PTA Reflections: Tips on Selecting Judges

The PTA Reflections Program encourages preschoolers through high schoolers to create works of art for fun and recognition. To offer meaningful recognition, the support and involvement of community members who can serve as Reflections judges is essential. Because of these individuals' willingness to share their time and expertise, PTAs from the local to the national level are able to recognize students' incredible talents.

Here are a few ideas on who to contact regarding judging for your PTA's program.

• Art museum directors, docents, curators, or historians
• Local symphony orchestra or choral directors, musicians, conductors, or composers
• Local dance conservatories, dance studios, ballets, or theaters
• Local multimedia/video production companies
• Newspaper journalists, editors, or photographers
• Local television stations
• Arts advocacy organization presidents or directors

If a judge knows a student participant or a student's work, the judge should remove him- or herself from the judging process for that particular arts area to prevent a conflict of interest. Teachers from the host school may know student work and/or have a conflict of interest in judging, so it is better to invite teachers from another school that offers the Reflections Program.

For more information on how to run the PTA Reflections Program, go to PTAreflections.org. In particular, check out the Local Arts Chairs' Guide. It's under How to Begin: Local Participation.
or contact the RISD Council Reflections Chair, Marni Kaner  mkaner@tx.rr.com or Kimberly Grossman  kimberly.grossman@eds.com  

PTA Grants Increase Arts Opportunities for Students

Each year, National PTA supports student-centered arts education programs with the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants. Matching grants of up to $1,000 are awarded to local PTAs to enhance arts education in the classroom or other learning environments. Special consideration is given to programs that target children whose environmental, familial, and/or socioeconomic situation may affect their academic success or ability to learn.

Here are plans for two of this year's award recipients:

• Salmen High PTSA in Slidell, Louisiana, plans to form an after-school arts club that will host an arts workshop each month on a particular discipline. The year will culminate in an end-of-year arts expo.
• New Scotland Elementary School PTA in Albany, New York, will be organizing the creation of a student-designed AIDS memorial quilt. Once finished, the quilt will be on display for the local school and community, then at the New York State Museum with other AIDS quilts as part of World AIDS Day.

Join us in celebrating all 11 of this year's grant recipients—selected from more than 260 applications. A press release about the grant recipients will be available shortly at the PTA Newsroom.