For Kylie West MA ‘22, teaching isn’t just a passion—it’s a tradition.
West was raised in a family of teachers and taught darkroom classes while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in photography at Drexel University. She also served as a teaching assistant during her co-op with the International Center of Photography in New York City, priming her for a future in education.
West first heard about ArtistYear, a national AmeriCorps program dedicated to addressing inequities in K-12 arts education, through a friend. After graduating from Drexel, West applied for a service year with ArtistYear and became a Resident Teaching Artist at F. Amedee Bregy Elementary School in the School District of Philadelphia for the 2019-2020 school year.
During her year at Bregy, West provided support for the school’s art teacher, creating lesson plans and working with students on projects. She also brought her creative skills to general education classrooms and hosted an after-school Clay Club, where students coiled clay pots.
“Part of our sphere was learning how to expand the arts outside of the art classroom,” West said. “We want it to be a buy-in for the whole school.”
West says her first service year with ArtistYear inspired her to become a full-time teacher. She discovered online that Moore College of Art & Design’s Art Education graduate program was hosting a “Get to Know Us” event. It was there that she connected with Lauren Stichter, Moore’s Director of Art Education, and several graduate students who encouraged her to apply.
“I heard from students and alumni about how close the classes were and how the program was tailored to students’ needs,” she said. “Although it’s a small program, it makes a big impact.”
West began her first year in Moore’s Art Education graduate program as she kicked off her second ArtistYear service year at The U School in the School District of Philadelphia. She balanced both experiences to maximize her knowledge and apply her skills in a real classroom.
“Moore teaches you theory and the history of education, but it also teaches you the practical side. We worked with students from different organizations, and it really helped us work on our teaching skills,” she said. “We were able to work one-on-one with students, create lesson plans, implement those plans and get feedback all in a very short amount of time. It allowed us to make changes from week to week.”
West graduated from Moore in 2022 with an MA in Art Education with an Emphasis in Inclusive Practices. She’s now an art teacher at Roberto Clemente Middle School in the School District of Philadelphia, where her experiences from Moore and ArtistYear continue to shape her teaching practice.
“One thing that I really learned about was new ways of communication. Not every student feels comfortable or able to speak up about different things. I use things like sign boards, hand signals, and written responses to meet student needs and implement inclusivity into my classroom,” she said.
West’s time with both Moore and ArtistYear was so successful that it sparked a new collaboration between the two organizations. Starting in the fall of 2024, ArtistYear will invite Moore BFA alumni and graduate students to apply to serve as Resident Teaching Artists for one year and become Moore College Fellows. Moore will also invite ArtistYear Resident Teaching Artists to apply for its graduate and post-baccalaureate teacher certification degree programs during or after completing a service year.
ArtistYear Resident Teaching Artists who apply and are accepted into Moore’s Art Education graduate program will be awarded the ArtistYear Fellowship, which provides a $10,000 scholarship for those pursuing the MA in Art Education and a $20,000 scholarship for pursuing the MA with certification.
West says she’s excited about the relationship and how it will positively impact creative learning in schools.
“I’m so grateful that people are going to be able to attend Moore and complete a service year with ArtistYear at the same time. It’s going to be really beneficial for Resident Teaching Artists because they’re going to be learning the skills that they can implement through ArtistYear,” she said. “It’s really helpful for our school communities because it’s helping to expand the role of teaching artists in the classroom.”
West recently returned to Moore for its Summer Artist / Educator Residency, where she worked on her personal art practice and developed new techniques to bring to her classroom.
For Resident Teaching Artists who want to pursue Moore’s MA in Art Education, West’s advice is to think about how these programs mesh.
“Moore’s graduate program is made for teachers. As Resident Teaching Artists, you’re on the same timeline as a full-time teacher,” West said. “The fact that you can take classes part-time and at night ensures it won’t interfere with your time at school. These experiences can work together very well.”
Read more about Moore’s official collaboration with ArtistYear here.
Moore College of Art & Design is the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Want to learn about our BFA or MA in the Art Education major at Moore? Contact our Admissions team at enroll@moore.edu or 215.965.4015 to set up a call or a campus visit. We’d love to tell you more!
