Mann Art Docents work with our teachers to teach art lessons and lead each
class in a hands-on art project, usually once a month.

---Each year, our Art Docents also bring artwork from the Bellevue Art Museum to our
school as part of the traveling “Art of Discovery” Exhibit sponsored by the Bellevue Art
Museum and the Junior League.

---We organize a special Artist-in-Residence program for the 5th graders and provide
them with an opportunity to work with a local professional artist. Recent Artists-In-
Residence at Horace Mann have included ceramics artist Ken Turner doing raku firing
with the students, graphic designer Horia Dociu teaching about video game design and
character development, and Messolini Glass Studios working with fused glass.

---The Art Docents also organize the annual Art Night celebration held in the spring. Art
Night features students’ artwork from throughout the year, hands-on art activities and a
raffle of art objects created by each classroom and other items from the community. Art
Night Themes from recent years have included Andy Warhol, Native American Art, and
Pablo Picasso.

If you would like to volunteer being an art docent or know more about Horace Mann’s
Art Docent program, please contact Heidi Houghton at hiho.lpk@frontier.com.