OUR GOALS: #1 Build Relationships - #2 Increase Involvement - #3 Increase Funding
OUR GOALS: #1 Build Relationships - #2 Increase Involvement - #3 Increase Funding
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The Shorewood Elementary Art Docent Program is a volunteer-led visual arts enrichment program funded by the PTA.
Parent volunteers (a.k.a. art docents) partner with their child’s teacher to bring fun, hands-on art and craft projects into the classroom. Docents can create their own lesson plans or reach out to the committee to get ideas!
All art supplies and support are provided by the Shorewood PTA—just bring your creativity and enthusiasm!
Anyone can be an art docent—really! While most of our volunteers are parents or guardians, we’ve also had awesome grandparents, local artists, and community members join in the fun.
New to it? No problem! You can team up with a seasoned docent, get tips and support from our coordinators, or jump right in with your own ideas. All you need is a little creativity and a love for working with kids!
The 2026–2027 goals for Shorewood’s Art Docent Program focus on building a fun, sustainable, and creative volunteer experience. We’re aiming for consistent classroom visits (monthly or quarterly), exciting projects like clay in every grade, and stronger coordination around big events like Multicultural Night and the Art Walk. We’ll streamline curriculum resources, keep supplies stocked and organized, and maintain clear budgeting. To keep everyone connected, we’ll send monthly updates via a Newsletter, we will showcase student artwork in the school lobby and social media, and build a strong, supportive team.
We’d love to have you! To sign up, please fill out our Art Docent interest form with your contact info, your student’s name, and their teacher’s name. You’ll also need to complete a volunteer form in the front office before getting started.
Questions? Reach out to our Art Docent Chair, Amy Zidek, at shorewoodartdocent@gmail.com—she’s happy to help!
Partner with a teacher for monthly projects.
Partner with a teacher for quarterly projects.
Partner with a teacher for a one time project.
Our Art Docent closet is stocked with a wide variety of art materials to help bring creative projects to life. Supplies include watercolor, acrylic, and tempera paints; a variety of paint brushes; drawing and art papers; chalk and oil pastels; screen-printing materials; and hand-building clay, glazes, and access to a kiln. Specialty materials and supplies can also be purchased upon request for specific projects or lessons.
Art projects can look very different from one classroom to the next! Some lessons may be a simple, one-class activity focused on learning a new technique, while others may be larger projects that unfold over several weeks. Students might explore painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, clay, or mixed media. Projects are designed to be age-appropriate, hands-on, and focused on the creative process—not on everyone making the exact same thing.
Art lessons take place during the regular school day at a time coordinated directly with the classroom teacher. The classroom teacher should always be your first point of contact when scheduling a lesson. They know their classroom schedule, specialists, recess, testing, assemblies, and other activities that may affect when an art lesson will work best.
Most Art Docent lessons are about an hour, but the timing can be flexible depending on the project and the teacher’s schedule. Some projects may be completed in one visit, while multi-step projects may require several visits scheduled over a few weeks.
Docents can teach in the classroom or use the Community Room when a project requires additional space, tables, or easier set up and cleanup. The Community Room must be reserved in advance using the calendar posted outside the room. Please check the calendar before planning your lesson and add your name/classroom to reserve the space (if you have questions about this you can always ask the office).
Always coordinate with the teacher first, then reserve the space you need.
Art lessons take place in the regular classroom. The community room can be reserved for special projects that involve more set up, like clay projects. Multiple classes can be set up in the cafeteria for larger group projects.
You don't have to be an art expert—or have your entire project figured out—to get involved! The PTA is excited to help bring arts education ideas to life at Shorewood and support you along the way.
Have an idea for a project? Want to try a new art medium? Need help figuring out supplies, adapting an idea for a particular grade level, or planning a lesson? Reach out! We are happy to brainstorm, help you find resources, connect you with supplies from the Art Docent closet, and help you turn an idea into a classroom-ready project.
Email Shorewoodartdocent@gmail.com and tell us a little about yourself, your child/classroom, and what you're interested in doing. Whether you have a fully formed lesson plan or just a spark of an idea, we'd love to hear it!
For over two decades, the Shorewood PTA has supported the Art Docent Program at Shorewood Elementary School by providing art supplies and visual arts enrichment to Shorewood Elementary students.
The Art Docent Program at Shorewood Elementary envisions a school where every student in every class has the opportunity to participate in at least one art project each month.
Our docents include parents, grandparents, teachers, local artists, and community members who offer their time and expertise to ensure all Shorewood Elementary students are exposed to visual arts enrichment opportunities.
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